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| - November Challenge - 2/30
The last couple of birthdays I've had were thrown together haphazardly at the last minute. This year, since I was turning the age I always introduced myself as when I was pretending to be a teacher at six years old, I decided a little more effort was necessary. So a month prior, I was on the phone with Anju and their awesome manager, Diane. At first I was hesitant; Anju has a policy that large groups must do the tasting menu and now, since one of the tasting menu items requires 24 hours of prep, a credit card number has to be given so that they don't eat the cost of the food in case you decide to bail for whatever reason. While I am more than sympathetic to that plight, all I could think was:
FUUUUUU. I need to treat this reservation like I'm organizing a wedding dinner!
So I was on the phone for three weeks; yelling at friends, sewing voodoo dolls together, making sure that everyone who said, "yeah, sure" was saying a definite, "fuck, yeah!" Especially because not only were they creating a feast that required 24 hours of prep, they were creating unique tofu dishes especially for me. And not many places in the city - unless they are catering specifically to vegetarians - will do that for you, so every time I thought about it, a smile crept along my face.
Anju only has one area that was large enough to accomodate my party of 20: A long table in their room that faces the open kitchen. This meant that some of my friends that didn't really know each other were going to have to get better acquainted, and that some of us weren't going to be able to talk to each other unless I went up and down the table and hugged everyone (which I did!).
Service was first-class from start to finish, with Diane and her army of adorable servers making sure everyone was well accommodated and looked after, especially this vegan and my friend that has a gluten allergy. She was way more vigilant than I was (especially after a couple of Matchatinis) and quickly whisked away a plate that I had absentmindedly put a sauce on, that contained seafood ingredients. Thanks!
Appetizers were their famous tofu puffs (made vegan and gluten-free for my friend and I), edamame and oysters. I eat edamame at home all day long, but Anju's were easily the best edamame I have ever put in my mouth. In fact, there was a lot of that sentiment going around at the table:
"This is the best edamame I have ever put in my mouth."
"These are the best oysters I have ever had."
"Oh my God, what is this... it's TOFU?! I HATE TOFU! OH MY GOD I LOVE THIS TOFU."
When I checked in with the Yelp app, I was given the opportunity to purchase a round of Soju shots for the entire table and a complimentary appetizer. The Soju comes in different flavors, and my choice, the Passionfruit, I would definitely recommend getting again. Like slaking back a shotglass of sunshine! Since I had read many amazing things about Anju's truffled sweet potato fries, I went ahead and asked for those, and was not disappointed. Fries are my favorite food, especially sweet potato fries, and now Anju has probably spoiled me from eating them anywhere else.
Next came the Gochujang Wings (and a tofu version for me). I grew up on Korean food (it's how my parents met - my Mom was a waitress at a Korean restaurant and my Dad owned the bar above it), so my standards for Korean fare are high. The Gochujang Tofu wings tasted just how my Mom might make them, although definitely with more kick. In fact, I think I might like them better than my Mom's? Don't tell her.
The main course: Braised Pork Shoulder Lettuce Wraps (and Tofu Steak Lettuce Wraps for me!). There is never a delicate way to eat Romaine lettuce wraps. Sauce and food will get all over your arms all the way to your elbows. Anju had posted a photo on Instagram earlier that day, showing us the pork shoulder being prepared, so I was surrounded by friends drooling in anticipa----------
-----tion. It was quickly devoured and inhaled, sauce was all over our arms and zero fucks were given because you were happy to lick that sauce off your arms! Happy! Sad that some could not lick it off their own elbows!
I can ;).
I was already rubbing my belly and ready for a couple of winks, before dancing later that night, when dessert finally came. No overly ostentatious plates of chocolate something, that was thawed out from a box and drowning in sauce and whipped cream: dessert was simply Melona ice cream bars (and a bowl of fruit for me). Sure, my bowl of fruit was probably cocktail garnishes, but cocktail garnishes are delicious! Seriously, the perfect end to a decadent meal that two weeks later, my friends are still talking about.
Later on that night, I saw Anju tweet hi-fives to their staff for seamlessly serving our large group. They were well-deserved hi-fives. This was the best birthday dinner I have ever had. Thanks, Anju! And thanks, Diane! You are a lady and a scholar.
300th REVIEW! :D
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