Happy New Year! It's another one in the books and it was a pretty chilly (by San Diego standards) and wet one as well.
It's been a busy year for me; but I still made it out yesterday, to do, as I've done since 2005, to check out the variety of Osechi set out by our local Japanese Markets. Like I noted from back in 2017 these markets have really scaled back and these days they ask folks to put in orders. I started with Mitsuwa….which might have been a mistake as there wasn't much of anything out at 9am.
Nijiya was bustling at 915.
And I ended getting a few items there.
Marukai didn't have much at all.
The Missus wanted something different for New Years Day this year; so I didn't do quite as much shopping….at least at these places as usual.
And, just like last year, we had the New Years Eve dinner at Et Voila! We brought along a bottle of Champagne from our favorite little Champagne House in Écueil. This was our favorite while doing tastings in Champagne. It's from a very small "house"; it's literally under a house and they do not ship or sell, via normal channels in the US.
I gotta say; even though some of the dishes were quite similar to last year; I think Et Voila has stepped up their game. There were a few things we didn't care for; the pheasant was too dry and the mushroom cream sauce too sweet, but as a whole this was a very nice meal.
The Lobster Bavarois with Périgord Truffle Caviar – just plain delici-yoso!!!
Dorade and Hamachi Crudo.
Grilled Blue Prawns and Snow Crab Raviolis – prawns were very tasty but a bit over-cooked.
Seared Maine Diver Scallops – seared perfectly, super tender. The uni espuma was quite interesting.
I'm usually not a big fan of the meat and poultry at ET; but this Beef Tenderloin was perfectly cooked and almost fork tender and that shaved black truffle didn't hurt things at all.
The afore mentioned Pheasant Breast Ballotine with Chestnut Gnocchi.
And of course dessert….which the Missus enjoyed.
Et Voilà!
3015 Adams Ave
San Diego, CA 92116
As for New Years; well, no Nishime this year….instead the Missus wanted Matzo Ball Soup??? Go figure…. So on Saturday I went to Wing Lee Poultry and bought a chicken and made the soup on Sunday. Skimmed and strained on Monday, made the Matzo Balls and let it soak in the goodness, ready for today.
As for me….well, I went fairly traditional.
We here at mmm-yoso would like to send out our best wishes for a wonderful 2019!
Thanks for stopping by!