Kusakabe === Today we went to [Kusakabe](https://kusakabe-sf.com/menu/) for dinner, so here are the pics! It's a Michelin starred sushi restaurant in San Francisco, with a focus on Kyoto-style kaiseki. But before that let me repost the picture of the otoro piece just because it looks nice. pic https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-18-25-29_DSCF6819_5a1bde81cc98ca4edfb441211c3865a4766c6a57_b6310430e7640a68.jpg : FUJIFILM GFX100S with SIGMA 70mm F2.8 DG MACRO A018, 70.0 mm, F2.8, 1/70 s, ISO 2500. (full size: https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-18-25-29_DSCF6819_5a1bde81cc98ca4edfb441211c3865a4766c6a57_022deba46445aa67.jpg) # Appetizers pic https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-17-16-53_DSCF6798_4ca633fc11b49656aa7cf73d5e42bb807ae5e5d2_2cc8138259b94689.jpg : Chawanmushi with trout roe. Trout roe is slightly smaller and much firmer than the typical ikura. FUJIFILM GFX100S with SIGMA 70mm F2.8 DG MACRO A018, 70.0 mm, F2.8, 1/70 s, ISO 2500. (full size: https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-17-16-53_DSCF6798_4ca633fc11b49656aa7cf73d5e42bb807ae5e5d2_e645f91be5c8a13b.jpg) ## Otsumami Otsumami is nine kinds of seasonal Japanese appetizers. pic https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-17-22-57_DSCF6799_cbc6e5931f27152f34cf03ba68de4e1419378445_1dacb67a0826ec82.jpg : Clockwise from right: Tamagoyaki with ikura on top and cod roe inside, spring roll with unagi and avocado, and a roll with shrimp on top. FUJIFILM GFX100S with SIGMA 70mm F2.8 DG MACRO A018, 70.0 mm, F2.8, 1/58 s, ISO 3200. (full size: https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-17-22-57_DSCF6799_cbc6e5931f27152f34cf03ba68de4e1419378445_a50379c63229e802.jpg) pic https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-17-23-02_DSCF6800_34c4bc5724c4fcf9e8bd9b71d8c42c1e26ba8ce8_66afee5dd7f927f7.jpg : Aji sashimi over some sour vinegar stuff. FUJIFILM GFX100S with SIGMA 70mm F2.8 DG MACRO A018, 70.0 mm, F2.8, 1/39 s, ISO 3200. (full size: https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-17-23-02_DSCF6800_34c4bc5724c4fcf9e8bd9b71d8c42c1e26ba8ce8_37209323758227f6.jpg) pic https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-17-23-07_DSCF6801_e2bbec1959f066f0b138d78d1c727c094e14c822_e88585754d8cf4e8.jpg : Spinach and shimeji mushrooms in dashi. FUJIFILM GFX100S with SIGMA 70mm F2.8 DG MACRO A018, 70.0 mm, F2.8, 1/57 s, ISO 3200. (full size: https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-17-23-07_DSCF6801_e2bbec1959f066f0b138d78d1c727c094e14c822_9ef74e95da8691d9.jpg) pic https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-17-23-12_DSCF6802_fda1ee6814cfad9c087a72f3d6165c0eccf5bf39_4327f5211fc6ac97.jpg : Soft-shelled shrimp. FUJIFILM GFX100S with SIGMA 70mm F2.8 DG MACRO A018, 70.0 mm, F2.8, 1/46 s, ISO 3200. (full size: https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-17-23-12_DSCF6802_fda1ee6814cfad9c087a72f3d6165c0eccf5bf39_280e7973e610f89f.jpg) pic https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-17-24-38_DSCF6803_64f3d734d8da652fccd0ad7c40b36dafa04834f3_725fc8b3281b77f6.jpg : Hon maguro, or lean bluefin tuna sashimi. FUJIFILM GFX100S with SIGMA 70mm F2.8 DG MACRO A018, 70.0 mm, F2.8, 1/46 s, ISO 3200. (full size: https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-17-24-38_DSCF6803_64f3d734d8da652fccd0ad7c40b36dafa04834f3_c361b2e66a8a6e98.jpg) # Sushi course one pic https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-17-35-19_DSCF6804_a2787830e0f0569b688c208324b209902b847b69_959222ae486d7e72.jpg : Zuke chu-toro, or medium fatty tuna that has been marinated in soy sauce. One end of it is seared. Very flavourful and delicious. FUJIFILM GFX100S with SIGMA 70mm F2.8 DG MACRO A018, 70.0 mm, F2.8, 1/70 s, ISO 2500. (full size: https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-17-35-19_DSCF6804_a2787830e0f0569b688c208324b209902b847b69_05acb8976ebf4844.jpg) pic https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-17-38-27_DSCF6806_5601a7554cd34721b216e9342115f6e3f2744f52_201a8943fe926438.jpg : Hirame, or flounder, with kombu on top. Great jellylike texture. FUJIFILM GFX100S with SIGMA 70mm F2.8 DG MACRO A018, 70.0 mm, F2.8, 1/70 s, ISO 1600. (full size: https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-17-38-27_DSCF6806_5601a7554cd34721b216e9342115f6e3f2744f52_347e2fe720049495.jpg) pic https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-17-43-04_DSCF6809_01d5413245fb5c7950af841d0fbf0d426ec3f81b_dfdf25a785004bf3.jpg : Katsuo, or skipjack tuna. Very smoky flavor. FUJIFILM GFX100S with SIGMA 70mm F2.8 DG MACRO A018, 70.0 mm, F2.8, 1/70 s, ISO 2000. (full size: https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-17-43-04_DSCF6809_01d5413245fb5c7950af841d0fbf0d426ec3f81b_2ac796d798bd953f.jpg) pic https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-17-47-48_DSCF6811_29b675b9f929e4c9ffe6c8e92da839146c876456_02debfd9df3be96d.jpg : Shima aji, or horse mackerel. Wonderful complex taste. FUJIFILM GFX100S with SIGMA 70mm F2.8 DG MACRO A018, 70.0 mm, F2.8, 1/70 s, ISO 2000. (full size: https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-17-47-48_DSCF6811_29b675b9f929e4c9ffe6c8e92da839146c876456_bd0e35a570e35ddd.jpg) # Soup course pic https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-17-52-58_DSCF6812_7b31c63c8bc9542fb0963523d2a6b79c73fd1ec7_a07f0495ccd4364a.jpg : Savoury dashi broth with a deep fried kinmedai, a shiratama, and wakame. FUJIFILM GFX100S with SIGMA 70mm F2.8 DG MACRO A018, 70.0 mm, F2.8, 1/31 s, ISO 3200. (full size: https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-17-52-58_DSCF6812_7b31c63c8bc9542fb0963523d2a6b79c73fd1ec7_034f6f442a54f8b5.jpg) # Sushi course two pic https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-17-59-33_DSCF6813_67aac078ff952b11b398912faf4929f0f913c62b_b513c59bc2d63ed9.jpg : Hotate, or scallop, topped with uni. Both are slightly sweet so it's like jelly topped with ice cream. FUJIFILM GFX100S with SIGMA 70mm F2.8 DG MACRO A018, 70.0 mm, F2.8, 1/70 s, ISO 1250. (full size: https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-17-59-33_DSCF6813_67aac078ff952b11b398912faf4929f0f913c62b_9b44f7d3e16090e1.jpg) pic https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-18-03-50_DSCF6815_213729a37f4a436bdeb971b32b0d468f7c593449_d15ef61ad59a6735.jpg : Some kind of baby tai with egg yolk powder. Sorry I forgot the name of the fish exactly, but it was very tender. FUJIFILM GFX100S with SIGMA 70mm F2.8 DG MACRO A018, 70.0 mm, F2.8, 1/70 s, ISO 2000. (full size: https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-18-03-50_DSCF6815_213729a37f4a436bdeb971b32b0d468f7c593449_6fb88f4f8cdcbfd2.jpg) pic https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-18-08-01_DSCF6816_7bb5072df00ba9d77be9fb1ee319e47b5c678dc5_84b54767e88ff287.jpg : Sakuramasu, or cherry blossom trout, topped with a slice of cherry leaf that imparts a floral scent. It's a seasonal fish only available in spring. The texture is quite different from salmon and other types of trout; it feels more velvety while not completely fatty like some kinds of salmon. FUJIFILM GFX100S with SIGMA 70mm F2.8 DG MACRO A018, 70.0 mm, F2.8, 1/70 s, ISO 2000. (full size: https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-18-08-01_DSCF6816_7bb5072df00ba9d77be9fb1ee319e47b5c678dc5_ef5fc7c983cb1a9e.jpg) pic https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-18-11-07_DSCF6817_a4267ee2330aedf1853538f47d4a7e67b94bd17c_8c0863eecb205496.jpg : Kyoto-style saba oshi sushi. The chef made sure to point out that the seaweed (nori) is extremely fancy. FUJIFILM GFX100S with SIGMA 70mm F2.8 DG MACRO A018, 70.0 mm, F2.8, 1/50 s, ISO 3200. (full size: https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-18-11-07_DSCF6817_a4267ee2330aedf1853538f47d4a7e67b94bd17c_6401021a97e5173f.jpg) # A5 wagyu sukiyaki pic https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-18-20-13_DSCF6818_bf6a4b71d6d2aed354477ea1ce43500ce5572ba4_ac8894e9355cbec8.jpg : With a soft boiled jidori egg and stuff. Excellent but a bit too sweet I think. FUJIFILM GFX100S with SIGMA 70mm F2.8 DG MACRO A018, 70.0 mm, F2.8, 1/70 s, ISO 2500. (full size: https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-18-20-13_DSCF6818_bf6a4b71d6d2aed354477ea1ce43500ce5572ba4_1b686c90fbb1a302.jpg) # Sushi course three pic https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-18-25-35_DSCF6820_b805e5c48fbe784084b4c5f0d302f8b01140e2f2_6c766b42dd6a935b.jpg : Otoro. Well otoro is always delicious but this is also on the upper end of the otoros I have eaten. FUJIFILM GFX100S with SIGMA 70mm F2.8 DG MACRO A018, 70.0 mm, F4, 1/50 s, ISO 3200. (full size: https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-18-25-35_DSCF6820_b805e5c48fbe784084b4c5f0d302f8b01140e2f2_787cc16c33b31dbc.jpg) pic https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-18-30-48_DSCF6822_14b2f0ee072af6a1859524a140f526d88ebf5a8a_d495ad14c2078164.jpg : Two kinds of uni. The bottom one is the same as the one from the scallop one but the top one is apparently fancier. Both from Hokkaido. Makes you wonder why Hokkaido uni is so much more delicious. FUJIFILM GFX100S with SIGMA 70mm F2.8 DG MACRO A018, 70.0 mm, F4, 1/43 s, ISO 3200. (full size: https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-18-30-48_DSCF6822_14b2f0ee072af6a1859524a140f526d88ebf5a8a_293339e6ab6f1180.jpg) pic https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-18-38-06_DSCF6824_997ee56b83adba0af41a25ad7b5e02ce62b41c6c_4e7a7c2dfc3d98a7.jpg : Negitoro temaki. I really enjoy negitoro temakis and this one also stands out with how delicious it is. However it's very hard to take a photo of it. FUJIFILM GFX100S with SIGMA 70mm F2.8 DG MACRO A018, 70.0 mm, F2.8, 1/63 s, ISO 3200. (full size: https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-18-38-06_DSCF6824_997ee56b83adba0af41a25ad7b5e02ce62b41c6c_fd7e3da44badd53b.jpg) pic https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-18-45-32_DSCF6825_b13586f8bc9dae9dab014bddc80e8d71fcdb0283_1dcd77470124f3eb.jpg : Unagi from Japan, never frozen, and grilled over binchotan. Very amazing and the spicy stuff they put on top is quite unique. FUJIFILM GFX100S with SIGMA 70mm F2.8 DG MACRO A018, 70.0 mm, F2.8, 1/70 s, ISO 2500. (full size: https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-18-45-32_DSCF6825_b13586f8bc9dae9dab014bddc80e8d71fcdb0283_4be7fd0cd3a074ca.jpg) # Dessert pic https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-19-05-05_DSCF6826_e0b42c8ef34b5e382aa2eaa656c1160ec224fe33_97ba12f6ffeb716c.jpg : Uji matcha ice cream with rice crackers. FUJIFILM GFX100S with SIGMA 70mm F2.8 DG MACRO A018, 70.0 mm, F2.8, 1/70 s, ISO 1600. (full size: https://i.dllu.net/2024-02-18-19-05-05_DSCF6826_e0b42c8ef34b5e382aa2eaa656c1160ec224fe33_7bf4ed8e87b0bf20.jpg)