My stomach was growling and I was sure everyone could hear me. I looked around but everyone else pretended to be doing other things. I had specifically saved my stomach for tonight. No matter how much I was tempted, I had to keep focused and my eye on the prize. The prize being a dinner as a guest of Japaz along with some of my fellow bloggers thanks to the fantastic Yas from Hungry Digital Elf.
Pacific Oysters with Wakame dressing
I dive right into the dishes – there’s no time to waste with my stomach urging me to go for gold. I love my oysters and these plump, creamy Pacifics are perfectly paired with a wakame dressing.
Razor Clams with preserved Lemon Dressing
I had seen Razor Clams while at Borough Markets and they’re curious looking things. Long and cylindrical they’re shaped like a traditional Barber’s razor and so unlike the round clams we are familiar with here. These clams are meaty in texture, undoubtedly so, and if you didn’t know what you were eating you’d think something like chicken in texture but with that unmistakeable brine from the sea. The preserved lemon dressing is light on this dish.
Hand sliced Jamon Serrano
We spied the large leg of jamon suspended from the ceiling at the front of the restaurant along with garlic and dried persimmon. The thinly sliced pieces are lovely and flavoursome.
Crumbed eggplant with honey infused balsamic
One of my favourites of the night, this deep fried eggplant is freshly cooked and crunchy by way of the deeply bronzed panko breadcrumbs and the honey infused balsamic giving it a lift and a sweetness. It has us trying to steal extra pieces from other plates.
Patatas bravas with soy marinted grilled chicken and pesto mayonnaise View 1
Patatas bravas with soy marinted grilled chicken and pesto mayonnaise View 2
I have to admit I’m not a huge Patataas Bravas fan, it’s okay most of the time but I often find the tomato sauce a bit lacking. Not here, it packs a nice spicy punch and is rich and reduced down. The Soy marinated chicken is succulent and moreish especially when dunked deeply into the basil pesto mayonnaise.
Ajillo Medley of mushrooms (wood ear, shiitake and enoki) with cheakpeas and garlic and oil sauce
After the complexity of the previous dishes and particularly the dishes on our first visit this seems a bit simple for our taste. The contrasting textures of the crunchy wood ear and the spongy shiitake and silky enoki are nice but I’m not a huge fan of the chickpeas in the dish and the simple seasoning which is just garlic and olive oil.
Spicy cabbage rolls with mince and carrot with a tomato sauce
The filling for this is a surprise as I am used to rice filled cabbage rolls. This is filled with a sturdy mince and isn’t bad but of all the elements I prefer the richly flavoured tomato sauce.
Lamb meatballs with winter vegetables (carrots, peas and onions) and a sauce tomato with coriander and rosemary
The lamb meatballs have a similar flavour and texture to the filling of the cabbage rolls. The more I try them the more I like them. They’re strong in cumin which always seems to enhance and pronounce lamb flavour to me and they’re also strong in rosemary.
Cucumber pinchos seafood Yuzukosho and miso
I’ll admit I didn’t go for this dish at all. I couldn’t taste the crab meat, scallops and prawns and it ended up tasting like a very salty paste to me on top of large cucumber chunks.
Crumbed Portobello mushrooms
The fat portobello mushrooms are sliced into quarters and are delicious but would be great with a sauce or a squirt of Japanese mayo.
Quail on Tortilla Japaz with a Chive and Quail jus
One of the favourite dishes of the night, the delicate pieces of quail with their tiny bones are grilled perfectly and served not with savoy cabbage which is the usual accompaniment but with Tortilla Japaz. We all murmur contentedly and agree that the Tortilla Japaz is a perfect accompaniment to it.
Beef Cheeks
Ffichiban, Howard and Yas are looking for meat and Ffichiban is reluctant to ask for the famous beef cheeks so not wanting to miss out on them myself, I ask for them. With an almond sauce on top these gelatinous beef cheeks are delicious and oh so soft. One thing is that the seasoning doesn’t go all the way through the meat which is what we experienced previously.
After a little break someone notices that there is some blowtorching action happening so we all jump up to snap photos of the Creme Catalana being blowtorched.
Strawberry and lime infused coconut cream, Peach sorbet and apple cider jelly and Crema Catalana with tapicoa pearls washed with vodka
Our dessert trio is certainly tempting looking. There is a simple strawberry and lime infused coconut cream which is so simple in execution but so perfect in eating. Why we don’t see this combination more often we don’t know. The Peach sorbet is sweet and nicely complemented with the light apple cider jelly and the Crema Catalana’s telltale bumpy ridges at the top are courtesy of the tapioca pearls. The vodka taste is strong and it’s sweet and creamy but perhaps a bit too alcoholic for many at the table.
The night takes a turn when Ffichiban who is fascinated by my Handbag Butler (in fact the guys are more interested than the girls!) models it Queen Elizabeth II style.
Yas takes a forkful of the soft beef cheeks and gives us a Yas Gone Wild food orgasm shot. We realise that it’s probably time to go then!
Thanks to the team at Japaz for a fun night full of delicious food!
So tell me Dear Reader, what food gives you a food orgasm?
NQN dined as a guest of Japaz
Japaz
165 Wycombe Road Neutral Bay
Tel: +61 (02) 9904 0688
Lunch Thursday-Saturday, 12-3pm. Dinner Monday-Saturday, 6-10pm
Vegetarian options: 1 or 2 only
www.japaz.com.au
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23 Comments | Add your own
I have always wondered what Razor Clams tasted like. Everything looks absolutely delicious. The last two shots are a classic Lorraine. I laughed out loud.
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wow this surely looks orgasmic food! drooling!!
Sounds like a fantastic meal! I would love a taste of that delicious looking quail!
mm… the crumbed eggplant and quail dish sound delicious! lol @ yas’ food porn shot! haha, sounds like a fun evening was had!
“specificially”? Come ON there, guys…
Looks like you had a great time…with lots of great food to go with it!
Teehee-that second last pic is so funneee!
Mmm I could go for some of Japaz’s beef cheeks right now!
For me it has to be perfectly cooked succulent broiled lobster tails drizzled with fresh squeezed lemon juice and dipped in butter, and for dessert definitely some trio of creme brulee or tiramisu.
I love green tea ice cream too!
Aloha,
Marilyn The Artful Hawaiigirl
http://artfulhawaiigirl.blogspot.com
♥
Passionfruit “lilikoi” creme brulee!
XD!!! Yas gone wild irl is so much better imo haha and good timmess ^^!
For me it is slightly moist biltong with a thin layer of dried fat. HMMMM!
Wow, that’s a fusion menu if ever I saw one!
I was thinking that the colours of the wakame dressing match so nicely with the oyster shells, and then realised that this makes a lot of sense as they’re both marine.
My most recent foodgasm was oyster-related, and happened with each freshly shucked Coffin Bay oyster I devoured in Adelaide. I have to admit though, it’s also been brought on by a nice warm coconut bubble tea with sago balls
even tho you said the seasoning doesn’t go all the way through to the meat the beef cheeks still look sooo yum! love the shot of queen elizabeth II style modelling btw =]
I love Japanese food, will have to checkout Japaz next time I’m in the area. A pity it was a bit hit and miss though the hits definitely look good!
All of that food just absoleuly wonderful!
Just a few days ago, while the Pascal and I were in Edinburgh on vacation, we saw this sweet shop and, being me of course, we went in.
We bought this cookie/white chocolate bar, and BOTH of us cried out in pleasure. I took some pictures of the remainder, and will post more about it on my blog. It was just FABU!
Wow Lorraine, looks like a great night! Especially the crema catalana – fabulous!! I must reccommend this to my sister in Sydney!
This place looks really, really good. It reminds me of Barcelona! I really enjoy jamon serrano, it truly is the best ham I’ve ever eaten. Razor clams are delicious eaten from the shell, straight off the grill – had this twice in Boqueria Market in Barcelona, and it was sinfully delightful.
I think that eggplant dish looks really interesting, I’ve never had anything like that.
I really want to go to Barcelona again now, haha. (And I was there only two months ago!).
A good creme brulee does it for me faster than Mr Darcy in a wet cotton shirt.
Do Japaz have sake? Ju-rin in Crows Nest had jamon on the specials the first time we were there, when we queried it with the owner, he suggested we try it (after already being stuffed to the gills)…OMG, the most wonderful combination of salty, sweet, tangy, tart goodness.
Hehehe good timmmmmme!
The last few dishes were our highlight weren’t they?
Oh my shameless picture… but you asked for it! LOL
and LOL @ Richard!
I’m with Elisa McC, a really good creme brulee is hard to beat.
Very brave of you to hold off eating when you were so hungry! The mix of Japanese and Spanish is so unusual, but getting to taste a bit of everything is an advantage.
This is a stunning spread of food! Oh wow, that crumbed eggplant with honey infused balsamic sounds fabulous. I would have to say that for me, dark Swiss chocolate is orgasmic!
Hi Katherine -Yes I have never seen them here before!
I know, aren’t they hilarious!
Hi snooky doodle-hehe it was!
Hi 5 Star Foodie_oh yes that quail was amazing!
Hi Betty-They were great indeed. He’s so funny isn’t he!
Hi Johnny-Sheesh, charming!
Hi Liv-We did!
Got to love the food 
Hi Brianna-I know! It’s hilarious!
Hi Jacq-Yes me too, they’re so soft!
Hi Marilyn-mmm yes! I do love lobster too
Beautiful menu selection Marilyn! 
I really must try and find lilikoi!
Hi FFichiban-I know! I feel privileged to see it irl!
Hi Amelia-Mmm sounds great!
Hi Conor-I know, not the usual fusion is it?
yes that’s true! 
mmm I can definitely see food orgasms with both!
Hi K-yes the texture was so lovely
Haha I know, we didn’t even have to ask him to do it! 
Hi Tim-Oh cool! Yes I think if you order the quail and other things then it will be great
Hi ArtemisIII-Oh wow, that definitely sounds like a food orgasm! Can’t wait to read about it!
Hi Madelin -Oh yes, it’s a very nice place!
Hi Su-yin-Oh cool! I’ve never been to Spain sadly
Sinfully delightful? Sounds like my sort of meal! 
Lucky you!
Hi Elisa-LOL I love it! I think it probably does have quite good sake. Ooh that would be amazing! I have Jurin on my list-one day!
Hi yas-Absolutely, we ended on a high note! Thanks again for the invite. LOL we did didn’t we!
Hi Amy-That is true! And one must have the crack!
Hi Arwen-Haha we’re used to it! Yes definitely a blogger’s dream
Hi Faith-Indeed!
That was a great dish, I loved that combination! Mmm yes!
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