Stephanie Dreams of Sushi

On a late October Sunday evening, my brother and I took the Duquesne Incline to explore what was up that hill. What was waiting for us was the best Japanese restaurant I’ve ever been to thus far – Otaru!

Inside the “bottom of the hill” building.

Entryway at the bottom of the hill. You can see the lighted rail in the upper right corner.

Entryway at the top of the hill.

Before I get to the food, I must highlight the view from the restaurant. It’s spectacular. It looks straight to the North Shore, with a perfect view of Acrisure Stadium. One of the bartenders noted that she can watch the games while she works!

What a view of the stadium (what lots of folks still call Heinz Field).

Point State Park fountain all lit up!

Now onto the food…

The fish for the sushi was incredibly fresh and beautifully cut. My favorite appetizer was the tuna tapas. The chunks of raw tuna were seasoned in a delicate soy sauce topped with avocados. Gastronomic heaven.

Tuna tapas. Even the plates are thoughtfully chosen for each dish.

Tuna tapas and chef’s choice selection of nigris. Look at the presentation of the nigris and the knife skills.

The dining experience at Otaru was the first time I ever tasted authentic wasabi and the freshest ginger slices. It’s true what they say…once you know what's real, the fake stuff is so disappointing. First, you can see the root shavings in the dish. Second, real wasabi, while from the horseradish family, has a less nose-running punch with more depth of flavor.

My brother’s favorite was the dessert – peeled tomatoes marinated in a honey and lemon sauce. The way the tomatoes were perfectly peeled was an art form all by itself.

Even now, nearly six months later, when I dream of sushi (whether awake or asleep), I’m transported back to Otaru.

We will see one another again soon.

Ted’s favorite dish by far, if you couldn’t tell :)

For a bonus, I highly recommend the documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi. Unlike me, who only dreams of eating it, Jiro is a master sushi chef. I learned to appreciate the discipline, precision, practice, and passion that is required to make world-class sushi.

What foods slip into your dreams? If you could only take three favorite foods with you for eventual life in outer space, what would they be? What makes them your favorites?