Why risk it for minimal profits? Restaurants can say whatever they want but they risk getting into a lawsuits. Their insurance will cover defense but their future premium will shoot way up.
I think thatās it. Restaurants have enough trouble as it is and would rather avoid the hassle. But itās a big loss for Animal - unlike some who have a foie dish just because - who built part of their rep on those dishes. Itās a bummer. But as long as the Pork Belly Sliders are safe Iām good. And Iāve got my eye on the shellfish dishes theyāre now slinging.
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Hi @PorkyBelly - Which were your favorite new dishes?
my favorites new dishes from the current menu are the eggplant katsu, chicken oysters, king crab, scallops, and prawns.
and of course i have to round it out with some of the classics: chicken liver toast, beef tendon chip, hamachi tostada, veal tongue, tandoori octopus, pork belly sliders, yellowtail collar, and tres leches (rip foie biscuit and loco moco).
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Thanks!
I was hoping youād pick those. Maybe the eggplant katsu, but I was thinking peach aguachileā¦ if we donāt get the scallops. It looks like they switched out the king crab & potato for a dungeness w/tomato & kombu. 
Doesnāt sound as good as a āking crab shepherdās pieā.
ā¦Of course you did.
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the peach is good too, but i wouldnāt sub the eggplant for it.
theyāre both pretty small so i guess the correct answer is to get them both.
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Thatās always your correct answer. 
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@PorkyBelly are the chicken oysters legit actual oysters or bits of cut up thigh meat? Iāve been buying chicken backs in bulk and meticulously carving out the oysters myself, but this will save me a lot of work! 
Hello Sake Master-sanā¦
Iām wondering what you would drink with the food in @PorkyBellyās report? Iāve had at least three on the list, but wonāt reveal because I donāt mind repeating if your advice requires. 
I would like to try Umelicious again but with dessert.
Hmmmā¦none of these really. Iām just not as big of a fan of the offerings on the sake menu.
(Assuming the report is the most recent one with a few new menu items).
Iād do $35 corkage and bring something that works in general and is more versatile. If Den Sake Breweryās offering was available in LA this would be a great place to try with.
Did you need suggestions? I can think of at least two that should be fun and easy. Iād do Time Machine with foie and dessertā¦ worth the corkage splurge which is higher than the cost of Time Machineā¦ I suppose you could coax a little bit of a pairing kind of with Umelicious, with a pork dish to the pseudo effect of aged Riesling with pork
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Yah, I agree @beefnoguy. We tried most of the Sake on Animalās menu over our last 2 visits and they just didnāt match well with the food and in general they werenāt ones that stood out on their own either.
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Naw, thatās okay. Time Machine would be fun, but wonāt have time to swing it. Iāll probably go with a glass of wine and maybe Umelicious with a fruit dessert. I had the feeling by your previous comments you were saying you donāt care for the selectionsā¦ in a polite way. Too safe? Not right for the food? Not enjoyable in general?
Strictly opinion and preference of course. I generally prefer more fuller bodied (masculine), more structure, stronger umami, acidity, maybe some astringency, nuance (much like what you would look for in a wine) for versatility of food pairing. Just donāt get the sense that most of them work as nicely or close.
Not to say that floral aromatic sake are bad or donāt work as well, but with quite a myriad of flavor profiles from the food (as well as seasonings), a mix of spicy, sweet and sour, you need something that handles that range, whether it pairs perfectly or as enjoyable on the side.
If I had no other choice but to pick something, I would get the Tedorigawa Yamahai Daiginjo Chrysanthemum Meadow (300 mL is a good size to play around with), maybe lightly chilled in a wine glass, and use that acidity to cut some of the heavy duty flavors, fat, cream sauce (and to salivate a bit and kick up the appetite). Though last time I was in the OC I picked up a bottle from Hi Time to bring to Izakaya Hachi, and I wish I had better optionsā¦ somehow it didnāt hit the right notes for me for some reason.
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Okay, got it. Excellent. Thanks!
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What would you pick from their wine list?
theyāre the legit chicken oysters wrapped in some chicken skin, because why not?
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I have no idea. If I donāt get the Chrysanthemum Meadow (300 mL) Iāll probably ask for help on the āBeverage-Dinnerā menu (glass/carafe/bottle). Iād like a carafe, but A. might want beer, soā¦
https://www.animalrestaurant.com/menu
They have some very nice wines by the glass, I believe theyāll pour you a little taste. The Listan Negro and TĆŖte de Lard Saumur are delicious. Markups are very high.
The bottle list, good lord thatās some expensive shit. Though some is almost impossible to find. For that reason Iād probably get the Strekov Portugieser, in fact I think maybe I did last time I was there.
Iām noticing this.
Oh, this is fabulous. Thank you!
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