What an absolutely delightful experience. I don't consider myself a sushi connoisseur beyond rolls…read moreas I am not a huge fan of fish, but I have to say that Omakase Yume has made me sort of rethink my position. The Queen was kind enough to treat me and The Doctor to dinner here as a thank you for helping her move into her new place. I was aware that this was going to be tasting experience but wasn't sure what to expect since it was sushi. But rest assured, Chef Sangtae Park's house was in order and on full display, showing off his brilliance. I say brilliance because to get me to eat fish is a HUGE win!
I am old school and my point of reference for any tasting experience is always Charlie Trotter's back in the day as that was an exceptional dining experience that set the baseline of what I expect from a restaurant. Omakase Yume and Chef Sangtae Park did not disappoint.
The entrance to the restaurant is pretty unassuming and when you walk through the door, Omakase Yume is small and intimate. There is only seating for six people, with the preparation area being the center of attention. There were two servers (Iown and another gentleman whose name I did not get) who greeted us and showed us to our seats. We we immediately asked if we wanted still or sparkling water, presented the menu for the day as well as the drinks menu. Next we presented with warm towels to cleanse our hands.
The Queen did not get the wine pairing as she wasn't sure if we would want it, so we went with the adult beverages on the menu. The Queen and I started out with a non-alcoholic sparkling wine, Mas Fi 0% Dealcoholized Sparkling Wine from Spain. It was very nice and a little on the dry side, which I love. To follow up, I ordered a bottle of Krug Grande Cuvée 172ème Édition as this was a special family date night. For me, this was a perfect pairing for the night to come.
The evening presented us with 16 tasting experiences. I will just insert here to cover all of the tasting experiences, you definitely need to do it in one bite, that helps extremely with the impact of the flavor profile. And shout out to the servers explaining each bite as it was presented.
Tamago Tofu (Egg tofu. crab. ikura): this was the only item I did not get a photo of. This was a surprise as I had no idea that tofu could be made from egg and it was delicious! The salmon caviar, or ikura, was excellent and complemented the dish. The crab was very nice as well.
Hirame (Fluke, kimchi puree): not being a fish person, this was a nice way to introduce me to the rest of what was coming for me. I wasn't sure what to expect with the kimchi puree, but it was pretty good and not as spicy as I thought it would be.
Madai (Red Snapper, konbu salt, yuzu): again another winner. Again to my surprise, another fish that was delicious. The yuzu flavor was lovely as I am a big fan of anything citrus. The touch of sour and bitter was nice when paired with the red snapper.
Akami (Red Tuna. negi toro), Chutoro (Medium-fatty Tuna) & Otoro (Fatty Tuna, black salt): this was a learning experience for me as I had no idea that there were different parts of the tuna that were medium-fatty, fatty and lean. I love a tasting experience where I can taste and learn something new.
Kanpachi (Amberjack, smoked salt, sesame oil. aonori): this was by far my favorite tasting! That one bite was mind blowing for me and I had to stop myself from asking for another one! The smoked salt, sesame oil and aonori were so good with the Amberjack and rice. Again I tasted and learn something new: aonori is an edible green marine algae and I loved it.
Sake #1 (Smoked salmon, chef's sauce): second favorite dish. Chef's sauce was on point with the smoked salmon. And what was so cool was watching Chef actually smoke the salmon in front of us in this lovely wooden box.
Kohada (Gizzard Shad), Botan Ebi (Sweet Shrimp, shrimp powder), and Uni (Sea urchin). Lovely lovely bites each with a distinct flavor profile. Again new tasting and learning experiences for me.
Misoyaki (Grilled Miso marinated Black Cod): yummy and so cool watching Chef grill it in front of us! Miso Soup (Bolan ebi head broth): first time having miso and it was good!
Wagashi: Nerikiri (shiroan, koshian, luxardo cherry) and Petite gateau (yakult, white peach, green cardamom) were a lovely finish to the meal for dessert.
The overall dining experience was great, from the servers, the presentation and getting to take a photo with the Chef. We also got to speak to the owner and we have decided to make this an annual dining visit. I loved watching Chef Sangtae Park prepare each dish as much as tasting them. I am looking forward to our next visit.