By Priya Hutner ·
This week’s Tastes adventure was one of my favorite dining experiences. I was definitely feeling the love at the Drunken Monkey.
I met with owner Andy Barr, Chef extraordinaire Sam Okamoto and the bright and fabulous manager, Katie Livingstone, to discuss their love of Japanese cuisine. There was one thing they all agreed on, they want to give diners an experience.
Quality ingredients, excellent service and remarkable food are the key to their success. Local, organic and sustainable products are important in the preparation and creation of the food that they serve.
Katie Livingstone and Sam Okamoto
Chef Sam keeps up with current trends in Asian cuisine inspiring an eclectic menu of both traditional Japanese foods, as well as emerging cuisine from Hong Kong, Beijing and South Korea. He is passionate about food. I asked him what some of his favorite dishes were, “Grilled Salmon Belly, Salmon Collar and the Kyushu Style Ramen,” he said.
Ann Marie Sheridan, owner of Namaste Yoga, joined me for a late lunch to sample some of Chef Sam’s extraordinary creations and experience some of the best of what the Drunken Monkey offers.
Katie started us off with a house specialty drink – a Chili Lime Cilantro Shochu cocktail served with a hibiscus-salted rim that offered hints of spicy, sweet and salty to create a tasty cocktail. We enjoyed a Sake Flight, soon to be added to the menu. A sampler of three different cold sakes; this is a must if you love sake.
Grilled Sake Toro Salmon Belly
Our meal began the Grilled Sake Toro Salmon Belly appetizer. If you are a fan of Salmon this dish is amazing – rich, tender and full of flavor. It is an absolute delicacy.
Kyushu Style Ramen
The Kyushu Style Ramen is to die for. As promised, the stock was rich and flavorful, the noodles were done to perfection, and the roasted pork was tender and tasty. The stock takes 18 hours to make and the pork is roasted and basted all day. Kimchi, another specialty made in house, is some of the best I’ve tasted.
Chirashi Sushi
We also had the Chirashi Sushi. This is one of my favorite dishes. The slices of Escolar, Ahi, Salmon, Albacore and Hamachi served over seasoned rice literally melted in my mouth. Each piece of fish was of the highest and freshest quality.
I asked Andy about the unique name of the restaurant, he explained that being drunken in Asian culture is a reference to being enlightened and the monkey is highly regarded in Japan. The food at the Drunken Monkey is enlightening in every way and this restaurant is hands down one of the best in Tahoe.
When you go make sure to peruse Chef Sam’s beautiful photography on display With so much to choose from on the menu you’ll need to return often.
The Drunken Monkey is located at The Rock, 11253 Brockway Road, Truckee. For information, call (530) 582-9755 or visit drunkenmonkeysushi.com.
Priya Hutner is a writer, health and wellness consultant, and natural foods chef. Her business, The Seasoned Sage, focuses on wellness, conscious eating and healthy living. She offers healthy organic meals for her clients. She may be reached at pria78@gmail.com or visit theseasonedsage.com. Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com to read more Tastes columns.
