Sushi surprise
Sushi surprise
By: Dining Divas
Atmosphere
Aimee: When you walk into Enso, a sense of calm comes over you. The walls are covered with a light wood, soft music plays in the background, and candlelight covers your table. Your dining experience starts off relaxing, but once you see and taste your food, the excitement begins to build. I couldn’t wait to see what came to the table next!
Drinks and Diane
Aimee: We were so excited to meet our guest. I tried to make sure all the girls were on their best behavior, but that is difficult with this bunch. Diane walked in to the restaurant and we immediately felt at ease! She introduced herself and joined the fun. We were so lucky to have such a fun and fashionable guest with us this month. We ordered two bottles of wine: a Kendall Jackson Vintner’s Reserve sauvignon blanc and a Francis Ford Coppola Ivory Label cabernet sauvignon. Well they were both very good and went well with the variety of foods we ate.
Lori: Diane wasn’t quite sure she was going to have a glass with us, but with a little persuasion she was all in! We drank our wine and got acquainted with Diane, and each of us told a little bit about ourselves.
Wendy: It didn’t take long for Diane to warm up to us. “We have that effect on people.” She was a very sweet lady; I just hope we didn’t corrupt her too much. Sam, the manager, was excited for us to get started with our Enso experience. He had lots of recommendations and sent out a few new items that weren’t on the menu.
Appetizer
Aimee: I started with the garlic edamame. The soybeans are served in the pod lightly salted and sautéed with garlic, butter and soy sauce. They were so delicious I could have eaten the whole bowl, but I was trying to keep up my good appearance in front of our guest, so I shared. We then had a sample of the gourmet spring mix salad. The garlic dressing should be bottled and sold.
Wendy: The edamame was fabulous! Then out came a little taster from the chef. I sat next to Aimee knowing she wasn’t going to eat any of the extra goodies. I just helped myself to her portion. Pretty soon she was just passing everything straight to me! The broiled muscles are a must order. Served with lots of garlic and I think there’s a bit of white wine splashed on them too. They were excellent!
Lunch
Whitney: I ordered the jumbo scallop and shrimp. It was beautifully presented and the table marveled at the aroma of garlic. The scallops were pan-seared and had a hint of barbecue sauce with four very large shrimp that were tender and sweet. The dish also came with paella rice that went nicely with the scallops. My favorite part of the dish was the silky smooth avocado sauce. The table had agreed that Wendy and Lori would order the sushi and Aimee, Diane and I would order off the main menu. As soon as my entree hit the table, Lori and Wendy took half my meal. They kept saying how full they were, but I guess not.
Aimee: I have to admit I was a little worried going to a sushi restaurant. I do have that issue with things that live in water, but I was pleasantly surprised. Enso’s menu is full of choices for everyone. I ordered the filet mignon (the only reason Wendy didn’t demand to eat this was she was too busy eating my portions of the sushi!). It is made with premium beef tenderloin grilled to perfection, topped with mushroom grating and served with beer-battered onion fries. The meat just melted in your mouth, it is definitely a must try.
On a roll
Wendy: Lori and I try to hit sushi bars for lunch as often as we can. We typically order three rolls and share them. Lori ordered the Red Bull roll for us. It had tempura shrimp in the center and sliced filet mignon on top. It’s like having your cake and eating it, too! If you aren’t sure you like sushi, you will after you taste that!
Lori: Wendy and I love the rolls, and it was a tough decision to pick out three rolls with so many choices. I first noticed the Red Bull roll, knowing Wendy would love it because it has seared filet mignon over the top of it and inside was tempura shrimp, spicy crab and cucumber. Loving shrimp and the name, we had to order the Crunchy Sexy roll: masago crunch on the outside and on the inside was shrimp tempura, crabmeat, avocado and cucumber. The last one we decided on was the Mountain roll; it actually came looking like a deep-fried layered mountain of lobster and crabmeat. Not only were all the rolls so delicious their presentation was absolutely gorgeous. All the detailing in presentation is remarkably birds and flowers made out of shaved carrots.
Whitney: I must say that the chef out did himself with the wow factor in each and every presentation! My favorite roll didn’t have a name. The chef made us a roll with lobster, crab, rolled in thin cucumber. It was topped with tiny fish eggs that were made to look like a cherry with a green stem coming out of the top of it. You almost hate to eat it for it was just that pretty!
Aimee: Each plate looked like a work of art; the chefs created butterflies and birds out of carrots. They were amazing and very detailed. Wendy took one home with her … I know she is going to try to recreate it! The chefs at Enso are incredibly talented people, Bakersfield is lucky to have their expertise in town!
Dessert
Wendy: Dear readers, order the Casanova. It’s a waffle with vanilla ice cream on top. You’re probably thinking what is so special about a waffle? This waffle is special. I can’t even put it into words how it tastes. You have to order it about 30 minutes in advance. Heck, I would order it at the same time you order your entrée. It’s “heavenly.”
Whitney: My husband has turned me on to sorbet, so I was excited to see champagne lemon sorbet on the dessert menu. It was served with a little mint, which then turned it into a cocktail. One of the girls said it reminded them of a mojito and that hit the nail on the head. It was refreshing, light and yummy. I look forward to returning to Enso and trying everything on the menu. Sam told us he would make us a believer in the new restaurant in town and Sam ... all I have to say to you is, “I believe, I believe!”
The Guest Diva
After winning an auction benefiting Garden Pathways, Diane Sandidge won the spot for a special meal with our Dining Divas. Here’s what she had to say about Enso and her dining companions:
The Divas and I introduced ourselves and got well-acquainted through the nearly two-hour meal, finding mutual friends and interests.
Enso is attractively furnished with mini lights strung around the bar and along the walls, lending a festive atmosphere. In the center is a spacious sushi bar with two enthusiastic chefs. I thought the prices were very reasonable and the wines excellent. The garlic edamame was a big hit with us. I like the seared ahi course as well as the Hawaiian roll. Aimee’s beef filet was the non-seafood hit of the day — so tender and well-seasoned.
Enso Japanese Bar
1419 19th St. 327-7785.
Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday