NC Triangle Dining

Find the Best Restaurants, Food, and Drink in Raleigh, Durham, Cary & Chapel Hill

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First Take: Mama Jee Delivers Sushi and Thai for W. Raleigh and NC State

Mama Jee in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Mama Jee in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Hillsborough Street in Raleigh is one of the busier streets in the area but given its proximity to a college, it’s food offerings are usually somewhat mixed. You get the usual burgers, pizza, subs and Chinese food here but it’s usually a case of quantity over quality. But over the years, it’s had its fair share of decent restaurants. Good dining options include H Street Kitchen, Gonza Tacos y Tequila and now the new Mama Jee. Billed as a Thai and Sushi Bar, Mama Jee sits on the intersection of Hillsborough and Dixie Trail Road in an area rife with construction. But I decided to drop in for lunch and see what this new restaurant was bringing to the neighborhood!

Bar at Mama Jee in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Bar at Mama Jee in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Built in a brand new building, Mama Jee is pretty unassuming on the outside. I had poked my head into their windows during construction but didn’t get a good feel for the space. But as soon as you step in, wow! Super modern, clean and impressive design all around their interior, where do you start? From the lovely polished wood bar complete with leather high-top chairs to the curved, granite-faced sushi bar to the dark wood floor, everything just feels right to the eyes here. And definitely better than most restaurants on Hillsborough Street, Mama Jee just feels a little bit fancy.

Sushi bar at Mama Jee in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Sushi bar at Mama Jee in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

I’m seated at the sushi bar by the restaurant manager, Jung. He’s a friendly young guy and fills me in on the Mama Jee story. Brought to you by the people behind Thai House in N. Raleigh (and yes, Mama is real), Mama Jee is their 2nd restaurant and an attempt to bring a high-service feel to the NC State dining crowd. The tough part of dining at these Japanese-Thai combo restaurants that are so popular in the Triangle is which way to go? The spicy flavors of Thai cuisine or the more subtle and simple flavor profile of Japanese? Well, my decision gets made when the manager sends over a comped plate of salmon carpaccio.

Salmon carpaccio at Mama Jee in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Salmon carpaccio at Mama Jee in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

And given it’s my first visit to Mama Jee, color me impressed! It’s a fantastic looking plate full of texture and color. The base of the carpaccio is flash-fried salmon skin with a light bubbly coating. On top there is chopped salmon, mango salsa, ponzu sauce and red/black tobio (fish roe). Pop one of these bad-boys into your mouth and you get an explosion of flavor and mouth-feel. From the slightly crunchy skin to the soft fish on top and sweet from the fruit, it’s a great bite and starter.

Dragon fire and Tornado rolls at Mama Jee in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Dragon fire and Tornado rolls at Mama Jee in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

For my main I’ve gone with a couple of manager recommendations. While Mama Jee doesn’t do BOGO rolls, the prices is totally reasonable for lunch: 2 rolls for $16. I’ve ordered up the Dragon Fire roll along with the cooked Tornado roll. The plate of rolls comes out and it looks gorgeous with tons of color. The Dragon Fire pulls together spicy crab, shrimp tempura, jalapeno with a bit of sriracha and sweet glaze on top. Love it, there’s a bit of sweet and spicy on this roll and it’s just good. And while the Tornado roll isn’t “traditional”, I can’t resist this roll given it’s flash-fried with potato strings and is plated in a twisted heap! Shrimp tempura, avocado and spicy mayo completes this roll and it’s a lot of food, Imma ready to tap out…

Modern interior at Mama Jee in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Modern interior at Mama Jee in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Service at Mama Jee’s is very good, they’ve got young staff but are definitely ready to keep you happy. But because the manager knew I did a food blog, I came back for a second visit to try the Thai side of the menu, incognito. The spicy Thai wing appetizer is fantastic! Bubbly, crusty battered chicken with some sweet and sour sauce, I highly recommend this dish. And the pad kee mao (drunken noodles) was solid but not my favorite dish out of what I’ve tried at Mama Jee’s.

Spicy thai wings at Mama Jee in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Spicy thai wings at Mama Jee in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining
Drunken noodles with pork at Mama Jee in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Drunken noodles with pork at Mama Jee in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

All in all, l I was really impressed with what they are doing here. While I’m usually not a fan of pan-Asian restaurants (feel they should stick to one cuisine), Mama Jee’s is doing a great job on both the Japanese/sushi and Thai side of their offerings. Service is solid, prices are decent and the decor is excellent. Especially for their prices. Based upon that performance, I’m adding them to my best restaurants around NC State list. So welcome to Hillsborough Street Mama Jee! Love your food and look forward to meeting you some day…

 

Mama Jee Thai, Sushi and Bar

105 Friendly Drive, Suite 101

Raleigh, NC 27607

919.307.8403

 

Location on Google maps

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First Take: City Market Sushi in Raleigh Dazzles the Eyes and Taste Buds

Front of City Market Sushi, Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Front of City Market Sushi, Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Over in City Market, you’ll find an interesting group of restaurants. Longtime favorites like Woody’s, Big Ed’s, and Vic’s Italian serving up the basics. But I’ll be honest with you, those options don’t really do much for me. So I’m glad to see some more upscale restaurants coming to the cobble-stoned streets of City Market. First there was the edition of Cafe Lucarne, a French eatery for lunch. Next up was Royale, an upscale French restaurant. And now what? City Market Sushi, a fresh and new taste of Japanese food for the area. I had seen some good online reviews for City Market Sushi so I was able to slip in for a lunch during their opening week. And  I can tell you it was all pretty impressive…

Interior of City Market Sushi, Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Interior of City Market Sushi, Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Head over to Blake Street in City Market and you’ll see some reflective plate glass windows with some white, decorative art adorning the faces. Beyond those windows lie some delicious fish and Japanese food! Inside, City Market Sushi takes on a more beguiling look. Simple but fashionably adorned, you’ll find some more modern bent-wood seating, overhead lamps and a simple brown, black and white color palette. A small sushi bar sits to your right along with some two-top seating for the “lounge” area.

Sushi Bar at City Market Sushi, Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Sushi Bar at City Market Sushi, Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

It’s only day 3 for City Market sushi and since I’m dining solo, I grab a high boy in the sun shiney front of the space. The menu is small with 5 or 6 small plates, some bento boxes, signature dishes and rolls. I go for the Ni bento box which offers up a soft-shell crab slider, pork belly salad, sashimi and spicy tuna rolls. For $12, it sounds like a great deal!

Garlic edamame at City Market Sushi, Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Garlic edamame at City Market Sushi, Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

They’ve got a substantial amount of staff at City Market Sushi and while the space is pretty empty even after noon, patrons start flowing in after 12:15. I’m guessing word is still getting out about City Market Sushi! My waiter Jason, drops off my garlic edamame which are nicely seared and drizzled with a garlic soy marinade. Very tasty, the tender soybean gets amped up with that hint of savory sodium with some garlicky underneath, interesting preparation!

Ni bento box at City Market Sushi, Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Ni bento box at City Market Sushi, Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Next up is my bento box which looks fabulous. City Market Sushi has done a great job with preparation, serving this lunch meal in a six-compartment bamboo tray. I spy a beautiful slider, a fresh looking salad, 4 pieces of sushi, 2 pieces of sashimi along with some pork belly and a colorful collection of condiments to bling out the meal. So we’ve got a beautiful presentation for a LOT of food, thanks City Market Sushi!

Sashimi at City Market Sushi, Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Sashimi at City Market Sushi, Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

I dive into the sashimi first which is tender and substantial to the tongue. Luscious salmon and tuna slices, nicely striated with sinew. Next up are the spicy tuna rolls which are truly spicy and show off some great, supple rice on the outside. I move on to the salad which is a nice mix of mesclun, avocado, tomato and cucumber in a light marinade.

Soft-shell crab slider at City Market Sushi, Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Soft-shell crab slider at City Market Sushi, Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Moving on to the main course, City Market Sushi does a wonderful pork belly salad! Lightly breaded and tender pork slices with a bit of chew. Contrasted against the light greens makes for some deliciousness. And then the soft-shell crab slider is certainly interesting. A well-fried crustacean peeking out from between a soft round bun, I wasn’t sure how to bite into this sammich. But overall I was pretty impressed with the creativity, plating and diversity of food on City Market Sushi’s lunch bento. You can’t ask for a much better mid-day meal, in my opinion. Although you might need a nap afterwards…

Spicy tuna roll at City Market Sushi, Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining
Spicy tuna roll at City Market Sushi, Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Service at City Market Sushi was excellent with Jason. Seasoned server who knows the menu well and timed the meal. Note that City Market Sushi does not have its liquor license as of late December but I’m sure they’re working hard on it. I’m so glad you’re here City Market Sushi, providing some diversity in the Raleigh food ecosystem. Along with Sono, we’ve now got an excellent second choice for Japanese food and sushi, arigato!

 

City Market Sushi

315 Blake Street

Raleigh, NC 27601

919.322.1987

 

Location on Google maps

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First Take: Noodle Blvd in Cary For a Heart-Warming Bowl of Ramen

Noodle Blvd in Cary - NC Triangle Dining
Noodle Blvd in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

When it comes to Asian food, the Triangle can be a bit tough in terms of finding authentic eats. But over the years, Cary has been a bit of a mecca if you’re up for down-home Chinese or Indian food in the area. And now you can add ramen to the list! While more and more restaurants have been adding it to their menus, ramen shops are a bit tougher to find outside of Dashi in Durham. So I was excited to see all the great reviews roll in for Noodle Blvd in Cary! Especially with the cold weather coming soon, ramen can be a really heart-warming comfort food for me so off I go…

Seating at Noodle Blvd in Cary - NC Triangle Dining
Seating at Noodle Blvd in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

Located in a quiet strip plaza off of N. Harrison, you’ll have to keep an eye out for the discrete store front driving by. And while Noodle Blvd looks like it’s quite big from the outside, you find out differently once you step inside. With an open kitchen on one side and a thin, L-shaped dining room, seating is quite limited for tables (2-tops) with a smattering of bar stool type seating at the window and kitchen bar which feels sort of ramen house traditional.

Dining room seating at Noodle Blvd in Cary - NC Triangle Dining
Dining room seating at Noodle Blvd in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

And while the space is pretty basic, Noodle Blvd sports some interesting touches. Industrial piping is used for the stools and foot rests along the bar. There are some bright splashes of colors in the green and pink chairs and you can watch all the action in the kitchen as they prepare your noodle soups! And thankfully it’s a very short menu here at Noodle Blvd, spanning one laminated sheet. Some traditional ramens (shoyu, tonkatsu), non-traditional options along with some Japanese appetizers. I order up some gyoza as a starter and an interesting sounding Bangkok ramen for my main.

Gyoza appetizer at Noodle Blvd in Cary - NC Triangle Dining
Gyoza appetizer at Noodle Blvd in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

The gyoza come out pretty quickly and it’s a good looking plate of 5 pan-fried beauties. They’ve got a thin skin and are served up with a slightly sweet soy-based sauce which is pretty good. A delicious start although I’m not sure if these dumplings are made in-house.

Bowl of Bangkok ramen at Noodle Blvd in Cary - NC Triangle Dining
Bowl of Bangkok ramen at Noodle Blvd in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

My bowl of Bangkok ramen falls into the non-traditional ramen category and is served in a clear broth spiked with shrimp, pork, bean sprouts, jalapenos and topped with crunchy wonton noodles. There’s just enough heat in the broth to catch your attention and the ramen noodles are cooked perfectly. Digging around, you can go for seafood or go for pork. There’s a lot of eating options in the bowl and it’s a very enjoyable meal! Overall I was pretty pleased with Noodle Blvd but just be aware that it’s a bit casual with limited space inside.  And while I’m not sure when I’ll be back next given its location, if you do live in the hood, Noodle Blvd is totally worth a slurpy visit…

 

Noodle Blvd

919 N Harrison Avenue

Cary, NC 27513

919.678.1199

 

Location on Google maps

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Travel: Futo Buta for Ramen and Hip Japanese Tude in Charlotte

Front of Futo Buta in Charlotte- NC Triangle Dining
Front of Futo Buta in Charlotte- NC Triangle Dining

If you’re a food-lover, it’s always great to get tips and recommendations from your network. On a recent trip to Charlotte, we’re heading back and looking for a bite to eat. My friend Art (@ruwandering), tells me about a ramen shop he heard about downtown through his friends. So yes, off we go to find Futo Buta and a good bowl of ramen in the Queen City!

Ramen bar at Futo Buta in Charlotte- NC Triangle Dining
Ramen bar at Futo Buta in Charlotte- NC Triangle Dining

Be aware that Futo Buta is in a tricky and hard to find spot. While the address says Bland Street, there wasn’t much (any?) parking there and regardless of where you park, you’ll have to hoof it over a bit. I ended up on South Boulevard at a meter which is pretty close. Out front, Futo Buta has a small sidewalk patio and corner entrance. The inside of Futo Buta is really nicely done. A classic ramen bar, communal table with high-top seating (interesting Japanese influenced, metal chairs) along with some small 2-tops. It has the feel of an izakaya but dotted with kitschy little touches.

Kitschy mural at Futo Buta in Charlotte- NC Triangle Dining
Kitschy mural at Futo Buta in Charlotte- NC Triangle Dining

The menu is pretty short with a handful of small plates, buns and six ramen bowls. I go for my favorites: some pork belly buns along with shoyu ramen! The servers at Futo Buta are pretty young but well-trained, working in a team service. Our starters show up, some grilled brussel sprouts along with my buns. The sprouts look great, seared nicely with large bonito flakes (smoked tuna) scattered on top for extra flavor. It’s a good portion but thankfully, pretty healthy. I get two pork belly buns that are well-steamed and presented with a thick, slice of belly along with some finely shredded slaw. Some scallions and a slightly spicy gochujang bbq sauce is smeared on the bun. It’s a subtle and lighter presentation for a pork belly bun, nicely done!

Grilled brussel sprouts at Futo Buta in Charlotte- NC Triangle Dining
Grilled brussel sprouts at Futo Buta in Charlotte- NC Triangle Dining
Pork belly buns at Futo Buta in Charlotte- NC Triangle Dining
Pork belly buns at Futo Buta in Charlotte- NC Triangle Dining

Our bowls of ramen show up next and they are lovingly served up in conical earthenware with a small plastic broth spoon. A jar of chopsticks sit on the table at the ready for the meal. Peering into my bowl I’ve got some nicely browned broth, along with 2 or 3 slices of pork, half an egg and some other greens (seaweed, bamboo, spring onion). The noodles are toothsome and the broth has some good depth to it without being salty, excellent. Digging around the bowl, there’s a lot of flavor and textures going on here and it’s a tasty meal! And at $12, plenty of food for the price.

Shoyu ramen at Futo Buta in Charlotte- NC Triangle Dining
Shoyu ramen at Futo Buta in Charlotte- NC Triangle Dining
Rest room door at Futo Buta in Charlotte- NC Triangle Dining
Rest room door at Futo Buta in Charlotte- NC Triangle Dining

A quick stop to the restroom shows off some anime figures painted on the doors. We grab our check and pay up, Futo Buta is slowly filling up with couples and the younger crowd in this neighborhood. And all I can say is that I was impressed! While the menu is a slight spin on Japanese, it felt relatively authentic and real to me. Along with the decent prices, hip decor and solid service, I’m thinking this place would probably be really popular in an easier to find location. But not to worry my friend! If you make the effort to find Futo Buta in Charlotte you’ll realized it’s worth the trouble. Because it’s hard to go wrong with a delicious bowl of ramen to get your evening started…

 

Futo Buta

222 E Bland Street

Charlotte, NC 28203

704.376.8400

 

Location on Google maps
Futo Buta Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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Event: Mura Wine vs Sake Battle Royale, Part 2

Mura's Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Mura’s Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

In the world of special dinners in the Triangle, it’s hard to go wrong with the offerings from Eschelon Experiences! I’ve done them at Mura, Oxford and Cameron Bar & Grill and it’s always a fun evening of excellent food paired with good wine and/or beer. I had been to Mura for lunch a while back and had spoken to their manager Tripp who told me they were working on an upcoming wine/sake dinner. So as soon as I saw the event go up for sale on Eschelon Experiences, I grabbed a couple of seats and good thing since they sold out in under 48 hours. With nine food courses on tap and six wine-sake pairings I had NO doubt it would be a fun evening and even better, on a Monday night…

Mura's lounge for Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Mura’s lounge for Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Place setting for Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Place setting for Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

We stopped in at about 6:30 and the group was just starting to gather in Mura’s lounge and bar area. At a bit before 7pm, 30+ lucky diners get escorted to Mura’s back dining room for this very special meal. At each place setting is a menu on a long card for the evening. We will get to choose our favorite beverage out of each pairing for the evening, all provided by Mutual Distributing. And even though we won’t get a wine-sake pairing for each of the nine courses, we will get them for six which means 12 pours in total, whoa!

Mutual Distributing at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Mutual Distributing at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Sara Guterbock, a sake sommelier from Mutual Distributing Company opens up the dinner with some fluent Japanese and tells us about the pairing process for the meal. She suggests trying the wine or sake first solo and the after you’ve tried the dish which will give it a very different flavor profile. We will also have the option to purchase any of the wines or sakes sampled tonight, wholesale at the end of the evening! Winner, winner, wine and sake dinner!

Crab crisp at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Crab crisp at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Course 2 Hiramasa tataki at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Course 2 Hiramasa tataki at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

We open up the meal with a crab crisp: warm melty crab piled on a crunchy wonton strip, very nice start. Hiramasa tataki is next, three slices of amberjack tuna lightly seared. It’s served with garlic chips and black salt which makes for a mouth-meltingly bite! A carrot butterfly sits on the plate overlooking the dish, excellent presentation. Paired with a Mondavi fume blanc and some clean sake works well for this plate.

Course 3 botan shrimp nigiri at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Course 3 botan shrimp nigiri at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Next up is a beautiful botan shrimp nigiri with caviar presented with the flash-fried head of the prawn. On the side, came a sushi slice (mostly rice) designed with a butterfly. Each diner had a slightly different sushi slice with a different creature on it, great creativity. The shrimp nigiri was plump and had great texture to each bite. I was really impressed by the work that went into this plate from a presentation standpoint.

Course 4 grilled abalone at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Course 4 grilled abalone at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Course four is grilled abalone with garlic butter, three slices of chewiness presented on the back of a shell. It all had the look of an artistic snail and while the sliced abalone was not a diner favorite at the table, again it was a fun presentation and plated beautifully. The abalone was more about texture than taste which was fine by me!

Course 5 pineapple sorbet at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Course 5 pineapple sorbet at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Chefs at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Chefs at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

We’re finally at the mid-point of the meal and served a palate cleanser: pineapple sorbet. As the wine and sake has flowed, the volume and noise in Mura’s dining room has gone up four times and of course the lucky guests are getting a little boisterous! We’re introduced to the Mura chefs and Eschelon restaurant group’s leader is in the house, G. Patel. I see the man everywhere and of course it’s always good to catch up with him.

Course 6 sake braised pork belly at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Course 6 sake braised pork belly at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Course six for this grand meal shows up and it’s a sake-braised pork belly with Asian pear and scallions. I love the color and depth of the broth it’s served in, looks great. My friend Gina loves it but it’s not my favorite! The sear leaves a pretty chewy surface on top but it’s still tasty. Come on now we’re talking pork belly. The wines have moved into the reds now, we’re doing a solid pinot noir with our first meat course. Overall I’ve found the sakes to be very consistently decent and more neutral which makes for an easier pairing. However with the correctly paired wine, the plate and food definitely pops a bit more.

Course 7 golden toro tartar at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Course 7 golden toro tartar at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Course seven is toro tartar served on crispy taro chips. It’s a simple but amazing looking dish with lots of deep colors set off by the flash of gold, beautiful stuff. And I love the stiff chip contrasted against the soft, luscious fish. Nicely done here!

Course 8 grilled lamb chops at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Course 8 grilled lamb chops at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

We’re on our last savory course, charred lamb chops on grilled rice with wasabi dijonaisse. The lamb is nicely seared and I like the lightly spicy sauce it’s paired with. And after all the lighter courses it’s great to get a bit of reddish meat to amp up the meal a bit.

Course 9 yuzu cheesecake w sesame tuile at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Course 9 yuzu cheesecake w sesame tuile at Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

And finally dessert! A yuzu (citrus) cheesecake with a sweet, chewy sesame crisp perched atop. Good mouth-feel here with the lusciousness of the cheesecake contrasted against the crisp, chewy tuile. A fine ending to a wonderful meal here at Mura!

Gina loves the Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Gina loves the Mura Wine vs Sake dinner, Part II in Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

As the meal and evening ends, Gina and I mark off some of our favorite wines and sake for purchase and we are off. The whole Wine vs. Sake crowd heads out full of great food, vino and sake. It was one of the best special dinners I’ve had in the Triangle and a wonderful surprise for me. Between the great beverages and well presented dishes, Mura’s Wine vs. Sake dinner was an incredible value. And while I’m not sure when they will run this dinner again, there are plenty of other good ones to check out on the Eschelon Experience website. But if Mura runs Wine vs. Sake Part III, you can be sure I’ll be there again, kampai!

 

Monday, April 4th 2016

Mura’s Wine vs Sake Dinner, Round 2- Menu

1st course
Amuse Bouche
Crab crisp, ohitashi spinach

2nd course
Hiramasa Tataki
Seared Amberjack, yuzu, truffle oil, chives, garlic chips, black salt
BUNRAKU NIHONJIN SQUARE
MONDAVI FUME BLANC NAPA

3rd course
Botan Nigiri
Botan Shrimp Nigiri, Caviar, Grated wasabi root
MABOROSHI JUNMAI GINJO
RUFFINO LUMINA PINOT GRIGIO

4th course
Abalone
Grilled Abalone, Garlic Butter, Parsley
SHO CHIKU BAI REI GINJO DRAFT
SIMI CHARDONNAY SONOMA

5th course
Pallet Cleanser
Braised Pineapple Sorbet

6th course
Pork Belly
Sake braised Crispy Pork belly, Caramelized asian pear, charred scallion, Tamari Jus
WATARI BUNE 55 JUNMAI GINJO
WILD HORSE PINOT NOIR CC

7th course
Golden Toro Tartar
Spicy Toro, Gold Flakes, Taro Chips
BORN GOLD JUNMAI DAIGINJO
PRIMAL ROOTS RED BLEND

8th course
Lamb Chops
Garlic, Ginger charred lamb chop, Grilled Rice, Edamame truffle puree, Wasabi Dijonaise, Crispy Shiitake
SHICHI HON YARI JUNMAI
CLOS DU BOIS MARLSTONE

9th course
Yuzu Cheesecake
Sesame Tuile, Candied Blueberries, Salted Caramel

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