Sooj’s Birthday at Kamoshita

Happy to be dining with Sooj and N after months of not seeing them. I knew there was a sliver of hope to celebrate Sooj’s 42nd birthday IRL. So we did. Went for dinner at a bustling Kamoshita. People came in twos and threes (tables and patrons were socially distanced). We had a table right by the door, exactly where I wanted to be. So glad N could make it. She almost couldn't because she had to review a last-minute contract that landed in her lap. We know how difficult it is to tear away from that mid-page through. She managed to catch a break and zoomed out to dinner. Hurrah. I’ve missed her loads too!

We were relieved to see Kamoshita doing well. We love their food and make it point to put it on our monthly restaurant roster. They’ve survived for many years, and while they suffered losses during the closure in the months of Circuit Breaker and Phase 1, they stoically carried on with deliveries and re-opened in Phase 2 to their base of grateful customers.  

We went easy on the alcohol. Nobody wanted to be drunk. The sake was meant to accompany the food and conversation. Oddly the restaurant has run out of a number of cold bottles of sake. Wow. They had only limited 720ml bottles which I didn't fancy, and ones I wanted only came in 180ml carafes. 

Luckily for me, they had three-quarters of a 720ml bottle left of my current favorite sake. I’ll take it! It's a small batch Jikon junmai gingo Nama from Kiyasho Brewery in Mie prefecture. It’s a beautiful mellow brew. I drank loads of it. Hahaha. There’re other Jikon expressions that are nice too, if I can get my hands on them. 

The man went nuts with the menu. He ordered every other item. There was a modest amount of sashimi, and a platter of Japanese cheese, and a few oden items. He then piled the table with lamb chops, ox tongue, pork belly, fried chicken and many other meats. Thank goodness the food came in sharing plates meant for two or three people, so it was perfect for us four. Because of ‘Midnight Diner’ S1E4, he even ordered a warm potato salad. OMG. 

We had two portions of that homemade cold tofu with that delicious and salty nori no tsukudani (海苔の佃煮). I almost ordered four portions of cold tofu, one for each. That’s so full of umami and is too good to share. N was in love with that nori. Teehehehe. I was eagerly waiting for my donabe-cooked tai-meshi. It came at the end of the meal, as the final flourish. It was gorgeous and the portion of carbs is perfect for four people. The friends took a spoonful and instantly fell in love with sea bream rice. We went for seconds. We’re clearly carb monsters. Not a grain of rice was left in our bowls or the donabe. 

Happy Birthday, The Sooj Man! Run easy loops and lift moderately. Gotta love and build your core. Eat more fish to oil your creaky joints well.

Some of the dishes.