Gin Sai - My First Kaiseki!

Price: $$$$
Cravingness: ★★★★☆

Kaiseki, an interesting multi course traditional Japanese dinner served in small plates, was something I have been longing to try. As to celebrate the season of Sakura, Gin Sai launches a special Sakura Kaiseki menu at HKD880 per person (min order for two people). I was lucky enough to be invited over to try the menu. Promoting along the Kaiseki menu is a Crab Special Menu priced at HKD780 per person (min order for two people). Both of the menu are seasonal and need to reserve a day in advanced.



The interior of Gin Sai is simple yet contemporary. It was furnished in dark brown woods with a mood of Kyoto. Apart from main dining area, there is a Japanese Kyoto embroidery door for private dining and an open sushi bar and tempura bar.


Green tea was served for all diners. The tea was floral with a toasted aroma, unlike the water down tea served in many Japanese restaurants in Hong Kong.


- Sakura Kaiseki -
Streamed egg custard with crab meat and sakura
Our first course was prepared in a beautiful porcelain bowl in blue and purple with sakura printed on top.


The streamed egg was decorated with bright red Taraba crab meat in the middle, and a splash of golden translucent sauce made with Sakura flowers on top. The streamed egg was tasty and smooth. My recipe of streamed egg tasted pretty much the same, but this egg custard had a stronger bonito flavour. The Taraba crab was a tad rough in texture and tasted quite bland unfortunately.


- Sakura Kaiseki -
Braised Octopus with Sakura Leaves, Wild Plants with Mustard Miso Paste
The Osmanthus flower was tinted pink to imitate Sakura which is cute! The octopus was quite lovely to taste and gave a spicy wasabi finish.


- Sakura Kaiseki -
Sakura Trout in White Miso Soup
Oh my, this is THE BEST miso soup ever! No exaggeration. The white miso soup was utterly rich, creamy and milky. The salmon that swam on the broth was succulent but slightly over cooked. So eat fast! The daikon (white raddish) was smooth but was not tender enough. Again tinted Osmanthus was place in the soup to complete the Sakura theme.


Another beautiful plastic bowl was used for the miso soup. I want all of them at home!


- Sakura Kaiseki -
Thinly Slices of Sakura Sea Beam Sashimi
Arrrrrggggggh! The sea beam was smooth and creamy, I can still recall the delicious oil swirling on my tongue! The thin sliced ones were quite difference, it was sweeter and brinier in taste.



- Sakura Kaiseki -
Grilled Kinki Fish with Finely a Chopped Sakura Leaves
The kinki fish was well marinated. The sauce was rich, savoury and quite vinegary which was very appetite whetting. The fish itself was creamy and juicy with tender meats sticking to the bone. Yum!



- Sakura Kaiseki -
Steamed Amadai Sea Beam
The dish looks nice but the taste was rather bland. The sea beam was flavourless and a bit rough. The sticky rice was lightly flavoured with minced beef. There was some crisps to add crunchy texture, but overall not too impressed.



- Sakura Kaiseki -
Sakura Shrimp Rice
OH MYYYYYY! The Sakura Ebi rice was freaking amazing! We could not stop screaming once the lid was opened, the smoky aroma from the Ebi and rice was heavenly! 


The rice was chewy and insanely sweet. The sweetness was all from the natural flavour from the Ebi, no spices were added in! The Ebi was extremely crispy and smoky. It was so good that I have two and a half bowl!!!! Gosh, so much carbs!! We also topped extra Ebi on the rice =P!


- Sakura Kaiseki -
Sakura Panna Cotta with Lemon Jelly
A very girly dessert served in a cocktail glass. The Sakura panna cotta aka strawberry panna cotta was custard like and very bouncy. The lemon jelly was bland but added some great texture to it. Sakura flower and mint leaves were added to give some special flavour. The overall flavour was quite bland, so you definitely need the sweet Chantilly cream that served on top


We had three ice-cream tonight. The Ginger ice cream was my favourite one. It was creamy with a spicy, gingery finish. The chestnut was nice too, it was creamy and mildly sweet with rich flavour of chestnut. The green tea was rather weak in taste.


More food to come! Next move on to the crab menu! 

- Crab Special Menu -
Taraba Crab Meat Cold Shabu Shabu
Refreshing Yuzu note brought out the sweetness in the Taraba crab. The  crab meat was tender and kept a bit raw at the center.


- Crab Special Menu -
Streamed egg with Taraba crab meat
I didn't have this streamed egg but it looks pretty much the same as my Sakura one.

- Crab Special Menu -
Charcoal Grilled Taraba Crab Leg
A heavenly smoky aroma from the grill permeated in the air when this was delivered, and WOW was my first word. The Taraba crab was naturally salty and very meaty. I got a bit disappoint though as the crab had rather weak crab flavour 


We basically just slurp the crab like how we have oysters!


- Crab Special Menu -
Zawai Crab Claw with Sea Urchin
A beautiful dish with tempura but the first thing that caught my eyesight was that golden Uni! The Uni was sweet, silky and creamy, the Taraba crab here was bouncy and the crab flavour was bold! However I don't find they complement each other, I reckon it might be better if they are served separately.



- Crab Special Menu -
Hairy Crab Meat with Tosa Vinegar
A palate clearing dish with tosa vinegar jelly but leaned on the sweet side. The crab meat was icy with loads of roe on it.


- Crab Special Menu -
Shabu crab
Next comes the exciting part, the shabushabu crab! An stainless pot was placed on our table along with fresh ingredients, but we mainly focused on the sparkling crab here. =)



Crab swimming in the broth. Please don't swim too long and get in my belly soon!


The crab was perfect. It was utterly sweet and had a strong crab flavour. The texture was amazing, it was smooth and kept slightly raw.


Next we moved on to the veggies.


The broth was made more complex, now had a more flavourful and sweeter flavour after the veggie's essence set in the it. 


After the crab and the veggies, We were told they will then make some congee. I was not too keen on this congee part but hell did I know the congee would taste amazing!!??

We simply added an Onsen egg and rice into the flavourful broth.



After awhile the broth turned into a golden colour congee!



This congee was utterly addicting, I had many bowls of it. The Congee was rich, creamy and sweet with bold flavour of the Onsen egg. Su said it is a bit too watery, but I love it the way it is!


We were told pickles and miso soup are a must for Japanese dining. The miso soup here was the normal kind not the white miso based on, hence did not taste as exciting.



- Crab Special Menu -
Chocolate Cake
The crab menu ends with a beautifully plated chocolate cake. The chocolate was very rich and sweet. I don't think this matches with the light flavoured crab dinner at all.


I am overall impressed by Gin Sai's Sakura menu. Although the Kaiseki comes in small plates, your tummy will get filled up after the meal. I think the Sakura menu is a good bargain and would recommend you to try the place, especially if you have not tried Kaiseki before!


Rating
Food - ★★★★☆
Service - ★★★★★
Ambience - ★★★☆☆
Overall - ★★★★☆


Gin Sai Japanese Restaurant 吟彩
Address (E) 32-38 Cross Lane, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Address (C) 香港灣仔交加里32-38號
☏ 2574 1118
Opening Hours: Mon - Sun: 12pm - 2.30pm; 6.30pm - 10.30pm
Reservation Available? Yes
Walk In Possible? Yes


Date of Dining: 9 April 2014


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