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| - So, as a restaurant, if you're going to sign up for a promotional event like this, you should probably do it right...
This was my first Yelp Elite event! Woohoo! And it pretty much met my expectations, which, to be honest, weren't very high, because I've read the reviews for this place, and they're pretty lackluster. BUT I was hopeful that Rachel could work her usual magic and that the staff would pull together something special for this one-time event.
But alas, everything tasted and felt pretty half-assed, from the sparse bites of rather unimaginative dishes to the chef's even sparser ( and cringily self-deprecating) words about the business to the already mentioned one-woman bar where it took me about 20 minutes to get my first drink.
Sadly, the drinks turned out to be by far the best part. While the edamame hummus was satisfyingly flavorful, the sushi samples offered managed to be at once dry and goopy from the thick sauce that completely hid any other flavors.
This seemed to be the theme with the menu offered, as the short ribs were covered with a thick, sour sauce as well. While they were marketed as Korean, they did not taste like any traditionally Asian sauces I've ever had, Korean or otherwise. Ah, the perils of "Asian fusion" strike again. What the unappetizing sauce could not cover, however, was the EXTREMELY dry and tough pork underneath, which sported a thick, barely chewable crust from being beaten into submission by severe overcooking.
Finally, the tofu was a tad bit more successful, as the fried, breaded crust on it was at least intentional, and the peanuty garnish lent some flavor beyond the heavy aroma of sesame oil that otherwise overwhelmed. However, once one got beyond the breading, the actual tofu inside was completely flavorless.
Yes, I found this tasteless tofu disappointing, because no, contrary to popular belief, tofu is supposed to be able to carry great flavors. As someone of Chinese heritage, I grew up eating authentic tofu of all varieties: silken and creamy and braised or stewed, firm and stir fried, deep-fried puffs, rehydrated braided tofu skin, smoked tofu, marinated five-spice tofu, tofu fermented to near cheesiness, etc. etc. etc. Tofu has great potential to be delicious. It is not a "meat substitute." It's just tofu. It's one of my favorite foods for its flavor and texture and versatility. But this tofu made me incredibly sad.
An extra star for Rachel's fabulous hosting efforts and the community of Elites who showed up to support! One star for Pan.
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