REVIEW | SUSHI WASABI | EDMONTON

Here's food for thought. If you could choose (preferably not while on death row), what would your last meal be? Or for something less morbid, what's one food that you can eat for the rest of your life?

I'm the type of person to get tired of eating just one thing really easily, but I guess there is one exception to that. You've probably already guessed the answer considering what restaurant we're talking about today.

My answer, of course, is ... sushi! Sushi in all forms. Sashimi, nigiri, rolls. Doesn't matter, give me all of it.

During my trip to Japan earlier last year, we didn't indulge in as much sushi as I would have liked (that just means I have to make another trip). But the sushi we did eat ... let's just say I'm ruined for life. That's not to say that we don't have good Japanese restaurants in Edmonton. Never mind the whole frozen vs. fresh aspect, it's just sushi in Japan is a totally different experience than what we typically see in North America. Rather than relying on copious amounts of sauces and ingredients to make it taste good, sushi in Japan is rather simple in principle (... though complex in execution). Fish, seasoned rice, a little wasabi, a little soy sauce. The purpose is to highlight the fish, not hide it.

So, where do you find the best Japanese restaurant in Edmonton that follows this principle? Many people will point you to Sushi Wasabi, a longstanding Japanese-owned restaurant situated up the road from Southgate Mall. It might surprise you to know that this was my first visit to Sushi Wasabi, but there's a first time for everything.      

Although I've wanted to try Sushi Wasabi for a long time, my first visit was rather a last-minute spontaneous one. We were throwing out ideas for dinner on one of my rare Saturdays off, and Sushi Wasabi came up out of the blue. Sushi? Don't have to ask me twice. We rushed right over, knowing that it'd be a full house if we didn't try to get there right at opening. Good thing too, because almost all of the tables were reserved. It seems like they do keep the sushi bar open for walk-ins since that was where we were seated.    

We started off with an order of takoyaki ($5.50), one of my favourite Japanese street foods. I have no clue if there are any restaurants in Edmonton that makes their takoyaki from scratch (it's a bit labour intensive and time-consuming to make), so I'm assuming most take the shortcut with frozen pre-made takoyaki. And whereas most restaurants deep fry theirs, Sushi Wasabi bakes them so they're a bit softer around the outside. I did, however, appreciate the pieces of pickled red ginger, a topping that most restaurants leave out.

We also got a half order of shrimp tempura (4 pieces for $10.50). Nice and crispy, but a little too aggressively battered for my taste.

In terms of sushi, we skipped the popular sushi combinations and instead went a la carte so that we could pick and choose the fish we liked the most.
 
On the left, two pieces of sake (salmon) nigiri ($2.60 each) and on the right, two pieces of aburi (seared) salmon ($3.50 each). I love aburi sushi, but the seared salmon ended up being my least favourite of the night. For some reason it made the salmon more tough without much char flavour.

If you want a recommendation for some of my favourite aburi items in town, Kobe Japanese Bistro's sweet passion roll and Sushi Park's salmon toro nigiri and Boston roll are must-orders! Miku in Vancouver is also famous for their aburi sushi -- I particularly love their saba oshi!

The toro or tuna belly ($3.50 each) deserved a close-up. Literally melt-in-your-mouth.

Last but not least, we ordered two each of the chop chop ($3.50 each) and uni (market price, was $5.50 each when we went). Chop chop is typically a mixture of chopped scallops, tobiko, and Japanese mayonnaise. I didn't see any tobiko mixed in but the scallops themselves were sweet and super creamy. Uni, or sea urchin, is a new found discovery for me and I wanted to see how it compared to the ones I had in Japan. I expected it to be a bit more briny but there was very little fishy taste to it. If you're hesitant about trying uni, get it here and you might just surprise yourself!



Glad to know Sushi Wasabi does not disappoint. If I lived closer, or if I was *forced* (more like willing) to a sushi-only diet, you'd probably see me here more often.

Sushi Wasabi

5714 111 St

Edmonton, AB

(780) 433-0533

- CT

REVIEW | OTTO | EDMONTON

OTTO is barely past its first birthday but you would think it's been around for years. Its simple, unpretentious concept of sausage and beer might explain why it's been welcomed so warmly in the Norwood neighbourhood it calls home.

Norwood is pretty centrally located but has a reputation for being part of the inner city. I grew up in the neighbourhood, five blocks down in fact, and coincidentally went to pre-school and kindergarten at the family centre across the street from OTTO. Occasionally we would also buy cakes from the neighbouring La Favorite Pastry Shop, so it's nice to see that it's still kicking around years later. I never paid much attention to the seedy bar that used to be in OTTO's place, but I definitely remember passing by this spot everyday on the bus while coming home from school.

We arrived at OTTO a few minutes after they opened and claimed one of their side booths. A long communal table, bar stools, and smaller two to four-tops made up the rest of the seating. They did warn us beforehand that we could be moved if it got busier but it never got to that point in the time we were there.

Like mentioned earlier, OTTO's focus is on two things: sausage and beer. The drinks list, on a double-sided A4, easily trumps the food menu in terms of selection. I don't know much about beer but I can appreciate their effort to showcase ones that are locally brewed and crafted. And speaking of local, sausages are handcrafted, sourced from a fellow Edmonton small business, Fuge Fine Meat, who also supplies to other restaurants including Canteen and Sugarbowl.  

The menu is designed for sharing, with everything coming out on a wooden platter adorned with butcher paper. No fuss, a real humble family-style type of dining experience. 

We started off with an order of cod bon bons ($10.00), beer-battered cod served with a spicy cherry sauce. Based on the menu description, I don't know why I was expecting a mini fish and chips, but it's more akin to a cod fritter. The fish is blended, almost to a mashed potato texture, and formed into four small bites. The crispy batter coating was thin and wispy. It almost reminded me of wu gok, or taro dumplings, from dim sum. The fritters rested on a creamy mayonnaise, which was actually a well-suited pairing, but it did leave me wondering where the spicy cherry sauce comes in.

It was by coincidence that we came on a Monday, when all sausages (and pints) cost $6.00 instead of the regular $8.00. There are eight different sausages to choose from, four of which are pork-based: the andouille, chorizo, Italian fennel, and the OTTO dog. The other four are 100% pork-free: a beef bratwurst, a lamb and beef merguez, a spicy Italian chicken, and even a vegan sausage, made with potatoes, apple, barley, and sage. Sausages are ordered individually, and served sliced in half. For the price, you're also given a side of sauerkraut and pickles, and a choice of condiments in squeeze bottles (pickled mustard, spicy ketchup, hot beer mustard). If you weren't sharing, you can opt for the NYC style sausage in a bun ($10.00) or Currywurst ($13.00), beef bratwurst smothered with a tomato curry sauce and laid on a bed of fries.

We opted for two sausages to share, the American andouille (front) and the exclusive namesake OTTO dog. The andouille sausage is loaded with pepper and thyme, and finished off with braised pork and Cabernet Sauvignon. The OTTO dog is a classic bratwurst with caraway and fresh garlic, studded with pieces of smoked gouda. The OTTO dog was definitely my favourite of the two, milder in flavour with bits of melty cheese throughout. The andouille was nicely spiced, but had a much coarser texture.

To fill up the platter (and your stomach), OTTO serves up a good variety of sides, available in small or large. We got the small sizes, which was a good enough portion for the two of us to share. Consider getting the large if you come with a bigger party.

Fries (small $5.00 / large $10.00) seem to go hand-in-hand with sausages. These are dressed up with a garlic herb butter and served with a spicy mayo dip. The fries could have been a touch crispier but they were still pretty addictive to munch on.

We also enjoyed the creamy dill coleslaw (small $4.00 / large $8.00), crunchy shaved veggies in a creamy dressing. I'm normally not a fan of dill but it was quite subtle in this case. Get the coleslaw if you're looking for something refreshing to cut the fat.

No meal is complete without veggies ($7.00). Brussels sprouts, apples, and onions, sautéed in a mustard and agave honey sauce. The dressing on these veggies is sweet with a slight kick of horseradish. I also loved how the onions were nicely caramelized.



With good food at a more than reasonable price point, OTTO has definitely succeeded in making an inclusive and family-friendly gathering spot for its community. Visiting the restaurant on a cold winter day almost felt like coming back home for me.

OTTO Food and Drink

https://www.ottofoodanddrink.com/

11405 95 ST
Edmonton, AB

(780) 477-6244

- CT

SNAPSHOTS | JAPAN + KOREA 2017 | SEOUL | DAY 10

The next installment of this trip: we are Seoul-bound! About time right? At this rate, it may be a full year since the trip until I finish doing the entire write-up. (￣ﾛ￣;) But I'm happy to do it since it's nice to have a way to look back at these memories.

The day started off super bright and early. We woke up at 4:00 AM to get ready and quickly walk over to Tokyo Station. Our flight wasn't even scheduled that early but because it was an international flight and the fact that it takes a little over an hour to get to Narita Airport from the city, our only option was to take the airport bus as trains weren't running yet.  

When we arrived at the airport and to our gate, we decided to eat breakfast at the only restaurant open in the terminal (not knowing that our 2-hour flight also included a full meal). My sister got the tonkotsu ramen with sliced chashu, bamboo shoots, pickled ginger, and greens.

I didn't really have an appetite so I just ordered a side of gyoza. It was nothing special.

Although I already bought quite a lot of souvenirs, I was tempted to pick up some more while we were just waiting around at our gate. Prices are probably more expensive at the airport but I picked up more flavoured Kit Kats as well as a box of Tokyo Banana.

Tokyo Banana is one of the most popular souvenirs you can get in Japan! It's a fluffy sponge cake filled with a banana custard cream. Think Twinkie if you will. I got a box of the maple banana flavour since the design was adorable, but there are other flavours available, including original, caramel, chocolate, and honey. The cakes have a short shelf life (about 1-2 weeks) so it's a good thing I didn't go too crazy with buying them.  

Arriving in Korea at Incheon Airport!

After clearing customs, we picked up our pocket WI-FI (called a pocket egg in Korea) and headed to the subway station at the airport. The AREX train is probably the best and most economical way to get to Seoul from Incheon. We took the Express train, which took about 45 minutes to our destination and cost 14,800₩ (around $17CAD). There's also an all-stop train option, which is significantly cheaper, but takes slightly longer as it stops at every station along the way. 

Instead of buying subway tickets each time, it's also more convenient to get a T-money card from the convenience store. Equivalent to the SUICA or PASMO card in Japan, you just top up the card with money and tap it on the bus or subway. Although Seoul's subway map looks intimidating, I found it so much easier (and less confusing!) to get around in Korea than in Japan.

We booked an Airbnb literally across the street from Seoul Station, which was a great and pretty central location. This was our view from the 15th floor of the apartment. It was also nice to have a lot more space to spread out compared to the apartments in Japan!

After settling in, we went back to Seoul Station and hopped on line 4 to go to Myeong-dong. Myeong-dong is probably the most popular tourist shopping area in Seoul. From clothes to cosmetics to cute socks, it's a great place to get all your shopping done. There's also a ton of restaurants, cafes, and street food stalls. Because a lot of tourists come here, it's not surprising to find workers who can speak English, Mandarin, or other languages besides Korean. I think I was more surprised at how pushy some of the sales people can be. Lots of shops will offer free samples to entice you to step into their store.

Before we shopped, we needed sustenance! Myeong-dong Kyoja has been around for more than 40 years, and has two restaurant branches within close vicinity of each other. Every table here orders the same thing. Almost literally, because they only serve four items! Mandu (dumplings), kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup), bibim guksu (spicy noodles), and kongguksu (noodles in cold soybean soup).

An order of mandu comes with 10. Thin, translucent skins filled with ground pork and vegetables. Super delicious!

We also shared a bowl of kalguksu. Slippery noodles in a warm, comforting broth with minced meat, more dumplings (shaped like wonton instead), and vegetables.

Everyone really enjoyed the meal but my mom and sister particularly loved the kimchi here. It was almost too spicy for me, but you can tell there was a ton of garlic involved in its preparation. 

Shopping time! Before coming to Myeong-dong, I'd advise coming up with some sort of game plan and shopping list. Know what you want so that you won't be as overwhelmed like I was!

Korea has the cutest socks. Only 1,000₩ per pair!

Remember what I said about having ice cream every day on this trip?

Couldn't pass on this adorable rose ice cream! They had four main flavours of ice cream: strawberry, yogurt, chocolate, and green tea. You can order it in any combination that you'd like and they sculpt the rose using paddles instead of scoops. I got the yogurt and strawberry combination and while it's not the best ice cream, I loved the tangy flavour of the yogurt. 

K-pop goods galore. Located in the Myeong-dong underground.

Stylenanda Pink Hotel aesthetics. Someone was literally having a photoshoot in this store.

Hi GD!

We were pretty exhausted so we actually didn't buy too much. At the end of our trip, I almost wished we were able to stop by Myeong-dong once more, especially to try some of the street food! Next time, I guess!

- CT

REVIEW | ALLEGRO ITALIAN KITCHEN (WEST) | EDMONTON

Every time AL's birthday rolls around, I have to remind myself to wear stretchy pants since I know we'll be going for Italian food. Nothing gets the party (or food coma) started quite like pasta.  

Since we like to try a different restaurant each time our group meets, lots of different Italian options were thrown around. Meeting on a Monday wasn't ideal since our first restaurant choice was closed. We eventually settled on Allegro Italian Kitchen, which actually has three locations around the city. Downtown, Little Italy, and Parkview, which is where we went. I'm assuming all three locations are affiliated with each other, but it seems as if each restaurant sports a slightly different menu.

I called just the day before to make a reservation and they were able to accommodate our party of four. Granted it was a Monday and we didn't expect it to be too busy. However, I would keep in mind that the restaurant is quite small so a reservation is probably best. Surprisingly, we weren't the only ones celebrating a birthday, with two other tables also dining in for a special occasion.

KN was the only one to order a starter, that being the aragini di roso ($16.00). Fried risotto balls with a bocconcini centre, served over a bed of marinara sauce. The dish took some time to come out, but our server acknowledged the wait and noted that the arancini usually takes a while to make. Although I didn't try any, the molten mozzarella centre looked amazing and I can appreciate the fact that the dish is made fresh.

AL and SC ordered different pasta dishes but they ended up looking quite similar. SC ordered the penne con asparaci ($25.00), pictured at the front, with penne pasta, chicken, asparagus, sun-dried tomatoes, and roma tomatoes in a white wine cream sauce. AL had the rigatoni primavera ($28.00) with fresh vegetables, chicken, and garlic, also in a white wine cream sauce but you have a choice of marinara as well. The dish also typically comes with prawns but AL asked for them to be left out so the kitchen gave extra chicken to compensate. Portions were extremely generous, with AL and SC packing half of their dishes home.  

For her main, KN ordered the fettucini con salmone ($26.00), egg fettuccini with fresh salmon, smoked salmon, cream and pernod. This came highly recommended from our server after KN was having trouble deciding between two dishes.

As for my pick, I got the spaghetti carbonara ($25.00). Pancetta, onions, eggs, parmigiano, white wine and cream. I was quite surprised at how much pancetta there was, and they weren't just tiny little bacon bits either. The spaghetti did feel a bit dry, lacking the creaminess one might expect from a carbonara, but weirdly enough, I actually prefer my pasta this way.

When our server found out we were celebrating a birthday, he brought out a complimentary cheesecake at the end of the meal. Garnished with raspberry sauce, berries, and whipped cream, the cheesecake also came out with a lit candle and a song. It's the little things that make your guests feel special and the gesture was certainly appreciated. Although everyone confessed that they're not normally cheesecake fans, we all liked this version as it was not too dense.


All in all, pretty good pasta in the west end, which surprisingly has a high concentration of Italian restaurants. Hopefully they fill the void left behind with the closure of Piccolino's down the street. Sans cockroach.

Allegro Italian Kitchen (West)

http://www.allegrorestaurant.ca/  

9650 - 142 ST

Edmonton, AB

(780) 451-6671

- CT

REVIEW | RED OX INN | EDMONTON

** This restaurant is now closed. **

 

I must be getting old because I was getting sleepy even before dinner on New Year's Eve. Nonetheless, to end 2017 off with a bang, we headed to Red Ox Inn, one of the city's most beloved restaurant gems nestled in the neighbourhood of Strathearn. Although it was my first time at the restaurant, I was excited to try the food after hearing so many good things.

Red Ox Inn is considered to be in the fine dining realm but I wouldn't go in expecting white tablecloths or stuffy waitstaff. The restaurant is tiny, but a comfortable, cozy room awaits. It almost feels like stepping into someone's private dining room. It's perfect for an intimate dinner, and the small menu, although nuanced, still seems approachable.

On NYE, they offered a special four-course menu ($85.00), complete with optional wine pairings ($45.00).

To start, we were given a gougère each, a delicate cheese puff with a hint of truffle aroma. Still warm to the touch, I could probably be satisfied with a dinner of just these.  

The first course was a beautiful plate of roasted carrots, served with burrata, basil pesto, and pistachio. Burrata is a special type of cheese, made up of a solid outer ring of fresh mozzarella and a soft, creamy centre of fresh curd and cream. I bet you anything would taste good with burrata but the roasted carrots were something else. They were amazingly sweet, and still retained a bit of bite to them.

The second course was smoked char with kohlrabi, apple, and horseradish. The fish was pan-seared, creating a wonderfully crispy skin that broke apart easily with the tender and slightly fatty flakes of meat. Understandably, it was a bit fishy tasting (which I personally don't mind) but I know others who aren't fond of seafood that would probably not enjoy this dish for that reason. On the side, the kohlrabi salad was a surprisingly delicious pairing. Crisp, refreshing, and creamy with subtle hints of dill. 

For the third dish, we were presented with beef striploin, pomme purée, wild mushrooms, and green peppercorn. As you can tell, the beef was cooked to a perfect medium rare. It had good flavour but was slightly chewy in some parts. The pomme purée, essentially a fancy mashed potato, was creamy and smooth. I'm usually not a fan of mushrooms but they were certainly the star of this dish. I might just become a mushroom convert.

Last but certainly not least, we were served a wedge of lemon curd tart with pine nut and creme fraiche. The lemon curd was super tart, so it helped to distribute the creme fraiche with each bite. I especially liked the tart shell which was tender and crumbled easily. We also noticed a hint of something savoury in the crust as well, perhaps an herb of some sort.


Most people reserve Red Ox Inn for a special occasion, but if you've never been, I wouldn't wait long for a birthday or holiday to come up. Honest good food is always something worth celebrating!

Red Ox Inn

http://www.theredoxinn.com/

9420 91 ST
Edmonton, AB

(780) 465-5727

- CT

P.S. Happy to end 2017 off on a good note! As we head into 2018, it's unbelievable to me that this will be my fourth year blogging. I usually abandon creative projects and hobbies pretty quickly but I guess my love for food will always be eternal. Thanks for sticking around -- here's to 2018, hopefully a year of more great food!