{"id":15975,"date":"2011-01-18T09:57:52","date_gmt":"2011-01-18T07:57:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/?p=15975"},"modified":"2011-01-19T23:46:48","modified_gmt":"2011-01-19T21:46:48","slug":"restaurant-review-genki-sushi-and-japanese-tapas-bar-may-be-best-sushi-in-the-cape","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/restaurant-news\/restaurant-review-genki-sushi-and-japanese-tapas-bar-may-be-best-sushi-in-the-cape\/","title":{"rendered":"Restaurant Review: Genki Sushi and Japanese Tapas Bar may serve best sushi in the Cape!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>If one walks past Genki in the courtyard of the De Wet Centre in Stellenbosch, one could be likely to dismiss it, from its exterior,\u00a0given that there are\u00a0a number of other restaurants that spill out onto the courtyard, and may look more attractive options.\u00a0 It was seeing Jenny Kavarana, a food lover, eating there recently, and receiving a recommendation from Mike Ratcliffe of Warwick via Twitter, that I had to go and try it last week.\u00a0\u00a0 When I saw Chef Christoph Dehosse sitting at the counter\u00a0for lunch last Saturday, and he told me that Genki is his favourite restaurant (other than his Restaurant Christophe<\/span><\/strong> <\/a>of course),\u00a0I knew it was a special place.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The focus at Genki is purely on the food, and first prize is to have the ‘master’, Arata Koga,\u00a0prepare the food\u00a0 when going to Genki.\u00a0\u00a0 Chef Arata was the master sushi chef at Tank, when it was in its heyday, and he left Tank about eighteen months ago to open his own restaurant.\u00a0\u00a0There are no tablecloths, no material serviettes, nor cutlery.\u00a0 Only a cheap paper serviette, cheap chopsticks, and two bottles of Kikkoman soya (one regular, one “Less Sodium”) are on the table.\u00a0\u00a0 Tables are white, and the collection of mixed red, white and black chairs around the tables adds a touch of colour outside, and shade is provided by umbrellas and the trees in the courtyard.\u00a0 Inside, the tables and chairs are black, and can only seat three couples at the three tables, but one can sit at the counter to see Chef Arata\u00a0prepare the food, and to chat to him in his broken English.\u00a0 The ceiling is covered with Japanese lanterns.\u00a0 I was told that “Genki” means energy, or vibe.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The menu and beverage list has a wooden cover, and is a functional presentation of information about and prices of the Japanese Tapas, Sushi and beverages on offer.\u00a0\u00a0 A number of Japanese Tapas options range from R28 (for Edamame – steamed soy beans – and salmon cakes), to R78 for Crispy soft shell crab.\u00a0\"\"<\/a>\u00a0 I had the most wonderful deep-fried calamari legs, with a crispy batter and served with a spicy sauce and a ginger soy sauce, both delicious accompaniments, only costing R35 for a generous plateful.\u00a0\u00a0Two Yakitori chicken skewers served with a rich sticky teriyaki sauce cost R 32, which my son enjoyed.\u00a0 He also ordered Tempura Shitaki, and the batter was very light, allowing the mushroom texture to come through (R28).\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the ‘Salads and Miso Soup’ section one can order Sashimi salad, Seared Tuna and avacado salad, both costing R58, \u00a0and deep-fried calamari leg salad, at R45.\u00a0 Miso soup costs R45.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>I ordered a prawn and avocado handroll (R38), one of my favourite sushi choices, and previously that served by Fu.shi in Plettenberg Bay was my favourite.\u00a0 Now that Fu.shi has closed down, and I have discovered Genki,\u00a0I will only be eating sushi at Genki.\u00a0\u00a0 Master Arata’s rice is light, not\u00a0stodgy, and as Chef Christophe said, Genki sets the benchmark for sushi.\u00a0 Sushi will never taste the same again.\u00a0\u00a0The handroll was crunchy, and was filled with prawns, the thinnest cucumber strips and avocado, as well as mayonnaise.\u00a0\u00a0 I was allowed to eat it with cutlery.\u00a0\u00a0California rolls cost R42 for eight pieces,\u00a0and R32 for a handroll.\u00a0 Two Oceans roll, which is a mix of tuna and salmon, and containing avocado, costs R48\/R38;\u00a0 Spicy Tuna Roll costs R45\/R35; Rainbow Roll, being California Roll inside and having tuna or salmon on top, costs R68; a scary sounding Dragon Roll, with eel, cucumber and avocado, costs R62;\u00a0 a Genki Crunch Roll consists of salmon, tuna, linefish, cream cheese and avocado tempura,\u00a0and costs R60 for 6 pieces; and a Spider Roll, consisting of soft shell crab, cucumber, avocado and ponzu (a citrus sauce), costs R65.\u00a0\u00a0 “Fashion sandwiches” and Maki rolls are also available.\u00a0 Ngiri sushi mixed platters range in price from R85 – R123 for about 12 pieces.\u00a0\"\"<\/a>\u00a0 One can also order two pieces of sushi, e.g. Torro, being the fatty part of tuna, and costs R38; eel costs R36; prawn R24, just to mention a few of the options.\u00a0\u00a0 I ended off my meal with Tempura prawns, covered with the most delicious thick batter I have ever tasted (R48).\u00a0 Only one dessert is offered – Green Tea ice cream at R32.<\/p>\n

“Master” Arata also runs the Genki Academy, at which one can be taught how to make sushi.\u00a0\u00a0 One may eat one’s creations after the lesson, and the charge is the cost of the item on the menu.<\/p>\n

The winelist is very restricted, with only\u00a0four brands or fewer per variety.\u00a0\u00a0 Simonsig sparkling wine costs R38\/R152, and L’Avenir R162.\u00a0 Warwick Professor Black Sauvignon Blanc costs R162,\u00a0and Ernst & Co’s an affordable R105.\u00a0 Only Spier’s Signature is offered for Shiraz, at R97.<\/p>\n

I will be back at Genki when I next go to Stellenbosch.\u00a0 The service from waiter Rudi, who previously worked at Tank, \u00a0was professional and friendly, and he willingly went to “Master” Arata\u00a0to ask him my questions, “Master” Arata and I having a “Lost in Translation” handicap.\u00a0 The prices are very\u00a0reasonable.<\/p>\n

Genki Sushi and Japanese Tapas Bar<\/strong>, De Wet Centre Courtyard, Church Street, Stellenbosch.\u00a0 Tel (021) 887-5699.\u00a0 No website.\u00a0\u00a0 Monday – Saturday 11h00 – 15h00, and 17h00 – 22h00.<\/p>\n

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com<\/a>\u00a0 Twitter: @WhaleCottage<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If one walks past Genki in the courtyard of the De Wet Centre in Stellenbosch, one could be likely to dismiss it, from its exterior,\u00a0given that there are\u00a0a number of other restaurants that spill out onto the courtyard, and may look more attractive options.\u00a0 It was seeing Jenny Kavarana, a food lover, eating there recently, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[124,20,31,21],"tags":[9485,3257,9483,9493,9491,6741,9481,9506,9482,9489,9484,9488,2830,9494,9492,9486,9490,32390,3259,3625,6742,230,52,32376,1896,9487,1512,3598],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t