Mizu Prime Steak and Sushi
I recently attended a blogger/media tasting at Mizu Prime Steak and Sushi in Lakeway. I don’t leave the city limits of Austin if I don’t have to, so I hadn’t been before. The drive to Lakeway was surprisingly quick, so don’t let the distance disuade you from going. The chic bar and innovative cocktails make for a good happy hour. I arrived early for a pre-event drink and bar snack.
I had the Cherry Fizz and Shishito Peppers. I’ve previously professed my shishito love, so I will order them whenever possible. The drink was refreshing and not overly sweet. Right up my alley.
The first round of food brought Spicy Edamame, Calamari and Miso Sea Bass. The real standout was the edamame with its salty, garlicky goodness. Edamame is usually pretty standard so I was excited to taste such a dynamic, exciting spin on the soybeans. It’s some of the best I’ve ever had. The calamari is a favorite among Yelp reviewers although for me it was maybe too fried. I had a hard time tasting the fish. The sea bass was tender and balanced nicely with the jicama salad.
The next course featured Hamachi Crudo, Tuna Tartar, and Usuzukuri Hamachi. I favored both hamachi dishes. The crudo had a ginger pear puree, kumquat and jalapeño, while the other had the bright flavors of plum, cilantro and lemon. Raw fish looks great on its own, but the presentation of these dishes was really outstanding. Aren’t they beautiful?
A food tasting with bloggers is an interesting thing. At a normal dinner with just Mr. Betty and I, he patiently waits as I move our plates around and take the photos I need. Then we eat. Done. Easy.
At this tasting, plates were shared by several of us, all of whom were angling for a shot. Various cameras, makeshift photography lights, and serious note-taking did not take away from the fun and laughter. We discussed every bite, dipping our fingers onto plates to re-taste sauces. It was wonderful to share opinions with knowledgeable bloggers that I admire and discuss writing, our review processes and of course, our favorite restaurants. I highly recommend you check out Epicuriosities, Foodie is the New Forty, One Fit Pig, and Jetté Momant.
The third course was made up of four rolls: Fenix, Chorishi Fire, Mustang, and Baked. They provided a range of colors, flavors and textures, along with fresh grated wasabi.
Fenix Roll: Escolar, Tuna, Cream Cheese, Lime Gastrique, Tobiko
Chorishi Fire: Shrimp Tempura, Spicy Tuna, Crunchies, Tobiko, Avocado, Spicy Mayo
Mustang: Panko Crusted Soft Shell Crab, Avocado, Tobiko, Blue Crab, Wasabi Caramel, Sweet Miso
Baked: Cream Cheese, Avocado, Crab, White Fish, Spicy Aioli, Yuzu Tobiko, Sweet Miso, Panko
The dessert round was a slam dunk. A table full of dainty ladies managed to devour the oversized slices of cake and other confections fairly quickly. We had: Banana Nutella Cake (served with a banana coconut ice cream that would be a fantastic dessert on its own,) Warm Brandied Bread Pudding, Vanilla Bean Cheesecake, Chocolate Chocolate Cake (with Ovaltine cream cheese icing. Ovaltine? They should call it Roundtine!) and a mixed berry house spun sorbet. They were all delicious, but my fave was the bread pudding.
If you haven’t checked out Mizu and you find yourself in the Lakeway area, give it a try and let me know what you think. For me, the setting, the bites, and the company all made for a fantastic night.
