Morimoto Takeover...

In this installment of In The Kitchen With Big Sexy....hold it....we need to change the name to reflect what the weekend was about.  So we'll try this title...

Destination Dining!

Yeah, that's better...

In the inaugural installment of Destination Dining, the team descended into Napa and paid a visit to the restaurant owned by "Iron Chef" Masaharu Morimoto, Morimoto Napa.

I was first informed that there was an Iron Chef restaurant within driving distance from Alvina at the Yolo DA's office.  That got me thinking...then I spoke to my friend Lori who lives in Honolulu and mentioned it to her ans told me that she had been to the one in Waikiki and that it was spectacular! Again, the wheels are spinning....

So after juggling some dates around, I got a large group set up for the 1st of September.  And we descended onto the street of Napa and took it over...(You Wrestling fans cue the NWO music here...)

The day started with Patty and I meeting up with our friends Kelly and Terry and their kids over at Downtown Joe's.  Because I was planning on going berzerk at Morimoto later, I decided on the Heirloom Tomato and Mozzarella Salad, which was excellent.  But the company was even better! We hung out there and caught up on things, and without getting too heavy into it, there is a couple down in Santa Cruz who learned the hard way that Kelly is the WRONG lawyer to test in the the street...don't let the smile and the suit fool you...my girl can handle her bidness, yes I said bidness, and regulate a situation!  We had a LOT of fun and it was great to see them and walk around downtown Napa just chatting.

As the time approached for our reservation at Morimoto, the team began to roll into town...

Dwayne and fellow food blogger Susan, from http://susan-susancancook.blogspot.com/ called to let us know they were tinkering around  town, my big brother Cass and his wife Bobbi shot me a text saying they were in route.  It was beginning to shape up...

At 5:30 the six of us were seated and we were soon joined by John and Gina, and finally by Nicole and Maya.  It was time to see if the Iron Chef had the goods...

We ordered a bunch of sushi rolls, tea, beer, and wine and just as we started to slow down the momentum, I ratcheted it back up and ordered the biggest Chef's Sampling platter they had and that put us into sushi comas...  I think only Nicole and Maya and Gina had the energy for desert.  We were all just exhausted and satisfied.  To share what we enjoyed, I present..."The Rundown"...

Lobster Wonton
Calamari Salad
Wagyu Beef Carpaccio
2 California Rolls
2 Spicy Tuna Rolls
2 Soft Shell Crab Rolls
Salmon Skin Roll
Spicy Yellowtail Roll
Unagi Avocado Roll
Yellowtail Roll
Assorted individual Nigiri pieces with Unagi and Crab
And the behemoth Chef's Sampler

We.  Ate.

Now I have been turned on to the best fish suppliers in this region, but the fish they had at Morimoto was dare I say it, better... Could it be due to the closeness in proximity to the Bay Area? Not sure, but I do know near the end of the evening I decided it was time to test them like I test all sushi places for quality, the Unagi.

Without question the Unagi, or Barbecued Eel is my favorite selection of fish, and it can easily be flubbed by a substandard chef.  But when it's done right, it is magical...I have seen many people who claim to not like sushi because its raw try this, because its barbecued, and have their mind blown.

So I ordered up six pieces of Unagi for us to take a shot at...and all of us had the same glazed over look of total food ecstasy...the Unagi was perfect.  Susan put it best: "We should have STARTED with this..." Could not agree more!  We all had a great time and have made plans to do another Destination Dining event in December.  As cliche as it sounds, great food is made greater when shared with good friends...

Morimoto gets my highest possible recommendation and full on Big Sexy endorsement!

Yes, I bought his cookbook...

Until next time...:)