Matsuo Sushi

-A break from US posts-

The latest edition to our Ladies Who Lunch series, Mia and I did Japanese at Matsuo Sushi, Goldhill Plaza. Within the geographical boundaries of Singapore, I've hardly been hot about Japanese hot food. Be it tempura or teriyaki, I only pick on them should someone order them, preferring to lavish my attention on the cold stuff i.e. sashimi and sushi instead.

However at Matsuo, I surprised myself by ordering the Unajyu, grilled freshwater eel served in a laquer box.



We were given an amuse bouche, tiny unagi tucked within tamago, which whetted my appetite for more unagi.


Unajiyu

The laquer box wasn't the only thing gleaming; slicked with sweet sauce, the unagi bore an intense shade of dark delicious brown, commonly associated with coffee, ganache and baby back ribs. As I pierced it with my chopsticks, my heart panged at the thought of destroying a work of art. I could literally feel the fat press up against my chopsticks

It was rich, intense, sweet but smoky. What I love about unagi is how unique the taste and texture is, I can't think of a decent substitute for it! How would you describe the texture of unagi? Err, slinky... soft... Well, to me, it's like 'chewier foie gras'... ok, maybe my taste buds are just weird.



Already waist-deep in felicity, making my way through the unagi was like diving into deep waters of pleasure. At appropriate times, I would swim up for some air with a mouthful of rice before diving in again for that truly luscious experience.

It seemed the sinistic-looking eel had finally gained eternal redemption after death.

You would think that after 2 slabs of unagi, I would be unagi-ed... nah, I could easily polish off another box.