I have been looking forward to dinner tonight for about two weeks now. Why? Well, for the first time since our insane dinner at Tru, I got to hang out with Jenn, a.k.a. EatingBender! We talk fairly often, and have been planning a “suburban evening” for some time now.
So tonight was the night! I picked Jenn up at the train station (luckily, Chicago and its surrounding areas have amazing public transportation!) and we pretty much made a beeline for my absolute favorite sushi place, Daruma. I’m always so excited to bring anyone there because the food is so great, but I was beyond excited to bring Jenn. This would make time number 3 that Jenn and I have had sushi together, and I really think this was the best. Granted, I’m biased because I love the place, but you can judge by checking this post and this post. The meal tonight trumps them all!
Jenn was awesome, and totally went with my suggestions… so we started with agedashi tofu. It’s a lightly tempura fried piece of soft tofu in a mushroom-soy broth
Then continued with four of my absolute favorite rolls. On the top left is a special spicy tuna called “harumaki” with 2 kinds of spicy sauce, scallions, and fresh tuna. On the right is the crazy roll, full of salmon, tuna, yellowtail, cucumber, avocado, masago (fish eggs) and spicy sauce. On the lower left is the caterpillar roll with eel and egg, then topped with avocado.
Then, the best roll came. I believe I described this roll to Jenn as the “holy grail of all rolls that are sushi.” This roll is a tempura shrimp with spicy sauce rolled up in rice, then topped with tempura crunch, dried seaweed, and eel sauce (like teriyaki). It Is. So. Good.
Oh, and sesame seeds. I forgot the sesame seeds. I swear, I could eat nothing but this roll every day and be happy. Well, this one and crazy rolls…
It was so nice to sit and chat with Jenn about all sorts of things that many other people in my life just don’t “get”. We asked the host, Thomas, to take a picture of us before we left, and he insisted we take it in front of the restaurant’s namesake: the daruma. It’s a Japanese doll designed for good luck and wish-keeping. The right eye is usually filled in, and the left is filled in when a wish is fulfilled.
Thank you SO MUCH for making the trek out here Jenn! I can’t wait to hang out again, and soon!
As for me, I need to get to bed.
Tagged as:
Asian,
Chicago dining,
dinner,
dinner out,
friends,
fun,
restaurant,
sushi,
tofu
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Mara, I am completely stuffed from my own dinner right now, but your and Jenn’s meal looks FABULOUS. Everything from the tofu/mushroom soup to the caterpillar roll (never heard of that!) to the shrimp tempura… mm!!!
Oh my that sushi looks amazing! I haven’t had sushi in MONTHS and I am craving it v. badly
glad you ladies had a nice time.
.-= Hallie (healthy twists)´s last blog ..My Revelations From Four Miles =-.
what a great night out with Jenn!! I’m def jealous of the sushi! i haven’t had any in MONTHS!!!
.-= Melissa S.´s last blog ..Things To Look Forward To =-.
Aww Jenn and Mara = two bloggers I’d love to meet some day!
.-= Annabel @ http://www.FeedMeImCranky.com´s last blog ..Three Ingredient or Less Meals =-.
Cute pic of you two! The sushi looks great! I grew up in the south so I don’t have much sushi experience! I’d have to let you take the reigns in ordering, too! hehe
.-= Christina´s last blog ..Sweet and Sour Meatballs =-.
Hahaha I love your post title so much
The pictures turned out really great! Must be that fancy schmancy white balance you showed me. I had so much fun catching up with you tonight and am looking forward to the next adventure! Thanks again for driving me and for being so cool with the fact that I hit you with my umbrella…lol I don’t know if I’m going to get over that one. I’m so sorry!
.-= Jenn (eating bender)´s last blog ..Blushing Bender =-.
YAAAY!! Love you guys
.-= VeggieGirl´s last blog ..Back To My Roots =-.
how funnn! 2 of my fave bloggies + sushi!! I love going to sushi with people who know what to order or are super adventurous
.-= carolinebee´s last blog ..Happy Birthday Momz!!! =-.
Aww! How fun! You guys look cute – glad you had a great time together!
Holy grail of sushi – haha, looks yummy!!
.-= K´s last blog ..Face Drop =-.
what a fun night! So cool that you get to see bloggers so often!
.-= brandi´s last blog ..Flu in the News =-.
Talk about sushi heaven and a fun meet-up! Love the photo of you two together. Would have loved to have dropped by to steal a roll or two
.-= Lara (Thinspired)´s last blog ..Packin’ It Up =-.
I so wish you could’ve!
What a great night out Mara! OMG, Hannah and I get that dashi tofu every time we go – so frickin good!
I’ll have to tell Tony about this place – is it in Schaumburg?
.-= Biz´s last blog ..Chili – 3 Ways =-.
Mmmm that sushi looks amazing–so glad you guys had a great time!
.-= Dawn (HealthySDLiving)´s last blog ..Feeling Rested! =-.
Looks like you ladies had a fun time! I so wish I could have come too! It’s been so long since I’ve had sushi and that all looks yummy!
Awwwwwwww I love my ladiessssssssssss! and sushi. But Mama Mara And Jenn Bend!! Yayyyy!
.-= glidingcalm´s last blog ..A Dentist in Your Own Home! =-.
I don’t even really like sushi but those pictures are so beautiful! It looks fantastic!
.-= Amanda (Two Boos Who Eat)´s last blog ..These are my confessions. =-.
Great photography! Each shot makes me want to reach out and put the sushi right into my mouth.