My special treat to John for his birthday was a visit to one of our favorite restaurants, Kaygetsu, an small and exquisite Japanese restaurant in Menlo Park. Kaygetsu serves a special prix fixe menu in the Kaiseki style. I placed my reservations two weeks in advance - and it was a good thing, too, because it's hard to get in. A stellar review in one of the San Francisco publications (Ten Best Bay Area Restaurants...) and a Zagat survey result that's just one point behind The French Laundry have packed the place.
The seven course menu went as follows (I took along the menu so I could get the items correct!):
- Sakizuke (starter): Snow crab, fresh tofu skin, thickened dashi sauce, skewered tuna roll with vegetables, shimeji mushroom sauce
- Takiawase (slow cooked dish): Turnip, mizuna greens, wheat gluten, shrimp, shiitake mushroom, carrot, and japanese taro in clear fish broth
- Tsukuri (sashimi): A generous assortment of incredible fish
- Mushimono (steamed dish): Tai snapper andnapa cabbage wrapped with wheat gluten, topped with sea urchin, served with spinach/dashi sauce
- Yaki mono (grilled dish): Roast disk with apple/tamari soy sauce, soft boiled quail egg; burdock, avocado, and arugula salad
- Gohan mono (rice dish): Rice cooked with salmon, fried tofu, and daikon, topped with salmon roe; clear soup with minced white fish and seaweed
- Dessert: soy milk green tea mousse; strawberry sauce; fresh fruit assortment
The menu cannot convey the incredible elegance, beauty, and astonishing taste we experienced. It is truly a revelatory experience. We paired the meal with a pouring of four rare sakes.
If you're in Menlo Park, we highly recommend visiting Kaygetsu!
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