Nathan and I headed to Uchi last night in a celebratory mood with high expectations.  Our evening began as soon as he rolled in from Dallas with two bottles of champagne.  We toasted the new position he was offered in New York City, changed into fabulousness, and headed across the bridge to what would be one of our most memorable meals together.

As soon as we arrived, the bartender poured a couple sparkling samples, suggesting the brut rosé.  We accepted his suggestion, found a seat in the bar, and gabbed endlessly about how excited we were for our upcoming culinary adventure.  In what seemed like no time at all, our table was ready, and so were we!  We immediately ordered the brussels sprouts and crudo (both suggestions from friends) and got to work reading the rest of the menu.

Wagyu hot rock, spicy tuna, maguro sashimi and goat cheese, bacon steakie, spider roll, and an unpictured jizake crème caramel.  There was no holding back!  We obsessed over the brussels sprouts and crudo as we waited for the remaining amazingness to arrive.

Each dish arrived flawlessly, tasting and timing alike.  Nathan and I ate carefully, recognizing how difficult chopsticks become after popping bottles, commenting on what we found so special about every little thing that touched our taste buds.

The crispiness and subtle sweetness of the brussels sprouts.  The freshness and tantalizing tang of the sea bass (crudo).  The sheer entertainment factor of barely searing your own beef on a hot rock because, after all, beef this good should be eaten rawer than raw.

A spicy tuna roll with spicy sauce on the side so the freshness of the fish was not jeopardized.  A spider roll with delicate soy paper in lieu of seaweed that could very well have dominated the flavor of the roll.  And an adventurous pairing of raw tuna with crisp apples and creamy goat cheese.

And lastly, the bacon steakie.  The best pork belly that either of us had ever eaten.  So crispy, so tender, so melt in your mouth – we considered ordering another.

I couldn’t have chosen a better place to take Nathan before he leaves for The City!  Between the pork belly dreams that I know he’ll have and the direct flight from JFK to AUS, I know he’ll be back, and often!