The post I am about to share with you is one of my most memorable and treasured dining experiences. I hope you enjoy reading about it almost as much as we enjoyed our time there.
“Context and memory play powerful roles in all the truly great meals in one’s life”. Anthony Bourdain
As a first time tourist to Japan, this restaurant was incredibly hard to find. Tucked away in an unidentifiable side street, Seitaro sits just 10 people at any one time. I imagine that there could not be too many restaurants these days that could survive for so many years, serving so few people in any one sitting. This is part of what makes Seitaro so great – you know you are going to experience something special.
Ramen on the run!
After a weeklong craving for ramen I managed to convince my best friend, Stacee, to squeeze in a quick pit stop at Ryo’s Noodles before heading out. On the way there, knowing that she was a Ryo virgin I set the ground rules.
1) Expect a queue (and yes, we are queuing if need be)
2) Expect a small hole-in-the-wall restaurant
3) Expect good ramen – very, very good ramen …
Smoked perfection lacking variety
You know you have found the right place when you are greeted by the unmistakable waft of smokey goodness as you walk through the door. Instantly our imagination (or was it hunger?) was filled with delightful meaty delicacies hanging in a traditional smokehouse shed. However, those expecting to find a variety of smoked meats, salamis and the like should look elsewhere. The Smokehouse team are masters at their craft and specialise in traditional, hot smoked seafood. May I add very, very good smoked seafood using only the finest local ingredients and aged South Coast hardwood.
The menu itself offered around 8 different entrees and about 8 different mains. We love a bit of variety, so for the entree we were pleased to find a “tasting plate for two” to share.
While busy exploring Twitter this week, I developed an instant obsession with photos of Quay’s 8 texture chocolate cake that adorned Reemski’s profile page (and check out her blog at http://www.tummyrumble.net/). The gooey, soft chocolate layers quickly prompted me to dig out my own chocolate brownie recipe that I had adapted from Nigel Slater’s “Very Good Chocolate Brownies” recipe. Here’s a teaser of the end result.
