I had the pleasure of eating at Wasabi, the newest addition to the Asian dining scene in the Brookfield/Elm Grove area.  By my count, Wasabi is now the fourth Japanese restaurant on the Bluemound Road corridor.  Gone are the days when you had to trek down to the venerable Izumi's on the east side for quality sushi.  Wasabi is located in a strip mall at the intersection of Moorland Road and Bluemound, the same mall that houses the Vitamin Shoppe and Starbucks.

As with most of the newer restaurants, the decor at Wasabi is contemporary.  The large sushi bar dominates the room, with tables at the center and small booths and banquette seating to the sides.  Wasabi also has a small regular bar.  It bills itself as having a "lounge" atmosphere, but I am not sure what that means.  Maybe it means "dark" because the lighting was a tad dim the night I was there, which made reading the menu difficult.  

Surprisingly, there was no beef/steak teriyaki on the menu, even though Chicken ($16) and Salmon Teriyaki ($18) were both offered.  This disappointed us because beef teriyaki is our "go to" dish for our daughter in Japanese restaurants.  Upon the advice of our server, we chose the Braised Prime Short Rib ($18) as a substitute, after being told it had a "sweet" flavor similar to teriyaki.   Although not really like teriyaki, I'd describe the braised short rib as a kind of sweet pot roast.  The sweet taste was subtle, and the meat was not dripping in sauce, as is usually the case with teriyaki dishes.  It got the thumbs up from the little one.  The portion was pretty big for a child, but it made for good leftovers the next day.  The entree did not come with rice but was served with a sweet "bread", similar to what encases barbecued pork buns, if you're familiar with dim sum.  (I'd write the chinese name for it but I doubt the software would allow it.)

On the night we were there, the restaurant was out of shrimp dumplings, which are my favorite and are generally more complex in taste than beef dumplings/pot stickers, if done right.  But since I was in the mood for dumplings, we ordered the beef ones, Gyoza ($6).  You can order them steamed or pan fried.  My preference is pan fried for beef dumplings.  I'm not sure why I ordered the Gyoza that night because I am not a big fan of pot stickers.  Generally, the filling always strikes me as bland, and they turn out "gummy" more often than not when pan fried.  But the ones at Wasabi pleasantly surprised me.  Delicately shaped, they retained a crispness around the edges.

For entrees, the spouse and I stuck with sushi, but the restaurant offers a variety of non-sushi selections.  For meat lovers, there are three different kinds of steak entrees with an asian twist:  New York Strip ($21), Filet Mignon ($27), Rib Eye ($18).  For seafood lovers, in addition to the salmon teriyaki mentioned above, there is Chilean Sea Bass ($20), Spice Garlic Shrimp ($18), and Scallop and Crab Cake ($18).

Wasabi also offers a variety of fried rice, ranging from $5 to $8.

For sushi eaters, there are "wraps", cone shaped hand rolled sushi: Spicy Tuna ($4) and Negi Toro (fatty tuna) ($8), to name a few.  Wasabi also has many different rolls.   The spouse and I shared the Black Dragon roll ($16), which consisted of soft shell crab, avocado, and cucumber, topped with eel.  It was very good but didn't differ greatly from other dragon rolls that I've sampled at other restaurants.

We liked Wasabi.  The prices and portions are comparable to other Japanese restaurants in our area.  The Gyoza was the biggest hit, far better than other "pot stickers" I've tasted in both Japanese and Chinese places.  As for the sushi, I was impressed with the number of "signature rolls" that Wasabi offers, but the roll I had, while good, was nothing unique.

We had no qualms taking our younger daughter there.  There were more than enough non-sushi items to choose from. There were no problems with service when we were there.

With all these new Japanese restaurants, it's important to remember that "sushi" doesn't mean "raw fish".  So, if you don't care for raw fish sushi, that doesn't mean you can't try out these new places.  For example, the Black Dragon roll I ordered has all "cooked" ingredients, including the eel, which is delicious for all you uninitiated out there.  There are also vegetarian rolls available.  Just carefully read the menu and ask your server for his/her recommendations.  Sushi is a great alternative if you don't feel like eating a heavy meal.

(Neither the owners or management/staff of Wasabi knew we were coming nor did they offer me anything in exchange for writing this blog.)

About two weeks ago, a few of the "moms" from my daughter's class and I had lunch at Cafe Manna, the vegetarian restaurant at the Towne Centre.  Mom #1 admits to occasional bouts of vegetarianism.  As she puts it, "sometimes we're vegetarian, and sometimes we're not."  Mom #2, although not vegetarian, does not drink soda of any kind and practices yoga.  Then, there is me -- the soda-drinking carnivore who thinks yoga is surely part of Dante's Third Circle of Hell.

But I was willing to give it a shot.  So, we decided to have lunch on a weekday after we dropped our kids off at school.  Although it was the noon hour, the restaurant was not that busy, and we didn't have any problems getting a table.  Finding a parking place, however, was a little difficult.  Two of us ended up parking in the Sendik's lot.  (Cafe Manna is in the same building as the Four Seasons Coffee shop.)

I'm not sure why, but when I walked in, I thought of California.  Maybe it was the colors -- beiges, greens, browns.  It was very bright, lots of light wood, all tables- no booths.   No soda or alcohol is served here, but there is coffee, an assortment of teas, caffeinated and non-caffeinated, and a variety of waters, including my favorite Izze, a blend of sparkling water and fruit juice in a range of flavors (grapefruit, pomegranate, e.g.), which can be found at Sendik's and Grasch's.

To start things off, we, along with the other diners, were served a small, complimentary appetizer, a small mound of cashew hummus, served with crackers and bread.  The cashew flavor was very subtle.

Mom #1 and I ended up ordering the same thing: the soup of the day - Asparagus and Mushroom Bisque ($6.25) and the Wild Mushroom and Goat Cheese Crostini appetizer ($8.50).

We both loved the soup.  The asparagus and the mushrooms had been pureed into a smooth bisque, and small bits of diced asparagus were added in.  I might have liked a bit more of the diced asparagus, but the soup was a hit. 

Although billed as a "Tasty Beginning," the mushroom and goat cheese crostini was pretty substantial in size; neither one of us was able to finish it.  The toasted bread was heaped with a "wild mushroom duxelle" and topped with an herbed goat cheese mixture.  Although I really liked the flavors, by the time I got to my third piece, the mushroom-cheese mixture had made the middle of the bread soggy.

Mom #2 had the Toasted Millet Vegetable Salad ($8.50).  Another substantial dish, the salad consisted of a mesclun mix with chickpeas, red and yellow bell peppers, Vidalia onions, carrots, sugar snap peas, topped with toasted millet and dressed with a curry-miso vinaigrette. 

Other salads that looked interesting were the Arugula Salad with Avocado and Pear ($10.75) and the Ribboned Zucchini and Herbed Salad ($8.25).

There were also a variety of sandwiches and entrees:  Baked Falafel and Citrus Tahini sandwich ($7.25), and the Sesame Encrusted Tofu with Asparagus and Sun-Dried Tomato Risotto ($14.75), to name a few.

There are also several "extras" (sides).  For example, Celeriac Whipped Yukon Potatoes ($3.75) and Wasabi Scented Spinach Red Potato Salad ($3.75).

I was the only one who ordered dessert.  I had the Ginger Macadamia Nut Carrot Cake ($5.75).  The slice I got was big enough to feed at least two people.  It was regular carrot cake but pumped up a couple of notches with the addition of macadamia nuts, coconut, and crystallized ginger.  It was yummy.

The website for Cafe Manna is still under construction, but it still provides a sample menu (without prices), directions to the restaurant, and its business hours. Take-out menus are available at the front desk.

Cafe Manna does not have a children's menu.  The ladies' room did not have a changing table, but it has an interesting little toiletry cabinet.  A quick check revealed what looked like mouthwash, accompanied by disposable paper cups, hairspray, and lotion.  Thoughtful. 

When it came time to box up the leftovers, mine were housed in biodegradable containers.  The bag that I carried everything in was recyclable.

Although I liked what I had, I have to wonder whether a restaurant like Cafe Manna will ultimately succeed in Brookfield.  On the other hand, I wish Brookfield had more of these small, independent restaurants that think outside of the box.

(No one at Cafe Manna knew I was coming nor did the owners/management of the restaurant invite me to dine there.)

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 CORRECTION:  Per a reader, Cafe Manna does serve some alcohol.  See the Comment from KMB below.  Sorry for the error.

Just yesterday, I posted a review of the restaurant Umami Moto.  As a reader noted, they did know I was coming, so read my "review" with that in mind. 

The reader's comment about anonymity reminded me of a blurb I read about the new Journal Sentinel restaurant critic, Carol Deptolla.

Umami Moto occupies the same space as the former Monsoon restaurant.  As I stated in my prior blog, I was not impressed by the "fusion" cuisine that Monsoon offered.  I dined only once at Monsoon and found the food to be so-so.  I never went back.  So, when I heard that Umami Moto was being billed as an asian fusion restaurant, I had my doubts, but I was willing to try it.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, we were greeted at the desk by the requisite cluster of young hostesses, only one of whom appears to actually be seating people -- a phenomenon I've noted at newer restaurants.  The restaurant has been redecorated, and the bar, The Sake Lounge, occupies the front, with a wall separating the bar from the main dining room.  A smaller, partially-enclosed dining area at the west end of the building is connected to the main dining room.  With contemporary decor and artwork, the restaurant appears to be going for a hip, downtown feel.  For a weeknight, the restaurant was moderately full.

What is "umami"?  Umami (pronounced oo-mommy) is the "fifth" element of taste (the others being sweet, salty, sour, and bitter).  Discovered by a Japanese chemist, Dr. Kikunae Ikeda, umami means "deliciousness" or "savoriness," or  it has also been described as a certain "roundness" of flavor.   I was a little skeptical.  I'd never heard of this concept.  But I checked with my friend who lived in Japan for a couple of years, and she confirmed it.

Shortly after being seated, we were treated to the umami experience by Chef Mark Schmidt.  First, he presented each of us with a bowl of broth, which I found to have a complex flavor all by itself.  Then, he added a little fish sauce. Then, he added a touch of soy.  After each addition, we tasted the broth.  The end result was supposed to deliver the umami flavor.  The Spouse claims he could taste "something" but really couldn't put it into words, but The Spouse can be somewhat susceptible to the power of suggestion.  Although I could taste the different flavors after each addition, I'm not sure I was really wrapping my taste buds around the whole umami thing.  To be treated to the umami experience, I believe you will have to ask for it because I did not notice other diners being offered the presentation that particular night.  Here is the umami experience as it was presented on Fox 6.

Umami Moto has a website, which features, among other items, a downloadable menu and pictures of the interior of the restaurant.  Click here to view. 

Based on prices, I would describe Umami Moto as an upper end restaurant, more suited for date night with your spouse rather than family dining.  I would also advise against taking younger children there, especially if you are working on the "we don't throw food on the floor" stage of child development.  There is no kids menu either.  A check of the restroom revealed no diaper changing station.

Because we were anxious to try something new, we did not order any of the sushi rolls available nor did we order any of the typical chinese dishes listed, like Beef and Broccoli or Kung Pao anything.

We ordered two appetizers: the Shanghai Pork Shumai and the Thai Chicken Wings.  Of the two, we liked the chicken wings the best.  The wings were marinated in coconut milk, which gave them a pleasant sweet taste -- but not overly sweet.  The wings were served with two sauces, a peanut sauce and a "volcano" sauce.  I liked the peanut sauce.  Although mostly sweet, it had a bit of heat to it.  The volcano sauce, although I found it slightly spicy, was not hot enough to satisfy my jalapeno-chewing Spouse.  The shumai dumplings were larger and juicier than what you find at Chinese restaurants.  The addition of coconut milk also imparted a Thai flavor to the pork, ginger filling.  Although we liked the filling, we thought the outer wonton wrapper was slightly undercooked.

We ordered two entrees, the Shitake Scallops and the Braised Pork Shank.  We also ordered two side dishes, the cold cucumber salad and the stir-fried eggplant.

I really enjoyed the scallops.  They were perfectly done, and the light shitake coating gave the sweet scallops an earthy richness.  I was especially intrigued by its accompaniment, "bamboo rice".  The best way to describe it is to imagine risotto formed into patties resembling small, fingerling potatoes and then fried until the exterior develops a thin, crisp crust.  Although I could have used a fork to cut it, I opted to eat it with my fingers.  Although I am usually a white rice purist, I liked the delicate taste of the bamboo rice.  It had texture without being too mushy.  The pork shank was huge.  The meat was done just right, fork-tender.  Although I liked the cherry reduction served with it, I didn't really taste the hoisin that it was supposed to have been braised in.  But I have to admit that I only had a few bites of the pork because I was busy devouring my scallops.

The cucumber salad was fine, although they could have cut back on the mirin vinaigrette.  It was kind of swimming in it.  Neither of us really liked the stir-fried eggplant.  It was overdone, and frankly, we've had better at other places.

Although we were both feeling pretty full by the end of the main courses, we couldn't leave without ordering dessert.  We ordered the Moto Bananas but told them to hold the ice cream because The Spouse is lactose intolerant.  Chef Mark, believing that just the bananas were just not enough, very kindly threw in some of the Mandarin Chocolate Spring Rolls.  Both desserts were good.  The chocolate spring rolls were very, very chocolate-y.  The Moto Bananas were like cinnamon, banana egg rolls.  If not for The Spouse's stomach, I would have enjoyed them better with the vanilla ice cream.

We had no complaints about the service.  Our waiter was attentive, and the meal was well-paced.  At the end of our dinner, our server informed us that because it was Thursday, it was Ladies Night.  There were drink specials in the Sake Lounge, and a DJ was going to start playing at 9 p.m.  When I was in college and law school, Thursdays were always a big night to go out, and I kind of felt that the restaurant was giving a nod to that social scene.  If that's the case, I'm not really sure how that will play out here in Brookfield.  But The Spouse had work the next day and we had a babysitter on the clock, so we couldn't stay to check out the bar scene.

Umami Moto has two strong things going for it: the intriguing umami concept and the enthusiasm of Chef Mark Schmidt.  We really enjoyed meeting Chef Mark.  When answering our questions about umami and the kind of fusion cuisine he was presenting, he was really excited about bringing something new to our area.

I found Umami Moto to be better than its predecessor, Monsoon. The restaurant is still fairly new, but I think it's certainly worth another visit.
 

I've been wondering when Cafe Manna, a new restaurant in the Towne Centre, was going to open.   I was particularly interested in what kind of cuisine was going to be featured.  Well, apparently it had its official opening on Monday, and it is a vegetarian restaurant.

Other than Beans and Barley on the East side, I can't think of another vegetarian restaurant in the area.

If any readers have tried Cafe Manna already, feel free to comment. 

On a recent drive down Bluemound, I noticed signs for two new Asian restaurants: Umami Moto and Fujiyama.  Both restaurants are now open

Umami Moto occupies the same building as the now defunct Monsoon restaurant.  I had lunch at Monsoon only once and wasn't very impressed by the "Asian fusion" cuisine.  So, it was with some surprise that I read that Umami Moto will be featuring the "new" concept of Asian fusion.  If Monsoon was supposed to be a Chinese restaurant, this Asian totally missed that.  I'll give this new restaurant a try though, when it finally stops snowing!!

As an aside, if you want great, authentic Chinese food and don't want to drive to Chicago, send me an email and I'll give you the name of my fave Chinese restaurant in the Milwaukee area.  Alas, it is not in Brookfield.  Just click on the "Email author" tab at the top of my blog.

Fujiyama is in the same strip mall as the wonderful Indian restaurant, Saffron Bistro.  I've eaten at the Fujiyama in West Allis.  As I remember, it had a great selection of dishes, decent size portions, and reasonable prices.

But should we say sayonara to sushi?  

It seems that every other day I read an article that says something I do, inhale, or ingest is one day going to kill me.  I discovered the Public Investigator, a local blog, just recently.  As I scrolled through their recent entries, I read an article that is making me rethink my sushi eating.

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As I drive the snow-covered streets of Brookfield and points west, I long for a neon sign at the top of my minivan that flashes two different messages, depending on the situation:  "Slow-down you idiot!" or "Clean the ENTIRE car for pete's sake!" 

Is it "Belgian" waffle or "Belgium" waffle?

This is a question that my spouse and I have have talked about before, most recently at dinner tonight.

We were having dinner at the Capitol Cafe/Grecian Inn Restaurant, located on Capitol Drive, slightly west of the intersection of Capitol and Lilly Road.  For those who don't know, the building that housed the Grecian Inn is now home to two restaurants, the Capitol Cafe and Pancake House on the main level and the Grecian Inn on the lower level (formerly the pub).  It's my understanding that both businesses are owned by members of the same family.

I have been a loyal fan of the Grecian Inn for years, dating back to when it was a cozy little place on North Avenue.  (Speaking of dating, it was my first boyfriend, who was half-Greek, who introduced me to the restaurant.)  I haven't been to the "new" Grecian Inn yet, but from looking at the menu, the lower level is now devoted exclusively to Greek dishes. I particularly noticed an expanded seafood section. 

On the upper level, the Capitol Cafe and Pancake House hasn't changed layout wise.  On the menu, you'll probably still see your favorite specials -- like the Friday Fish Fry-- and even a few of the popular Greek entrees like the roast lamb sandwich or the gyro sandwich.

As the name implies, you're also still able to order breakfast anytime, and the breakfast menu is bigger and better than before.  There are all kinds of pancakes and crepes, different kinds of eggs benedict, an expanded kids menu, and of course waffles, which brings us back to our question.

On the menu, it said "Belgium" waffle, which incidentally is what I ended up ordering, but I've also seen it as "Belgian" waffle in other restaurants. 

I think the latter is correct.  My argument is that "Belgium" is not an adjective.

Maybe we should just call it the Brussels waffle?
 

I love to indulge in a cafe mocha, even though it is bad for my reflux and my tooth enamel.  I justify it by saying that there are studies that say coffee is chock full of antioxidants.  Although I am a fan of Starbucks, I had an opportunity to go to the Elm Grove Perk and Pub (when using this link, scroll down to "Perks and Pubs").  I probably had the smoothest cafe mocha there that I have ever had.

I take my daughter to get her haircut at Whimsikidz, a kids' boutique, in Elm Grove, owned by a Brookfield Central graduate.  Right down the sidewalk is the Elm Grove Perk and Pub.  Both stores are located in the Autumn Grove Plaza complex, slightly east of the intersection of Bluemound and Elm Grove Roads.  Because I was feeling the need for some caffeine this morning, I dropped by the Perk and Pub for the first time.  As the name implies, it is a place for both coffee and something a little harder, the bar opening later in the evening.

The Perk and Pub offers a quieter atmosphere than the Starbucks a little farther west on Bluemound, and the mocha I had didn't have that acidic punch that sometimes a Starbucks one can have.  The Perk and Pub  has several tables, and a small sitting area with a few comfy chairs and toys for the kids.  Although I only had coffee, sweet treats were also available, like cookies and brownies, and there is a food menu.