An Education to Japanese Food With HanaZen Restuarant

I confess: I didn’t think the concepts of “Japanese cuisine” and “romantic dinner” are compatible at all. After all, when I think of romance, images of champagne, dinner by the bay, chocolates, and walks underneath the stars come to mind. I mean, romance and raw food? That is definitely a mismatch! What can be remotely romantic about food that has not been cooked, and seafood at that? Well, don’t get me wrong, but that is what Japanese food is all about, right? I was quite sure Japanese food is all about raw seafood, and there is just nothing romantic about it.

So, when my husband told me that we will be having an intimate and romantic dinner at the water front, I got quite excited. And then, he said we are eating at HanaZen, a Japanese restaurant in Pier 39. I have to admit, my excitement, plummeted to subterranean levels, just like that. This would be our first date in so many months, and I have looked forward for a nice, intimate evening of being somewhere with a cozy ambiance and delicious food. Thus, having raw Japanese food for this supposed romantic date was really bugging me.

But since my husband looked so excited about the date and seemed to have planned everything already, I had no choice but to say yes. Alas, we went to HanaZen in Pier 39 on a breezy Saturday night. I have to say, based on the look of the restaurant alone, my initial fears were assuaged very slightly. The furnishings and the views really made for a romantic setting. I have to say the stage has been set quite well, and I hope it would not go downhill after that.

Then, as we sat down and looked through the menus, I could see from the corner of my eye, my hubby smirking while observing me. I know, he thinks of my culinary knowledge as very limited, something I myself have no trouble admitting. I mean, why exert the extra effort of finding exotic food when there’s always the trusty burger and fries?

But to my delight, the menu presented me with a good number of choices, and what added to my initial shock was that a lot of the items are actually cooked! So, Japanese cuisine is not all raw, uncooked seafood. Teriyaki, tempura, unagi don, soba – as I read on, I realized the number of raw dishes pale in comparison to cooked ones. So, Japanese food may have its share of raw fare, but there are definitely a lot of cooked items.

At last, when I saw the drinks menu to add a kick to the romantic evening, I got drawn immediately at the sake-infused cocktails HanaZen offers. I always had the impression local Asian wines like sake feel rural, because they are made of rather agricultural ingredients like rice. With various offerings like sake sangini and sake tsunami to the more standard fare of cosmopolitan and mojito, among others, with a unique kick of sake, I have to say I had a newfound appreciation for Japanese beverages. It also helped a lot that I made these discoveries in HanaZen’s picturesque location.
 I also discovered that HanaZen has a branch smack in the city center, in Union Square. That is definitely perfect for those who want to add a Japanese twist to their business lunches, or a more laid-back casual dining atmosphere for dinner.

After all said and done, I must thank my husband for bringing me to HanaZen. I have finally learned that Japanese food can be romantic, too, and how!

The HanaZen Confessions of a Cynic New Year’s Resolution-ist

The thing with celebrating New Year is that every year, without fail, everybody has an affinity for one thing – resolutions. As much as we have grown cynical, we cannot seem to help it. We try to examine what it is about ourselves that we can change, improve, or overcome for the rest of the year to make us better people. Even the most cynical among us cannot avoid entertaining the thought of debating whether we should have a resolution or not in the first place.

I, for one, am a poster girl for cynical people. And yes, I do entertain the thought of trying a resolution. Last year, by sheer luck, I somehow managed to fulfill my resolution. It was trying to love my work more. Although I did not consciously try to implement it, I happen to still be employed with the same company I started 2012 with. Does that mean I was kind of successful in following through with my “resolution?” I guess so!

This year, it’s all about health. I am on the path of becoming the healthiest version of me. How? I will go to the gym and exercise to lose weight and have me a banging physique. It just so happens that I have a lifetime membership at a fitness club. Good thing gym memberships do not incur cobwebs, or mine might look like a Halloween-perfect haunted house! But hey, it’s the New Year and I shall get my lazy behind in one of ‘em spinning classes. And take my dog for a neighborhood walk every evening. No more couch potato nights for yours truly!

Speaking of potatoes, I am reminded of my diet. The great thing about having a health-related resolution is that you can do a lot of things actually. Quit smoking, lead a more active lifestyle, and eat healthier, among others.

But alas, perhaps the biggest stumbling block looms in this eating healthier diet facet. To make the long story short, I do not know how to cook. Thus, greasy fast food take-outs and delivered meals are my trusted friends since I started living on my own.

Then, out of the blue, my office lunch partner threw a book at me on Christmas Eve. “Christmas present,” she quipped. She knew my weakness. I curled up with the book from the evening of December 24 to the early morning of December 26. The book: Japanese Women Don’t Get Old or Fat. Amazing read, let me tell you. And yes, I admit, the book partly led to my New Year’s resolution.

The next day, I pulled her to the side and decided we will have lunch out. I needed to fulfil my Japanese food craving. I need to be like one of those Japanese ladies with porcelain skin and slender figures!

Officemate led me to HanaZen on Union Square, just a few buildings away from the office. With its casual dining atmosphere, I got comfortable right away. Mouth watering rolls, teriyaki, sashimi, ramen: name it, we ordered it. My, we had a feast. But somehow, all the veggies, seafood and meticulous cooking methods had me feeling so full yet not lethargic. It was just delicious, healthy food without the guilt. I just found my new favorite restaurant!

So, now I am pretty much on the way to a healthier me, surprisingly through my diet. And after knowing that HanaZen also has a restaurant on Pier 39, I could meet some guys on lovely dinner at the water front dates. Who would think that a romantic dinner can not only improve my social/romantic life, but also make me eat healthy as well? Color me pleasantly surprised!

There you have it - a cynic looking like she’s going to make her New Year’s resolution come true effortlessly. Thank you, HanaZen, with your location-perfect restaurants and your scrumptious food. For not only will I definitely be enjoying another nice dinner by the bay this weekend, I am easily acing my resolve to eat healthily this 2013!