Kobachi Izakaya Dining

It was a Tuesday, one of the nights I have the most success ordering omakase. And the kitchen obliged. This was also my first night having omakase without Vo. Instead, it was Ted and he was in for a real treat.

We started with a small bottle of cold sake, I let the kitchen choose what kind. I’m sure I also ordered some shochu with oolong tea, but it appears I did not get a photo of it. Too busy eating I guess!

Omakase #1: we were served individual bowls of a fruit, vegetable and seafood salad, which included red onion, strawberries, fish and shellfish. A generally sweet dish, with a little zip thanks to the onion.

Omakase #2: on the menu, this item is called yasai no nimono – vegetables simmered in a fish and soy broth. But I recall the menu dish was all vegetables and the one we ate had pork. I have no complaints at all about the addition.

Omakase #3 (large photo) was a simple shared dish of warm stir-fried Napa cabbage. It was a favorite of the night, from its simplicity and my association of Chinese homecooking.

Omakase #4: (lower row) this was a new dish, and I don’t believe it’s on the menu. Tender hamachi (yellowtail) and tofu in sauce. The yellowtail came off in fine shreds when touched gently with our chopsticks. The tofu was smooth and took up the flavors of the sauce nicely.

Omakase #5 was the ever-popular sashimi assortment. Kampachi, special hamachi, red snapper, mackerel and a mystery fish. Only the chef knows what that last fish was. Ever-delicious with just a little dab of wasabi and a little sliver of ginger.

Omakase #6 carried on the theme of the last dish with more sashimi in a sweet miso sauce. Of course, no wasabi or ginger needed with these additional flavors already on the plate.

Omakase #7 was a treat reminiscent of my tasting menu at Matsugen in Manhattan. Cold soba noodles, mountain yam, quail egg, uni. Great layers of flavors and textures, and a very large portion. Ooof!

Ted enjoyed his soba noodles, as did I, and neither of us were able to finish.
We thought we were done, but the kitchen appeared with one final item: glasses of a sweet dessert wine. It’s hard to describe how this tasted without making it sound unappealing but it tasted wonderful. It was fruity, cold, sweet and…oddly seafood-like. I know, crazy!!

Crazy delicious, that is.

Past posts:
28 June 2009
22 June 2009
21 June 2009
7 June 2009
6 June 2009
13 May 2009
7 March 2009
9 February 2009
26 November 2008
12 September 2008

Kobachi Izakaya Dining
4141 State St
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
www.kobachiizakaya.com