Fantastic Feasting at Matsushima

For nearly as long as I have lived in this area, I have known about the Japanese restaurant that sits along the scenic banks of the Hudson River for diners to idly cast their eyes on the NYC skyline. Clearly, this makes for a romantic spot as well. Who cares about the romance. I came for the food! So after many years of curiosity, I've finally dined there! Though it has gone through a few incarnations since my arrival to the state, I'm quite satisifed with it's current form as Matsushima since I don't know any better. ;)

Their menu constantly changes according to the availability of ingredients as well as the seasons, though many staples are available throughout the year. I was advised to order all appetizers from their traditional dining area (second floor) though hibachi was available downstairs. While their entrees are good, those in the know drink plenty of alcohol and nibble on the appetizers. Ah, they certainly know how to have a good time, eh?

And so with the city sparkling on a clear night in front of me and an assortment of seafood placed before my hungry tummy, I enjoyed a delicious meal with the best of friends. What more could I ask for? Oh...that? Well, I suppose I could have a romantic evening out but of course that will have to be slated for another time. ;)

What about the food?!?! Oh right. First, the roll call of the dishes present:

Saba Misoni - Mackerel in miso sauce
Goma Ae - Spinach with a sesame sauce
Asari Clam Soup in Sake
Softshell Crab Kara Age-Fried softshell crab
Salmon Toro Yuzu Miso Yaki - Fatty salmon belly grilled with a yuzu miso sauce
Chicken Tatsuta Age - Fried chicken
Buri Kama - Grilled yellowtail collar
Tako Su - Vinegared octopus
Salmon Sashimi
Grapefruit Sorbet - Homemade!

What a feast eh? It was incredibly delicious down to the sorbet for dessert! We ordered a lot of fatty stuff which is what I like the best. =9 Perhaps a little too much. ;D But the octopus helped alleviate the fattiness on the palate. Ending on a grapefruit sorbet was perfect to refresh our tastebuds. It was not too sweet either-the one thing I hate about most sorbets. You could even fish out bits of grapefruit pulp as you were eating. Clearly, freshy made. Yum!

Well, since I've started with dessert, let's go backwards. The salmon sashimi was incredibly fatty. It wasn't even the toro (fatty belly) so clearly, this place has some top quality fish. Wow wow wow. The best I ever had. I could not talk while eating it. I had to savour every little bite. =9~ The tako su was good too particularly in its texture-just right. The buri kama was unfortunately overcooked most likely due to its thickness. The most interior sections were succulent and fatty but every other part was on the dry side. =( The chicken tatsuta age was also not done well. It was boring and also on the dry side. The salmon toro yuzu miso yaki was so fatty and juicy! The skin was nice and crunchy yet slightly chewy while the flesh was oozing with the fat. Oh! Salmon heaven what with the salmon sashimi too? If I died after that meal, I'd die with a smile on my face. ;) The softshell crab kara age has really spoiled me. I've had a lot of fried softshell crab and this was the best. The shell was airy-crispy while the meat was juicy, tender and thick. I don't know how they did it so well! This crab also had tasty eggs. =9~ Mmm. The asari clam soup had a nice clam flavor with a hint of sake. However, I found the flavor of bonito a bit too overpowering. The clams themselves were tendy, flavourful and grit-free. It seems goma ae was our only vegetation for the meal. Oops! Though simple in form, it was delicious! The naturally sweet spinach was paired well with what appeared to be a handground sesame sauce. You could feel bits of the sesame hulls, but what really awed me was the fresh flavour. Mmm! I'm always amazed at how top quality ingredients prepared even in the simplest manner is so profoundly delicious. It saddens me how our food practices have changed what food really is all about.

Ah, let's not get down about such a wonderful meal. I've saved the best for last. It was my favourite dish of the evening: saba misoni. The saba was so tender and fatty, it just melted in my mouth! The flavour of the miso sauce was intense, salty and complex which married perfectly with the strong flavour of saba. Ahhhh!!! So devine! Now behold what captivated my tastebuds during the meal and even now as I describe it: