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ProfessionalHobbit

ProfessionalHobbit

So we went to Benu for my birthday dinner.

 

There's going to be a lot of pictures - so if you're snacking while eGulleting, you're in for a treat.

 

47576494_2202152709835467_5602930252339740672_o.thumb.jpg.066adfb4ab98caebdff2de66e3edeb1c.jpg

 

Thousand year old quail egg, cabbage juice, ginger.

 

48082750_2202153249835413_4090643877684314112_o.thumb.jpg.5d92dd96ce39d7d67387911750ba13c4.jpg

 

 

Top - pork belly, oyster and kimchi shooter
Bottom - marinated mussel, root vegetables

 

47423843_2202154039835334_1778551746889515008_o.thumb.jpg.03afd134c939c7fdcd804301aa9a5aa4.jpg

 

 

Shrimp tempura, jellyfish, seaweed

 

Not my favorite "bite" of the evening but at least it was interesting. I remarked to B "think bacon wrapped shrimp but weirder".

 

48146589_2202154279835310_3016607680920813568_o.thumb.jpg.d4587d7d5237eb4f677d836c0e2c5551.jpg

 

 

Blood sausage, sweet rice, squid ink, shiso.

 

47580251_2202154873168584_217763199913558016_o.thumb.jpg.07ca49189cbbfbd1103551e95c40ea8b.jpg

 

 

Ginkgo flour "tortilla", matsutake mushroom, pine needles, 10 year old aged pine syrup.

 

This really showcased the mushrooms well although I could have done without the pine syrup.

 

47571374_2202156473168424_5703149087944081408_o.thumb.jpg.a53274c23cf22ff6fff58da40f69b74a.jpg

 

Chicken wing stuffed with abalone and abalone liver mousse.

 

48056273_2202157216501683_1977765038886223872_o.thumb.jpg.691ef6afbdd427fa9356530341158995.jpg

 

 

"Shark fin" soup - Dungeness crab, ham, egg white and black truffles.

 

47687089_2202158519834886_1421954682615496704_o.thumb.jpg.50eeb8a5f013cd791e0a2c6f62858945.jpg

 

 

Butter with orange blossom honey and ginseng.

Not shown are some sprouted grain rolls.

 

47575613_2202159056501499_4929666172749611008_o.thumb.jpg.d7e89d1194c5eb0373bff29e6d7ade2c.jpg

 

 

Xiao long bao with lobster coral, house-made soy sauce, vinegar.

 

47393097_2202159766501428_8656320046068400128_o.thumb.jpg.91737fe9d86fdb4efafc48f4586a0cb0.jpg

 

 

We drank a Sancerre to go along with these dishes.

 

48076623_2202159786501426_981742975979618304_o.thumb.jpg.a67b36cc4be8785c915153d53a92852f.jpg

 

 

Monkfish liver steamed in rice wine, with toasted seaweed and chili.

 

48370003_2202159793168092_5504396598693593088_o.thumb.jpg.ecb2e99cb9f2a63ff08c9cff56e9c960.jpg

 

 

Sea urchin marinated in fermented crab sauce, with thinly sliced celtuce.

 

48366154_2202159836501421_7268506814403051520_o.thumb.jpg.1e21616eae5038319985f5f19d3da087.jpg

 

 

Caviar with hand-pressed sesame oil, sesame leaf and daikon.

 

47571409_2202159869834751_3664769987358228480_o.thumb.jpg.961886c09d3715a1f09e2213bb424be6.jpg

 

 

Steamed Japonica rice.

I don't remember what the green dust was. A friend thinks it's powdered scallion.

 

47572388_2202163583167713_2031065630274224128_o.thumb.jpg.b1a824bff67939cdd79fe2df7626acc7.jpg

 

 

Barbecued quail from Wolfe Ranch.

B remarked that this was "the tastiest and largest quail I've ever eaten in my life". For sure.

 

48358820_2202163599834378_8462295912083881984_o.thumb.jpg.f6f879e43254e0ec93e7ca5a0f223a62.jpg

 

 

Left: Pickled crosnes and pearl onion.
Right: XO sauce, house-made soy sauce.

 

48099904_2202163623167709_5348429353875144704_o.thumb.jpg.55c233e231cf5ea8019e14f8e1190b96.jpg

 

 

Quail liver mousse, au jus, black truffles.

 

48358892_2202163656501039_1336862983820673024_o.thumb.jpg.393d530f2186fe193b9d03a0bbfdaa22.jpg

 

 

Black truffle steamed bun.

Basically a play on Peking duck - stuff the bun with quail, top with condiments and enjoy.

 

47045865_2202167343167337_5424806104464883712_o.thumb.jpg.37bf83bca1e85aa12169433125f9a3b8.jpg

 

48350089_2202167366500668_7128730943455494144_o.thumb.jpg.0d5c8e55199fed44821c3503fc8a4a88.jpg

 

 

Grilled veal short ribs, seasoned with sesame seed, perilla seed and pine nuts.

 

48321982_2202167319834006_4941884027561836544_o.thumb.jpg.8997fa6451a4d48dfcbd10f23c12f036.jpg

 

 

Chrysanthemum leaf and scallion salad.

 

47574719_2202167263167345_5862038435237199872_o.thumb.jpg.ee46c98ee4b3ff32278cd190cb408eee.jpg

 

 

Asian pear and Napa cabbage kimchi.

 

47575135_2202167246500680_265109922952249344_o.thumb.jpg.4130166fd6b33c9e41e0248df0958741.jpg

 

 

Kohlrabi kimchi.

 

47573515_2202167283167343_1888305152192937984_o.thumb.jpg.9003b4e529f38f310316d3f306146dbb.jpg

 

 

Spicy fermented bean paste with tomato, served with crudités.

 

48080565_2202167406500664_1946502010593345536_o.thumb.jpg.e3ca4960a0fa57f7aa8194c13f9f95de.jpg

 

Short ribs.

 

Then it was time for dessert.

 

47579543_2202172189833519_5610875233167736832_o.thumb.jpg.0c00a134c21dc0d52e98f4d4108833f8.jpg

 

 

Omija sorbet, olive oil.

 

Not too sweet and a perfect palate cleanser.

 

47580286_2202174069833331_7700554952145371136_o.thumb.jpg.ca475aa44dd8fdffa6ffa54486c46b22.jpg

 

Coconut chiffon cake, honeyed dates

 

47681873_2202173209833417_1762975472464953344_o.thumb.jpg.5bf6df1084fcbc6995601c512b6ab4ba.jpg

 

 

Sauternes.

 

48187034_2202174356499969_7733269572010115072_o.thumb.jpg.4959c2430aa89c571803b46d1de20d65.jpg

 

 

Dried persimmons; salted walnuts; sweet rice cakes.

 

48249904_2202173516500053_773365525148336128_o.thumb.jpg.2587d8a43ac7d4ad2f38413e3b31412e.jpg

 

Milk pudding, salted caramel sauce, peat.

 

If there was peat essence in the caramel sauce, I didn't taste any. This was just fine. Nice contrast of delicate gentle sweetness from the pudding versus the more intense caramel.

 

48241578_2202175289833209_8216315159287693312_o.thumb.jpg.e77bb1817ff823d22f67184c11aa5a54.jpg

 

Mint meringue wafers.

 

48395084_2202174756499929_2364827401407430656_o.thumb.jpg.558f24066997c3e2e1f0ad0323e95bec.jpg

 

Ginkgo flour cookies.

 

"Little sweet nothings" is the perfect description. Like eating sugar-flavored air.

 

For two people, this cost $1,030.50 not including a 20% tip. Includes wine pairings.

 

We'll be back but I still prefer Californios.

 

 

Benu
22 Hawthorne Street (Howard Street)
SoMa

 

ETA - I just remembered they added the 20% surcharge automatically. But I would have added more. Definitely.

ProfessionalHobbit

ProfessionalHobbit

So we went to Benu for my birthday dinner.

 

There's going to be a lot of pictures - so if you're snacking while eGulleting, you're in for a treat.

 

47576494_2202152709835467_5602930252339740672_o.thumb.jpg.066adfb4ab98caebdff2de66e3edeb1c.jpg

 

Thousand year old quail egg, cabbage juice, ginger.

 

48082750_2202153249835413_4090643877684314112_o.thumb.jpg.5d92dd96ce39d7d67387911750ba13c4.jpg

 

 

Top - pork belly, oyster and kimchi shooter
Bottom - marinated mussel, root vegetables

 

47423843_2202154039835334_1778551746889515008_o.thumb.jpg.03afd134c939c7fdcd804301aa9a5aa4.jpg

 

 

Shrimp tempura, jellyfish, seaweed

 

Not my favorite "bite" of the evening but at least it was interesting. I remarked to B "think bacon wrapped shrimp but weirder".

 

48146589_2202154279835310_3016607680920813568_o.thumb.jpg.d4587d7d5237eb4f677d836c0e2c5551.jpg

 

 

Blood sausage, sweet rice, squid ink, shiso.

 

47580251_2202154873168584_217763199913558016_o.thumb.jpg.07ca49189cbbfbd1103551e95c40ea8b.jpg

 

 

Ginkgo flour "tortilla", matsutake mushroom, pine needles, 10 year old aged pine syrup.

 

This really showcased the mushrooms well although I could have done without the pine syrup.

 

47571374_2202156473168424_5703149087944081408_o.thumb.jpg.a53274c23cf22ff6fff58da40f69b74a.jpg

 

Chicken wing stuffed with abalone and abalone liver mousse.

 

48056273_2202157216501683_1977765038886223872_o.thumb.jpg.691ef6afbdd427fa9356530341158995.jpg

 

 

"Shark fin" soup - Dungeness crab, ham, egg white and black truffles.

 

47687089_2202158519834886_1421954682615496704_o.thumb.jpg.50eeb8a5f013cd791e0a2c6f62858945.jpg

 

 

Butter with orange blossom honey and ginseng.

Not shown are some sprouted grain rolls.

 

47575613_2202159056501499_4929666172749611008_o.thumb.jpg.d7e89d1194c5eb0373bff29e6d7ade2c.jpg

 

 

Xiao long bao with lobster coral, house-made soy sauce, vinegar.

 

47393097_2202159766501428_8656320046068400128_o.thumb.jpg.91737fe9d86fdb4efafc48f4586a0cb0.jpg

 

 

We drank a Sancerre to go along with these dishes.

 

48076623_2202159786501426_981742975979618304_o.thumb.jpg.a67b36cc4be8785c915153d53a92852f.jpg

 

 

Monkfish liver steamed in rice wine, with toasted seaweed and chili.

 

48370003_2202159793168092_5504396598693593088_o.thumb.jpg.ecb2e99cb9f2a63ff08c9cff56e9c960.jpg

 

 

Sea urchin marinated in fermented crab sauce, with thinly sliced celtuce.

 

48366154_2202159836501421_7268506814403051520_o.thumb.jpg.1e21616eae5038319985f5f19d3da087.jpg

 

 

Caviar with hand-pressed sesame oil, sesame leaf and daikon.

 

47571409_2202159869834751_3664769987358228480_o.thumb.jpg.961886c09d3715a1f09e2213bb424be6.jpg

 

 

Steamed Japonica rice.

I don't remember what the green dust was. A friend thinks it's powdered scallion.

 

47572388_2202163583167713_2031065630274224128_o.thumb.jpg.b1a824bff67939cdd79fe2df7626acc7.jpg

 

 

Barbecued quail from Wolfe Ranch.

B remarked that this was "the tastiest and largest quail I've ever eaten in my life". For sure.

 

48358820_2202163599834378_8462295912083881984_o.thumb.jpg.f6f879e43254e0ec93e7ca5a0f223a62.jpg

 

 

Left: Pickled crosnes and pearl onion.
Right: XO sauce, house-made soy sauce.

 

48099904_2202163623167709_5348429353875144704_o.thumb.jpg.55c233e231cf5ea8019e14f8e1190b96.jpg

 

 

Quail liver mousse, au jus, black truffles.

 

48358892_2202163656501039_1336862983820673024_o.thumb.jpg.393d530f2186fe193b9d03a0bbfdaa22.jpg

 

 

Black truffle steamed bun.

Basically a play on Peking duck - stuff the bun with quail, top with condiments and enjoy.

 

47045865_2202167343167337_5424806104464883712_o.thumb.jpg.37bf83bca1e85aa12169433125f9a3b8.jpg

 

48350089_2202167366500668_7128730943455494144_o.thumb.jpg.0d5c8e55199fed44821c3503fc8a4a88.jpg

 

 

Grilled veal short ribs, seasoned with sesame seed, perilla seed and pine nuts.

 

48321982_2202167319834006_4941884027561836544_o.thumb.jpg.8997fa6451a4d48dfcbd10f23c12f036.jpg

 

 

Chrysanthemum leaf and scallion salad.

 

47574719_2202167263167345_5862038435237199872_o.thumb.jpg.ee46c98ee4b3ff32278cd190cb408eee.jpg

 

 

Asian pear and Napa cabbage kimchi.

 

47575135_2202167246500680_265109922952249344_o.thumb.jpg.4130166fd6b33c9e41e0248df0958741.jpg

 

 

Kohlrabi kimchi.

 

47573515_2202167283167343_1888305152192937984_o.thumb.jpg.9003b4e529f38f310316d3f306146dbb.jpg

 

 

Spicy fermented bean paste with tomato, served with crudités.

 

48080565_2202167406500664_1946502010593345536_o.thumb.jpg.e3ca4960a0fa57f7aa8194c13f9f95de.jpg

 

Short ribs.

 

Then it was time for dessert.

 

47579543_2202172189833519_5610875233167736832_o.thumb.jpg.0c00a134c21dc0d52e98f4d4108833f8.jpg

 

 

Omija sorbet, olive oil.

 

Not too sweet and a perfect palate cleanser.

 

47580286_2202174069833331_7700554952145371136_o.thumb.jpg.ca475aa44dd8fdffa6ffa54486c46b22.jpg

 

Coconut chiffon cake, honeyed dates

 

47681873_2202173209833417_1762975472464953344_o.thumb.jpg.5bf6df1084fcbc6995601c512b6ab4ba.jpg

 

 

Sauternes.

 

48187034_2202174356499969_7733269572010115072_o.thumb.jpg.4959c2430aa89c571803b46d1de20d65.jpg

 

 

Dried persimmons; salted walnuts; sweet rice cakes.

 

48249904_2202173516500053_773365525148336128_o.thumb.jpg.2587d8a43ac7d4ad2f38413e3b31412e.jpg

 

Milk pudding, salted caramel sauce, peat.

 

If there was peat essence in the caramel sauce, I didn't taste any. This was just fine. Nice contrast of delicate gentle sweetness from the pudding versus the more intense caramel.

 

48241578_2202175289833209_8216315159287693312_o.thumb.jpg.e77bb1817ff823d22f67184c11aa5a54.jpg

 

Mint meringue wafers.

 

48395084_2202174756499929_2364827401407430656_o.thumb.jpg.558f24066997c3e2e1f0ad0323e95bec.jpg

 

Ginkgo flour cookies.

 

"Little sweet nothings" is the perfect description. Like eating sugar-flavored air.

 

For two people, this cost $1,030.50 not including a 20% tip. Includes wine pairings.

 

We'll be back but I still prefer Californios.

 

 

Benu
22 Hawthorne Street (Howard Street)
SoMa

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