Hasaki (210 E. 9th St., NYC) - 9/12/09
It was rainy and a bit chilly, but so what. On this not-so-lovely day, we ventured out to NYC to catch 'Pinkalicious - The Musical' at the Bleeker Street Theatre. It was really fun - for Ella. So all good. Especially since the show is just a few blocks from one of mom & dad's favorite Japanese restaurants. For about 20 years now, Hasaki has been a reliable, go-to spot with consistently excellent food and service. The sashimi is always high quality, and the rice in their sushi is always as it should be -- each grain distinct and part of the whole, with correct chewiness & texture, and skillfully prepared with understated mix of vinegar & sugar. Sushi chefs here have cold hands; we do not dip their rice in the soy sauce. So on this rainy day, we found our table inside and got ready for deliciousness. Hot sake is always good on such days; warms up taste buds and makes mom & dad happy. First came the Aji special. Wow, horse mackeral is good, but this was really good. In fact, it could not have been better. We also enjoyed the eel & cucumber Kanisu; so refreshing -- all sorts of flavors, textures, and consistencies happening here. Ella was enjoying both offerings, as well, and eyes lit up when her Tempura Udon came out (tempura on the side, of course). Actually, there are not too many better udons to be found. There is effort put into this presentation; perfect noodles, broth, and toppings. And the tempura was light and flakey. Then came the Omakase Sushi & Sashimi combination, which included some chu-toro, sea bass, aji, and scallop sashimi; some arctic char, anago, uni, and kanpachi sushi; and a chu-toro & scallion roll. It was a lovely meal. Of course Ella got her Pinkberry afterwards, so she was all smiles.
