04 May 2011

a night to remember at tetsuyas

When a meal starts with truffle butter, you can think either two things: the first is that the restaurant could be compensating for something or the second, that you're in for a treat.

I was definitely in for a treat, an 11 course treat, complete with matching wines, sake, a chocolate dessert to die for and a very famous piece of Ocean Trout.

I'm just going to take a short break from my USA posting for one very special post. Since I can remember I have wanted to visit Tetsuya's. I've never been mainly because of the time and money factor, but through my job and just a little bit of luck I finally got to go.

The restaurant is beautiful, set on a renovated heritage listed site on Kent St it is complete with serene Japanese gardens, white tablecloths and beautiful silverware. I know that modern dining is taking a step in a different direction right now but it's still nice to sit down and experience one of the 'original' fine diners in Sydney.

Now I'm going to give you the photo log from the night and talk a little about my favourite bits even though it was impossible not to choose them all.
Chilled cucumber soup with sheep yoghurt ice-cream
Pacific oysters with rice vinegar and ginger
Sashimi of yellow fin tuna with shishito & garlic chips
This was quite possibly the freshest tuna sashimi I've ever tasted and I loved the combination of flavours. The shishito chilli's were grilled and quite smoky and were a lovely addition to the tuna. You would think the garlic chips would be a strong flavour, especially with those chilli's, but they were light and crispy and complimented both elements of the dish.

Marinated NZ scampi with curd and junsai
Confit of ocean trout with konbu, celery & apple
I was so excited to just look at this dish as I've seen it many times before but here it was in front of me, the signature dish at Tetsuya's. The ocean trout was absolutely divine and I loved the celery, apple and roe as a combination but I found the konbu to be quite bitter, it is a form of kelp after all.

Steamed Murray cod with blackbean & bacon
I love that this beautiful piece of fish was steamed because it soaked up all the heavenly flavours from that broth. That crispy piece of skin on top was delicious and loved the blackbean and bacon together, such a simple dish but one of my favourites.

Braised Ox tail with sea cucumber & lotus root
I don't even know how to describe the flavour of sea cucumber, it's a little like a chewy seafood jelly, very interesting substance actually. The braised oxtail was incredibly soft and tender while the lotus root was quite crunchy.

Pancetta wrapped quail breast with pine mushrooms & chestnuts
When this came out, it almost looked raw but the quail was tender and the pancetta added a beautiful saltiness. That medley of vegetables was a highlight, I loved the mix of chestnuts, mushrooms and sweet potato cooked in what seemed like duck fat, just sensational really.

Cootamundra de-boned rack of lamb, eggplant & white miso
Another favourite for me, this piece of lamb was tender and easy to slice through but I especially loved the combination of eggplant & white miso it was served with, creamy but with a hint smokiness. A Japanese interpretation of babaghanouj perhaps?

Now is a good time to introduce you to our dessert courses, starting with a light palate cleansing sorbet with poached apples layered at the bottom.

Green Apple Sorbet
Pear Tarte Tatin
This was more of a deconstructed Tarte Tatin with each element muddled throughout the glass including that dark sticky caramel, pears, crispy pastry & ice-cream. I love tarte tatin and this one didn't disappoint, quite possibly my favourite dessert of the night.

Valrhona chocolate pave with cream cheese ice-cream and cinnamon twigs
Firstly, how beautiful is this? That gloriously glossy pave was divine, the rich sticky chocolate coating opened to a creamy, almost mousse like filling. The cream cheese ice-cream was a perfect addition, what's not to love about this dessert?

The night ended with a visit from the man himself, Tetsuya Wakuda and I got to say a quick hello to tell him I'll be back there as soon as humanly possible!


www.tetsuyas.com

6 comments:

  1. How exciting! What a great evening and topped off with a picture with the man himself! :D

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  2. Oh WOW!! I'm so jealous...but I've already started saving (perhaps I'll get there by the time I'm 50)!

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  3. i fondly remember those oysters in the special dressing. even though they were $9 each at the time they were so good :-)

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  4. @NQN it was extremely exciting and meeting him was probably the best bit, such a lovely humble man.
    @Jen I'm with you on that one I'll be saving for a long time before I can go again.
    @Simon that was, by far, the best oyster dressing I've ever had! Delicious!

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  5. Those oysters were the best damn oysters I've ever tasted! And that ocean trout dish, I'd go back just to have those two items again! Lucky you for getting a picture with the man himself!

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