Autumn Omakase at Mori Sushi: A Pictorial Essay

[J.L.]

There's a definite chill in the air, so it was time to return to Mori Sushi for their autumn omakase offerings.

Verdict: Simply fantastic. For me, this wondrous meal reaffirmed Mori Sushi's rightful place as the best edomae-style sushi in Los Angeles.

Photo comments:

Aperatif:
- Special umeshu (sweet plum wine) from Iwate Prefecture, infused with sake! Gently & naturally sweet.

Starters:
- Housemade tofu, freshly grated wasabi, and housemade soy sauce... Refreshing!
- Ankimo (monkfish liver), seaweed, cucumber, ginnan (ginkgo nuts), iwashi shoga (sardines with ginger), okra, nasu (eggplant) with sesame seeds, chestnut, and red shishito pepper...
- Broth of kamasu (baby barracuda), nasu (eggplant), ginnan (gingko nuts) & sudachi (a Japanese citrus)... Clear and complex.
- Grilled makajiki (blue marlin), with baby turnip & sudachi... Wow! So nice!

Beer:
- Allagash White Ale, from Portland, Maine... Perfect with sushi!

Sushi courses (the rice ranks with Yamakase as the top 2 sushi rices in L.A., in my book):
- Suzuki (Japanese sea bass)...
- Ishigarei (wild stone flounder)...
- Aji (Spanish mackerel)...
- Hon shishamo (premium smelt)... Rare to find.
- Buri (wild yellowtail)...
- Hon maguro (bluefin lean tuna)...
- Sayori (Japanese halfbeak, or needlefish)...
- Saba (chub mackerel)...
- Chu-toro (bigeye medium fatty tuna)...
- Aori ika (broad-mantle squid), with shiso leaf...
- Engawa (halibut fin)...
- Mirugai (giant clam)...
- Makajiki (blue marlin)...
- Tako (octopus) with ume (sweet plum)...
- Kinmedai tataki (seared alfonsino, or golden eye snapper)...
- Uni (sea urchin roe), from Santa Barbara...
- Sujiko (salmon roe in sac)...
- Uni (sea urchin roe), from Hokkaido...
- Anago (sea eel)...
- Awabi (abalone)... This monster abalone was 50+ years old!
- Bincho maguro tataki (seared albacore belly)...
- Botan ebi (spot prawn)... The last few weeks of the season for this shrimp.
- O-toro (bluefin fatty tuna)...
- Tamago (egg cake)...

Dessert courses:
- Persimmon gelée, whipped tofu with kuomitsu (black sugar syrup), served with hojicha (Japanese roasted green tea)... A delicate, sweet finish to another great meal by itamae Maru-san.

[J.L.]

Thanks, gang! The rice is a blend of Californian and Japanese varieties, if memory serves. The Allagash is offered at Mori Sushi. The o-toro was a bonus that I had requested from Maru-san. He said that there were so many better fatty fishes that night, that he did not feel the need to include the o-toro as part of the omakase (and Maru-san was right).

The overall cost was $195 per person (incl. alchohol & tax but not tip).

[TailbackU]

what about the uni????

which do u prefer?

[J.L.]

Oh yes, the uni. I thought the Santa Barbara uni was the winner this time around, because it was so smooth, creamy, and delicate. Usually, I prefer the Hokkaido uni from Maru-san. The Hokkaido uni this time tasted very briny. Not a bad thing, necessarily, but taste-wise, it was "colder and harder" than the previous times I've tried Hokkaido uni.

But honestly, with the quality at Mori, I'll take both types anyday.

[TailbackU]

excellent, thanks.

[kevin]

Wow not bad at all. I think my bill was higher even. (shudder(.

But then again I had three pieces of the o-toro And three of the chu-toro and three of the maguro.

I noticed you didn't have the spongecake like tamago ???

[chrishei]

Yeah that's not bad at all. In fact, it's actually really reasonable now that I think about it. Mori remains the last major sushi place on my list that I haven't tried, and this just might push me over the edge...

[TonyC]

good god sushi porn! where's the vasoline?

[kevin]

You mean the KY jelly ?

[ns1]

Ns1/Kevin:

cost?

[kevin]

You were already anticipating my question on cost ?

Thanks for asking first.

[ns1]

Yes, with any sushi thread I can expect you or me to come in asking about cost.

LOL

[ipsedixit]

Meh, just raw fish, what's the big deal.

[insert sarcasm]

Give me a good ol' crusty, deep-fried Filet-O-Fish any day.

[insert more sarcasm]

[kevin]

yeah, it's just raw fish and to think years ago they just threw out the now much prized fatty tuna.

it's tough being a hound.

btw, have any of you ever been dragged to Hara sushi, near Sasabune ???

[kevin]

My first visit to Mori in years, recently, was simply exceptional.

[TailbackU]

How did the Santa Barbara and Hokkaido unis compare?

The o-toro looks rather unimpressive, but the rest looks great.

[Norm Man]

J.L., thanks for the review. What is the cost of Autumn Omakase?

[Ciao Bob]

Beautiful, J.L. thanks!
Are they serving the Allagash or did you bring?

[Porthos]

They have served Alagash white for a while now. Had a seasonal one once a couple years back that was outstanding. Haven't seen it since.

[RicRios]

Did Maru-san serve Mori-san's rice from Uruguay?