Taste of Yaletown is back for its 10th year full of bites, treats, sips and sights of Yaletown. Every year, Taste of Yaletown brings together the talents of chefs with culinary treasures in the best dining district in Vancouver.
From October 16th-30th, Yaletown kitchens will offer featured menus, special tastings and innovative pairings to tempt the most adventurous foodie. With a fresh approach to fixed price menus of $25, $35 and $45 restaurants will offer combinations of food and drink or even special in-house events.
Minami is participating again this year with 3 different menu options. I was invited for a sneak peak of their dinner menu and I was excited because they are one of my favourite restaurants in Vancouver.
[tabs tab1=”DINNER MENU $45″ tab2=”VEGETARIAN DINNER MENU $35″ tab3=”ZEN LUNCH $25″]
[tab id=1]
Optional sake pairing 15
FIRST – SUSHI
Sake pairing: Dassai 39
- wild boar bacon salmon oshi bite, sunset roll, maguro and kani maki, tai and hotate temari
SECOND – MINAMI ZEN
Sake pairing: Yu Junmai
- Stone fruit salad
endive, goat feta, dried olives, maple sherry thyme vinaigrette, fig balsamic reduction - Jidori chicken and foie gras gyoza
truffle dashi consommé - Saikyo miso baked sablefish
coconut creamed kale, wasabi shoga relish, yuzu miso sauce - Braised fraser valley pork cheek
roasted kabocha-onion puree, apple red cabbage kraut, sweet & sour soy ginger glaze
DESSERT
Sake pairing: Hakkaisan Sparkling Nigori
- Matcha tiramisu
matcha-genmai ladyfingers, azuki paste, matcha-white chocolate ganache, sesame crumble
[/tab]
[tab id=2]
Optional sake pairing 15
FIRST – FALL GARDEN PLATE
Sake pairing: Dassai 39
- fresh market vegetables, soy paper roll, moromi miso sauce, sesame pesto, olive tapenade
SECOND – MINAMI ZEN
Sake pairing: Yu Junmai
- Stone fruit
endive, goat feta, dried olives, maple, sherry thyme vinaigrette, fig balsamic reduction - Kaiso salad
baby frisee, umami soy vinaigrette, lotus root chip - Crispy tempeh
spiced tomato chutney, sautéed kale - Shiitake mizuna ricotta ravioli
truffled saikyo miso sauce, organic maple ginger granola
DESSERT
Sake pairing: Hakkaisan Sparkling Nigori
- Matcha tiramisu
matcha-genmai ladyfingers, azuki paste, matcha-white chocolate ganache, sesame crumble
[/tab]
[tab id=3]
FIRST – ABURI SUSHI
Sake pairing: Dassai 39
- salmon oshi, ebi oshi, sunset roll, nigiri
SECOND – MINAMI ZEN
Sake pairing: Yu Junmai
- Aburi bincho
wasabi masatake sauce - Miso marinated tofu salad
baby greens, avocado, crispy tempeh, pickled daikon & carrot, umami soy vinaigrette - Saikyo miso baked sablefish
coconut creamed kale, wasabi shoga relish, yuzu-miso sauce - Braised fraser valley pork cheek
apple red cabbage kraut, roasted kabocha onion puree, sweet & sour ginger soy glaze
DESSERT
Sake pairing: Hakkaisan Sparkling Nigori
- Spiced pumpkin brownie ice cream
cinnamon-nutmeg spice blend, walnut brownie pieces
[/tab]
[/tabs]
The sushi assortment has 5 pieces of tai temari, hotate temari, sunset roll, wild boar bacon salmon oshi bite, and maguro + Kani Maki. You really need to savour these 5 pieces of sushi because they taste amazing. Every single bite is a work of art.
Tai Temari was beautiful like a little sushi ball.
Hotate Temari is scallop cut in half and draped over sushi rice.
Sunset Roll has spicy tuna, cucumber, smoked salmon, and tobiko.
Wild Boar Bacon Salmon Oshi Bite and Maguro + Kani Maki were my 2 favourite rolls because of that amazing Miku sauce. That sauce makes your mouth water.
Next is the second course consisting of Braised Fraser Valley Pork Cheek, Saikyo Miso Baked Sablefish, Jidori Chicken and Fois Gras Gyoza, and their Stone Fruit Salad.
Braised Fraser Valley Pork Cheek has a roasted kabocha-onion puree, apple red cabbage kraut, with a sweet and sour soy ginger glaze. The cheek was tender and full of flavour.
Saikyo miso baked sablefish also has a coconut creamed kale, wasabi shoga relish, and yuzu miso sauce. The skin was crisp and the delicate flavours of the sablefish went well with the sauce.
Jidori Chicken and Foie Gras Gyoza also comes with a truffle dashi consommé. The gyoza was good!
Stone Fruit Salad has endive, goat feta, dried olives, maple sherry thyme vinaigrette, and fig balsamic reduction. The fruit was really fresh and everything blended nicely together. It’s good to have one of the item a salad to break up the taste of meat.
Last but not least is their Matcha tiramisu for dessert. It has matcha-genmai ladyfingers, azuki paste, matcha-white chocolate ganache, with a sesame crumble. Oh man, this was good. No more need for regular Tiramisu because this is amazing.
Overall, it’s always a good time at Minami. The $45 dinner menu is reasonable and you get a taste of everything Minami has to offer. If you aren’t keen to spending that much, the $25 lunch is a good option too.
We Rate Minami: 
Address:
1118 Mainland St
Vancouver BC
Website:
http://minamirestaurant.com/
