Saturday, December 27, 2008

Turning Sumo Wrestler @ Sekitori

Sekitori is our third installment in our Little Tokyo Trip (first is Hana then second is Urameshi-Ya). Sekitori means a rank in Sumo Wrestling professional division: makuuchi and juryo .
Owned by Masakazu Seto, a retired sumo wrestler himself, Sekitori is a Japanese restaurant that specializes the Sumo Wrestler's Stew or Cyanko(chanko).
The stew comes in a big hotpot of different meat, seafood and veggies cooked in a choice among the following broths:
a. Sekitori Cyanko (chicken broth)
b. Miso Cyanko (Miso broth)
c. Kimuchi Cyanko (Kimchi broth; spiced-up version)

As beginners, we opt to choose the Sekitori broth. We were then surprised the moment that the cast iron hot pot was served since we only ordered the Ozeki(medium) portion, the one good for 2-3 persons. I think what they meant was 2-3 sumo wrestlers can enjoy the dish! Hehe! Kidding aside, the cast iron pot was so big and together with it, the meat and vegetables were so plenty. There were pork belly strips, chicken meat, shrimps, fish, fried and soft tofu, mushrooms, crab(not imitation crabmeat!) and tons(yes, I mean tons!) of veggies like cabbage, beansprouts, leeks and lettuce. I think 4 people can still share and enjoy this Japanese dish.










The mixture of meat, seafood and vegetable pieces are then dunked into the hotpot and left to boil for a few minutes.The attendant was attentive to guide us about the dish and was kind enough to cook the dish for us.
The broth is very light and refreshing. I think all the flavors of those dunked into the pot blended well together. The broth is somehow similar to the Chinese Hototay soup but minus the ginger and the egg.
The meat/vegetable pieces is then ready to be picked up when it is already cooked and tender. It is then dipped in a daikon oroshi sauce and then eaten with rice. The daikon oroshi sauce is great. At first, when the hot pot was not yet ready, I was not fond of the sauce's taste since it is somehow soury/pickle-like taste but when I ate it with the dish, it was a blast! The strong pickle-like flavor balanced the stew's light flavor. At your own discretion, you can also choose to put ground sesame seeds and chilli powder to spice-up your sauce.

Though a bit pricey for 980Php for one Ozeki serving of hotpot, I think 4 person can still share on the dish since the serving is huge. Also available is the Yokozuna (large) serving which caters to 5 persons.

This is my first time to try a hot pot dish, Japanese style and I'll be coming back for another Sumo meal. :)


Gochisosama deshita!

Sekitori Japanese Restaurant
Little Tokyo
Chino Roces Avenue,
Makati City
02 894 3876

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