Posts tagged Shiitake Mushroom

Yakitori Yurippi, Crows Nest

Skewers getting barbecued, Yurippi, Crows Nest: Sydney Food Blog Review

Remember the Cliff Dive? Well guess what? Yurippi of the amazing skewers have now opened their own place in Crows Nest! The vision of owner Tin was more yakitori and less tuck shop, and it’s here that he really gets to stretch his wings to fulfil that dream.

Like all foodies, it actually runs in the family. Tin’s grandfather was a chef in Hokkaido for a hotel, and after a spell of fighting the urge through becoming an engineer, Tin is standing in amongst the smoke, serving upwards of 500 skewers to hungry customers every day!

So, how does it all stack up?

The Skewers, $2.90 each

Chicken and Shallot Skewer, Yurippi, Crows Nest: Sydney Food Blog ReviewChicken and Shallot Skewer

The Chicken Thigh and Shallot was succulent and juicy, set off with a sweet soy sauce that just brought it all together. Delicately smokey from the coal and binchotan (High grade Japanese charcoal) – let me take a moment to mention how baller their ventilation is – these skewers consisted of perfect, balanced bites.

It’s very obvious to me that the care and attention to detail that I first noticed all that time ago is still very present, and I’m reaping all the benefits! Score.

Chicken Liver Skewer, Yurippi, Crows Nest: Sydney Food Blog ReviewChicken Liver Skewer

Chicken Heart Skewer, Yurippi, Crows Nest: Sydney Food Blog ReviewChicken Heart Skewer

Chicken Gizzard Skewer, Yurippi, Crows Nest: Sydney Food Blog ReviewChicken Gizzard Skewer

The offal options on the menu also receive the same attentive treatment: the Chicken Liver, Chicken Heart and Chicken Gizzard were all grilled to perfection, and seasoned with a light but firm touch. Like a parent who knows what’s best.

And they really know best.

Pork Belly Skewer, Yurippi, Crows Nest: Sydney Food Blog ReviewPork Belly Skewer

The Pork Belly and Pork Jowl were also masterclasses in barbecue. Thin slices of Pork Belly were threaded onto skewers and seasoned with a sprinkling of salt. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the first bite gave me the “holy crap this is so amazing feeling”, and Jen, my dining partner, feels exactly the same way. Clean flavour of pork, only slightly enhanced by the savoury overtones of the salt. Like a good wonderbra. ?

Pork Jowl, Yurippi, Crows Nest: Sydney Food Blog ReviewPork Jowl

And the Wagyu Beef with Homemade Marinade. Oh the wagyu. Need I say more?

Wagyu Beef Skewer, Yurippi, Crows Nest: Sydney Food Blog ReviewWagyu Beef Skewer

W-A-G-Y-U

Not into the meat fest? (You should be) The Shiitake Mushroom with sweet soy was also a delight, with the mushrooms tender but not too, well, mushy, retaining its firm bite. So. Good.

Special bonus points!

Ox Tongue Skewer, Yurippi, Crows Nest: Sydney Food Blog ReviewOx Tongue Skewer

If you wanna turbocharge your experience, the Chicken meatball with 63C egg, Slow cooked Ox Tongue with miso sauce and Miso Sake Black Cod are just the things to order.

Tsukune Skewer, Yurippi, Crows Nest: Sydney Food Blog ReviewTsukune Skewer

Also known as Tsukune, the Chicken Meatball is pretty much like a Japanese chicken kofta, and is traditionally served with a raw egg yolk to dip it in. Here they cook the eggs to 63C (where eggs were naturally born to be cause it’s so darn delicious), and serve you the whole egg, with a soy based sauce that turns this rich bowl into an unctuous treat. You can dip the skewer in or eat the skewer whole and then finish with the egg.

I suggest the latter. Go on. You know it.

Miso Cod Skewer, Yurippi, Crows Nest: Sydney Food Blog ReviewMiso Cod

Miso Black Cod is also as silky and buttery as it promised to be, and while the treatment isn’t anything particularly new, I don’t think there’s any reason to improve upon perfection. Delicious delicious perfection. Black cod is quite hard to find in Sydney, and I’m just glad I’ve got another supplier for my growing addiction.

The Sides

Mentaiko mashed potato, Yurippi, Crows Nest: Sydney Food Blog ReviewMentaiko mashed potato

You also need sides to go with your skewers, and the Gyozas come with Hane, which translates to “wings”. A slurry of starch and water gets poured into the pan for extra crunch, and the Gyozas get little flaps, which is where the wings get their name from!

Gyoza with Hane, Yurippi, Crows Nest: Sydney Food Blog ReviewGyoza

Chicken Karaage, Yurippi, Crows Nest: Sydney Food Blog Review Chicken Karaage

And if you’re of the fried chicken persuasion (who isn’t?) the Mini Karaage is like the popcorn version of the Japanese fried chicken classic, served up with a side of premium kewpie Mayo. PREMIUM KEWPIE. I didn’t even know there was even such a thing. More creamy and less tangy. Mmmmm. More fat.

Look for the yellow cap, I’m told. I know I’m going to be hunting this shizz down.

Final Thoughts

Tamagoyaki getting sliced, Yurippi, Crows Nest: Sydney Food Blog Review

I know it’s boring reading a review that’s wholly positive, but you know what? I’ve got nothing but love for Tin and his team. They are genuinely happy to be there, and the fact that they’ve been through other career options before coming together means that it’s a conscious decision to be there, and boy do they make it count.

The space is intimate, and the open kitchen lets you be privy to all the buzz on the kitchen. I love the izakaya feel of the place – small drinking houses that are very popular amongst Japanese business people – and the small bites pair really well with their rather large alcohol selection.

Or ramune. I suggest the ramune. ?

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Yakitori Yurippi.
Yakitori Yurippi
7 Falcon Street
Crows Nest, Sydney
Phone: (02) 8041 9261
Website: http://www.yurippi.com.au

Yakitori Yurippi Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Shiitake Mushroom Ramen Recipe

I am an absolute ramen fiend – nothing beats a hot bowl of noodles and soup in the middle of a freezing winter. But most ramen broths are based in bone and meat for that intense flavour, and it does mean that my vegetarian friends often miss out on this awesome meal. But bone does add a depth of flavour that is hard to replace, so I thought to use Lapsang Suchong – a smoky black tea – and konbu – a dried seaweed – to add body to the soup.

The result is this Shiitake Mushroom Ramen that I can share with ALL my friends, and if I swapped out the egg and egg noodles, my vegan friends too!

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