Oita Prefecture on Kyushu Island to the south of Japan is well known for its kabosu limes, dried shiitake mushrooms, flat udon, tempura chicken and yuzu kosho. We had a taste of these ingredients and delicacies in the culinary showcase of Oita Prefecture at Kampachi at Plaza 33 in Petaling Jaya.
Konnichiwa from Kabosu Nukumiza, the cute mascot of Oita Prefecture. With her is Annisa Mustika, PR & Marketing Manager for Kampachi Restaurants. Same height, same cuteness!
We were welcomed to the dinner by the life-sized cutout of the cute Kabosu Nukumizu, the mascot of the prefecture.
he Kabosu limes that Oita Prefecture is famous for
Ryukyu — marinated raw salmon, tuna, amberjack, squid and scallop served on rice
Five kinds of Buri Sushi introduced us to five toppings of yuzu kosho that ranged from the mildly spicy to a hot, tingly one. Yuzu kosho is a condiment made from fresh chillies fermented with salt, zest and juice from yuzu limes. Just a dot of it on the sushi and it drops a flavour bomb on it. I relished the spicy, citrusy kosho on each buri sushi, moving from the light peppery to hot and zesty. (Buri is a grown Hamachi or yellowtail).
Hirame no Kobujime offered thinly sliced hirame or olive flounder cured with konbu seaweed . The almost transparent fish slices were served with a light, golden soy dip that had hints of fish sauce. The springy fish paired wonderfully with this dip.
Ryukyu — marinated raw salmon, tuna, amberjack, squid and scallop laid on top of rice
The next course Ryukyu offered marinated raw salmon, tuna, amberjack, squid and scallop atop rice. I enjoyed the freshness of these, touched subtly by its marination. The scallop burst with sweetness, and we revelled in the feel and flavour of each slice of fish and squid. They were well complemented with the rice drizzled with sauce beneath.
Toriten — Deep-fried chicken tempura served with ponzu sauce
Toriten is Deepfried Chicken Tempura served with Ponzu. The chicken covered by a thin crispy batter was juicy and delicious dipped in the ponzu sauce. There was a welcoming sweetness in the ponzu which went so well with the chicken.
Dango Jiru — Flat noodles in miso soup
Dango Jiro — flat, slithery smooth udon in miso soup with chicken, vegetables and soya puffs
It was a rainy night and a hot bowl of Dango Jiru or flat noodle miso soup was so welcoming. I liked the flat, smooth and slithery udon soaking in the essence of the creamy miso soup. Together with chicken, shiitake mushrooms, radish, carrot, spring onions and tofu puffs, it was a wholesome, tasty noodle soup.
Sorakita Mochi — sweet potato with red bean and chestnut filling
Sokita Mochi, with its pillowy skin made with sweet potato dusted with bean powder, had two types of filling – chestnut and red bean. These were an absolute delight, in texture and sublime fillings that were just nicely sweet.
Nashi, Budou & Jelly — pear and muscat grapes with jelly
The muscat grapes were heavenly and the pear crunchy and sweet in the Nashi, Budou & Jelly course at the end. A lightly tart yuzu jelly brought it all together.
Umeshu, sweet and heavenly
Every prefecture in Japan has its own sake producers. We sipped on boutique sakes and the wonderfully fragrant and sweet Bungo Meijyo Umeshu hand-carried in from Oita.
There were cocktails and mocktails that highlighted the produce from Oita, such as matcha, kabosu and yuzu. There was the luscious Matcha Ichigo Mirukusheku, a mocktail layered with matcha, crushed strawberries and milk. The cocktail — Kabosu Tonic — was light and refreshing. The Yuzu Honey Shochu High Ball landed a kick on the senses with the shochu.
Matcha Ichigo Mirukusheku Mocktail — luscious Oita green tea and strawberry milkshake
The Oita Prefecture Showcase will be in the Kampachi outlets in Plaza 33 Petaling Jaya, EQ Kuala Lumpur and at the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur from now till 24 September.
At the drinks counter
The dishes can be ordered a la carte: Buri Sushi is RM150, Ryukyu is RM98, Hirame RM145, Chicken Tempura RM148. Sorikita Mochi RM22 and Nashi, Budou & Jelly RM48.
There will be a Oita Sake Matching Dinner on 21 September at Kampachi, EQ Kuala Lumpur, and on 22 September at Kampachi, Plaza 33, Petaling Jaya, priced at RM700+.