Maude - 11/11/2014

212 S Beverly Dr
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
(310) 859-3418

This marks my third trip to Maude this year and it has been one of my most anticipated meal since I first learned about it. For those who don't know, Maude's menu is based around a theme ingredient that changes every month and this month's ingredient is the always-prized Truffle. Getting a reservation at Maude requires persistence and luck in any month and November was sure to be worse than most. Indeed I called over 100 times with no luck but fortunately another of my dining group managed to make it through.

Snack: Cannoli - White Truffle Ricotta, Celeriac, Parmesan
As always, the meal at Maude opened with a couple snacks. First up was a mini-cannoli filled with creamy ricotta spiked with a soft fragrance of white truffle while the shell itself was reminiscent of a tuile both in terms of texture and its slight sugary sweetness.


Snack: Pop Tart - Onion, Black Truffle
Our second little bite was an uber-luxe Pop Tart. The bite has a toasty crumbled texture as one would expect as well as a pungent onion sweetness tinged with truffle.


1: Soup - Potato, Kohlrabi, Escarole
Rene Geoffroy, "Empriente," 1er Cru, Aÿ, Champagne France 2007
Moving on to our first course we were presented with a verdant cream of kohlrabi and escarole over which our servers poured a hearty cream of potato and truffle soup. The truffles come through clearly in the rich brown potage but the bitter nutty restraint of the vegetables helped temper the mixture.


2: Squash Salad - Persimmon, Truffle Vinaigrette, Brown Butter
Occhipinti, "SP68," Sicilia, Italy 2012
Squash and salad are two of my least favorite words when it comes to food so I was pleasantly surprised by this course. Neither the squash nor the persimmon had the cloying weight that they so often convey, instead their muted sweetness was an integral element grounding the more astringent vegetables and the caramelized savor of the brown butter. The SP68 proved to be the best pairing of the night. On its own the wine has lots of ripe apricot but also a whiff of egg-y funk, but when taken with the salad the wine shows a bit more expansive and nuanced character


3: Scallop Crudo - Truffle Soil, Beets, Salsify
Dominio do Bebei, "Lapola," Ribera Sacra, Spain 2011
The words scallop crudo are pretty much always music to my ears. Maude's rendition is less a true raw preparation as it is seared on one side. Though still rare I found the texture a touch firmer than I'd like, the flavor was a superb mix of saline-sweetness and a perfect compliment to the rough crunchy soil of truffle and hazelnut. The pickled salsify was a wonderful addition, bringing a crisp succulent brightness while the dollops of beet juice added an intense but short lived sweetness that complimented the dish nicely.


4: Hen Egg - Brioche, Creamed Leek, Alba Truffle
Liquid Farm, "White Hill," Chardonnay, Sta. Rita Hills, CA 2012
Eggs and truffle are a classic no brainer, and indeed the silky yolk coupled with the Alba truffles are a thing of beauty. Still Chef Stone doesn't stop there, resting the yolk on a bed of soft creamy leeks and a sprinkled with smoky bits of brioche. The combination made me think of a truffled bacon vichyssoise and was easily the most overtly delicious course of the night.


5: Turbot - Endive, Spinach, Truffle Coulis
Chenu, "Aux Clous," 1er Cru, Savigny-les-Beaune, Burgundy, France 2012
The fish course consisted of a beautifully seared turbot. The flaky white fish is more full flavored than most preparations especially with the earthy truffle imparting a smoky relish. Meanwhile the tangy verdant blend adds an extra dimension of countervailing flavors.


6a: Hand-Cut Tagliatelle - White Alba Truffle
Francesco Rinaldi, "Cannubio," Barolo, Piemonte, Italy 2007
In a departure from Maude's normal format, we were offered a choice for our pasta course, either tagliatelle or risotto. Naturally we opted to try both and share. First up was a very al dente pasta, dressed table side with a generous shaving of white truffle and splash of brown butter, pure simple and delicious.


6b: Risotto - White Alba Truffle
Francesco Rinaldi, "Cannubio," Barolo, Piemonte, Italy 2007
Truffle risotto has long been one of my favorite things in the world and like the tagliatelle, the risotto was prepared simply really little more than a vehicle for enjoying the earthy fragrance of the white truffle.


7: Veal Sweetbread - Cauliflower, Sauce Perigord
Francesco Rinaldi, "Cannubio," Barolo, Piemonte, Italy 2007
The next course was almost a savory intermezzo. A single tender morsel of offal-y sweetbread served in a earthy sweet sauce made from cauliflower and black truffle.


8: Venison - Parsnip, Matsutake, Chocolate
B. Levet, "les Journaries," Côte Rôtie, Rhone, France 2007
The final savory was a beautifully crimson slice of seared venison. The meat is quite lean showing off a steely character. The parsnip and chocolate help round out the meaty heft but are a bit too sweet. The sprig of grilled Matsutake proved to be the critical element thanks to a woody musk that ties the plate together.


9: Teleme - Walnut, Cranberry, Black Truffle
Our cheese was a mild semi-soft variety that served as an excellent medium for the crumbled black truffle. The white truffle honey provides a brighter floral counterpoint to the weighty black truffle while the toast adds a much needed textural contrast.


Intermezzo: Sorbet - Yogurt, Apple, Celery
Our first dessert started as a soothing mixture of bright green candied apple and tangy yogurt but the celery infused soup adds a cerebral bitter wrinkle to the mix.


Toffee Cake - Alba Truffle Ice Cream, Raisin, Pomegranite
Boxler, "Sommerberg," Grand Cru, Riesling Vendages Tardives, Alsace, France 2009
Our formal dessert was a rich toffee cake soaked in lemon giving the pastry a built in restraint. The truffle vanilla ice cream was equally impressive suffusing the palate with an even truffle and vanilla bouquet.


Mignardises - Palet d'or, White Truffle Truffle, Black Truffle Macaron
Our meal ended with three superb little treats. The Truffle and Macaron were straightforwardly delicious where the Palet d'or was a bit more complex with a buttery puff pastry contrast to the truffled and chocolate.


As expected, Chef Stone delivers once again, putting together a menu showcasing the versatility and range of truffles. Some courses follow classic approaches that celebrate the sublime musk of the prized fungus while others take a more cerebral approach using truffles to compliment or enhance.

Recently an article came out about Curtis Stone saying that he opened Maude to prove he was a chef and not just a TV personality. Judging from my three experiences I have to say mission accomplished!



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Sushi Tsujita - 09/13/2014

2006 Sawtelle Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 231-1177


I gotta say I had my doubts when I first heard about this place. Tsujita made his name on the strength of his ramen. His initial restaurant Tsujita L.A Artisan Noodle was so popular he had to open another spot (Tsujita Annex) to handle the overflow so I was a bit skeptical when he opted to open an Edomae-style sushi spot. Still I was relieved to hear that Tsujita hired Shigeru Kato, a sushi chef with 35 years of experience to lead the restaurant. That and the good initial reviews were enough to pique my curiosity.

2006 Shafer Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch, Napa, California
Rather than stick to our usual routine of ake, we opted to bring a couple chards to pair with the meal. First up was a rich full bodied Chard, the aroma couples an apparent butteriness with a countervailing green fruit acidity; while the palate has additional unexpectedly heavy notes of caramel.


Awabi - Spinach, Yuba, Yuzu
The meal got off to a strong start with abalone cured in kelp then steamed to a sublimely delicate tenderness. The abalone's inherent flavor is deepened by the savor of kelp. The touch of citrus adds a cool fragrant levity while the vegetables highlight the abalone's earthy heft. A sliver of piquant pickled carrot conveys a streak of sharp discordant acidity that shakes up the conventional flavor profiles.


Hassun - Ginnan, Ayu Tempura, Ayu Ukura, Ayu Nitsuke
The second course was actually a series of small tastes. First up was a quartet of salt grilled ginko. The crust can be a bit over salted, but the sweet nutty flavor of the nuts gives way to a pleasant earthy bitterness. The remaining appetizers were an interesting study of Ayu or Sweetfish. First up was a deep fried version of the fish that tasted like a cross between fish and a potato chip. Next up was my favorite, raw strips of sweetfish are paired with punchy caviar and a subtle citrus twang. The third version was a lightly simmered preparation loaded with a complex melange of sweet soy, ginger, and umami though the texture left something to be desired.


Kinmedai - Golden Eye Snapper
Unlike other restaurants Sushi Tsujita intersperses the kaiseki with single pieces of nigiri. Served on a bed of softly packed warm rice, the fish has a soft fleshy texture and even oily flavor enlivened with a touch of spice


Kasago Ushiojiru - Matsutake, Mitsuba, Kabosu
Next up was a classic clam broth enriched with rockfish, mushrooms and citrus. The broth itself has a clean subdued salinity coupled with a woody autumnal warmth from the mushrooms. The accompanying herbs add a streak of bitter aromatics while the slice of Kabosu imbues the mixture with a mouth puckering twang.


Sashimi - Honmaguro Zuke & Uni, Hata
Next up was an small but sublime sashimi course. I started with the marinated Bluefin drenched in aggressive soy savor and paired with a sweet countervailing envelope of creamy uni. The Hata or grouper had a much more nuanced flavor with oily flavors reminiscent of Amberjack or Yellowtail.


2006 Louis Latour Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Burgundy, France
Our second wine was a much more refined affair. The nose is a bouquet of soft white flowers with stonefruit and just the slightest edge of acidity. The palate is much more structured and sophisticated with a mix of minerality, acid, and an undercurrent of oaky power.


Honmaguro Chutoro - Medium Fatty Bluefin Tuna
Time for another sushi interlude, this time a ruby sliver of tuna threaded with fine ivory threads of rich fat. Indeed the fish exemplifies both aspects of tuna, the clean steely twang of akami intermingled with the oily richness of toro.


Nogoduro - Myoga, Mustard, Truffle
Our final composed plate centered around two immaculate flakes of grilled Blackthroat Sea Perch (Nogoduro/Akamutsu). The mild whitefish has a spry spongy mouth feel and acts as the perfect mild platform for the earthy truffle and sharp zest of the myoga. A pile of grated mustard finishes the dish, imparting a darkly spicy savor.


Hobo - Sea Robin
Rather than begin with the common Tai, our chef Kazu opted to start with another mild fish. The soft pinkish flesh had a touch of sinewy toughness that I found quite distinctive.


Benizake - Sockeye Salmon
Texturally this was the polar opposite of the last piece, soft and flabby, the fish had little flavor besides the classic combination of soy and wasabi.


Seki Saba - Mackerel
Next up was a real treat, this prized mackerel takes the name of the Saganoseki area from which it is fished. Unlike most mackerel, Seki Saba can be served uncured meaning while the fish certainly has some characteristic oiliness there are other more nuanced flavors and a more succulent mouth feel than the traditional mackerel.


Honmaguro Toro - Fatty Bluefin Tuna
Having already tried the lean and medium tunas it was time for the O-toro to make an appearance. Compared to the Chu-toro, the color is several shades lighter, with larger more pronounced marbling. The fish came topped with an amber dashi jelly which highlighted the savory notes of the fish. A sprinkling of yuzu zest helps hold the weightiest notes of the fish at bay.


Tengumai, Junmai, Ishikawa
Our second wine all but dispensed with, we decided to pick up some sake to pair with the latter half of our meal. The sake is a bit blunter than I was expecting, don't go looking for flowers or fruit here, instead the booze shows off a singularly rice-y character.


Sanma - Matsutake, Kabosu
Pike Mackerel is always a treat with its distinctive oily flavor that was made to be matched with the earthy majesty of the Matsutake. A quick squeeze of the Kabosu add a bright fragrant citrus counterpoint to the bite.


Miyazaki Wagyu - Wasabi, Garlic Chips, Radish
Next up was a decadent Wagyu beef from the Miyazaki Prefecture. As can be seen from the picture the veins of marbling are almost as thick as the actual meat. Indeed the rare beef was every bit as good as it looked, pairing a touch of meaty char with the buttery fat and a velvety soft texture that feels sensual on the palate. It goes without saying that the meat needed no adornment, but I enjoyed the tempering effects of the radish as well as the cleansing heat of the wasabi.


Ikura-Uni Don
Next up was a classic pairing of salmon and sea urchin roes on a bed of sushi rice and topped with toasted seaweed. After some of the more intricate dishes this seems almost laughably simple, but the utterly pristine quality of the seafood made every last bite a delight to be savored.


Bachiko - Sea Cucumber Roe
This was a relative rarity that I've only had once before. The sea cucumber roe is unabashedly salty with a tinge of fishiness and a chewy almost meat like texture reminiscent of beef jerky.


Otoro Tataki - Seared Fatty Tuna
Moving back to nigiri we were presented with a seared toro that was practically dripping with smoky rendered fat. The explosive flavor leaves one craving another bite but the sheer unctuousness would get overwhelming fast.


Suzuki - Sea Bass

Next up was a sea bass marinated in kelp. The process dries the fish out leaving behind a denser almost tacky texture while imbuing the fish with a healthy dose of salt and glutamate.

Amaebi - Sweet Shrimp
Classic Amaebi, sweet, dense and crunchy with a clean steely flavor tempered by the soy. The head was no slouch either with the exterior shell fried to a chip like crispness while the rest had a nice saline meatiness wrapped in a delicious fried sapor.


Tai - Sea Bream
Not officially part of the menu we thought this was a must order. The mild white fish was a bit on the drier side, with a sticky denser texture and more apparent flavor. Still the sea salt and yuzu definitely dominate on the palate.


Yari Ika - Spear Squid
The Yari Ika starts off a bit leaner than the typical squid, but mastication still extracts the same creamy texture and subtle briny sweetness.


Kohada - Gizzard Shad
Next up was a beautifully flecked cut of Gizzard Shad. The fish had a sharp oiliness on the attack but the flavor seemed to fade away relatively quickly making this one of the more balanced Kohada I've had.


Kisu - Japanese Whiting
While the flavor on the Kisu was typically mild, the fish definitely had one of the most memorable textures thanks to its almost muscular snappy crunch.


Myoga - Japanese Ginger
The Myoga was an unconventional but welcome bite, with the succulence and peppery bite helping to cleanse the palate of any lingering fish oil. I wish more places would serve something like this to finish a long omakase.


Kasutera Tamago - Egg Cake
I was pleased to find Tsujita serves the Tamago in cake form rather than the classic preparation. Dense and eggy upfront there is a bit of caramelized sweetness and salinity on the back end.


Anago - Sea Eel
The final piece of the night was a tender Anago brushed with a generous coating of sweet sauce to compliment the eel's smoky char.


Honeydew
This reminded me of the dessert at Kyubei in Tokyo. The stunningly juicy honeydew, dripping with sweetness, served as a fitting close to one of the best meals I've had all year.


We came here to celebrate Kevin's much belated birthday so the restaurant was kind enough to whip up an impromptu birthday "cake" of mochi, jelly, and fruit.


I've got to say the restaurant more than exceeded my expectations. The quality seafood, thoughtfully prepared cooked dishes, and pristine nigiri make Sushi Tsujita an absolute must try.



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