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| - In a culinary world where Asian food is largely relegated to something you order by a number that's stuffed into a square, white box that says, "Have A Rice Day!" accompanied by some sad Lo Mein and a disappointing fortune cookie, it's nice to see something truly creative and luxe.
Johnny Chu, the Executive Chef and creative mastermind from Hong Kong is the man behind the legendary restaurants Fate and Sens, has created another downtown venue showcasing his skills with SoChu House Neo-Asian & Martini Bar, opened last year. In a foodie world where everything is "fusion"-this and "eclectic"-that, eventually those buzzwords mean nothing. Not true when you're in the capable hands, woks, pots and grills of Johnny. This is where he excels, marrying a variety of tastes and cooking methods, turning it into something really exciting.
Not just some catch-phrase to be bandied about, the eclectic menu at Sochu House is inventive, featuring a variety of tapas and entrées with an inspiring array of Chinese, Japanese, Thai and even Western flavors. The sauces and spices are enlightening, titillating, tempting and always entertaining in a way that's oh-so Chu. Much of the food preparation is done in cast iron and clay pots. Sochu House presents four different tapas menus with around ten items apiece priced between $5 and $12 per selection.
Our friendly, capable server, Lynn, expertly helped us navigate our way through the tantalizing menu.
The first Tapas menu offers Bo Luc Lac, also known as "Shaky Beef," has thick, chunks of tender, onion/black pepper marinated beef served with a green leaf sesame salad. A crowd-pleaser is Soup Gyoza. These Shanghai dumplings offer a scoop of pork and rich, clear soup broth inside of a thin, twisted dumpling blanket bathed in a ponzu-like sauce.
The Kushiage Tapas offerings are all Japanese panko crusted and flash fried. Don't pass up the succulent Sugar Cane Pork. The ground pork is marinated in ginger and lemongrass panko with a pool of pineapple ginger sauce. Each formed into a little "drumstick" on a length of sugar cane.
The Robata Grill Tapas are traditionally prepared over a glowing pyramid of baton-shaped charcoal. A skewer of marinated chicken served with an astounding sweet (and sinus-cleansing) wasabi will keep you on your toes. More, more, more! Wait ... there's more, alright.
Lookin' for noodles? Sochu House has flat noodles, rice noodles, udon noodles, crispy noodles and--well--oodles of noodles. The Crispy Noodle Island gives you a bowl of baby bok choy, mushroom, carrots, snow peas, broccoli, baby corn, onion and a choice of Chinese style tofu, shrimp, beef or chicken all nestled in a lovely cradle of crispy noodles for $11. Three other noodle dishes are available.
Finish off the meal with a flourish. The mouth-watering Sweet Wontons are filled with cream cheese and goat cheese, then flash fried with strawberry puree sauce and dusted with powdered sugar for $5.
Sochu House promises martinis and delivers more, including stupendous, handcrafted "saketinis." Try their exotic Sweet Karma, Lust, Hot 'n' Dirty Martini, or my own personal favorite, the Pinku No Hana. This tastes exactly like Hawaii smells and even feels, thanks to the jasmine infused vodka.
Check out SoChu House Daily Specials. Try Tapas Tuesday with four tapas for $20. Grab someone special for Date Night Thursday and enjoy a four course meal for $30.
SoChu House just may be your next home. And that's so Chu.
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