MORE FOOD FOR THOUGHT

SIBLING RIVALRY …AT ITS BEST

 

HAMASAKU ON MELROSE-

There is no competition and no question about it, Hamasaku has the BEST sushi, and its sister restaurant, Hamasaku on Melrose, doesn’t disappoint.  The sleeker, more chic interior is the only difference from the original.

 

I am still dreaming about the salmon crab sushi and crab hand rolls.  Not to mention that even the cooked entrees are amazing as well.  The Wagyu beef melts in your mouth, and the miso cod is on another level! 

 

Like the head of any good family, Toshi Kihara makes everyone feel like a superstar with a special surprise at the end of each meal.  Let’s just say that the treat is as flashy as the flavors!

 

All in all, Hamasaku is a family affair that everyone should want to be a part of!

 

For more information on this sizzling “sister-act” visit http://www.gayot.com/restaurantpages/LosAngelesInfo.php?tag=LARES08111133-02&code=LA

 

 

HAMASAKU ON MELROSE

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOP PICKS AT AN OVER-THE-TOP PLACE

 

ALINEA-

Alinea is packed with interesting and exotic dishes, but it borderlines bizarre. The highlights were the trout roe with coconut custard and passion fruit hyssop. The wagyu beef maitake with smoked date and blis elixir (aged sherry-syrup) were also divine. The rabbit with prune, shallot, sKewered on burning oak leaves was delicious as well as decadent.  Not to mention the hot potato-cold potato with black truffle butter and the bacon with butterscotch, apple, thyme, and dry caramel shot at the end were two of my top picks!  However, the meal over all was a bit too fussy, even for me.  Too much time was spent on trying, and not enough on tasting what was placed on the table.

 

To pick some courses of your own to try, take a look at their menu on http://www.alinea-restaurant.com/index.html as well as the review on Gayot.com at http://www.gayot.com/restaurants/alinea-chicago-il-60614_5ch050604.html