FRIENDLIEST BAR IN TOWN
DAILY SPECIALS!!! As an amuse bouche, we were presented with a staple of genuine South-
east Asian cuisine: Krupuk Bawang. Traditionally made with prawns, these particular flavorful garlic crisps were gluten-free and vegan-friendly, which kept my grateful editor from breaking out in an anaphylactic rash. From the small bites section, we were pointed to The Earthy Crab. Almost too cute to eat, two tempura-fried soft shell crabs wade in a sweet misoyaki sauce. Following promptly was the silky Hiyayakko (cold tofu) which tasted like a savory lovechild between miso soup and flan. Never to be outdone, Yoshi presented us with a specialty he called Hamachi Serrano. Something is very right when one tries to think of descriptive words for a dish and only perfectly harmonized music comes to mind. With a great balance of heat, acidity and umami, these flavors were meant for each other. Between this and the lusciously light courses of Gado Gado (blanched vegetable salad with peanut sauce) andFalling Sake (salmon), another delight arrived at our table in the form of Linda Wong: girlfriend of Owner Patrick and self-proclaimed V.O.R. (voice of reason). Allegedly, a simple and polite “no, just no.” from her mouth carries enough respect to veto an executive restaurant decision! This Brooklyn-born Malay beauty was very clear about the staff-wide
dedication to quality being upheld, as she explained to us how important authentic ingredients and time-honored Asian techniques are. “This is why we came up with this concept. There’s not a lot of authentic Asian food around here. People say, ‘Well what about Convoy?’ I reply, ‘What about Convoy?’” Clearly the know-how here is encyclopedic; a concept which is rein-
forced by the Panang Curry with Chicken: citrusy, spicy, hearty and yet delicate. “Just coconut milk.” said Wong in response to our curiosity. No dairy is used in the curry at all—a filling shortcut used commonly at other establishments to keep prices down. Actual curry leaves were yet another telltale piece of evidence that each dish is made from scratch. In fact, every course, from the Beef Tataki with its wasabi mashed potato quenelle to the Pancit Canton and its thicker-than-vermicelli noodles demonstrated sheer mastery in the kitchen. As the grand finale, we were presented with a signature Indonesian dessert (for which I would have returned even if the dinner were less-than-perfect) calledCendol: a tall glass coconut milk sweetened with housemade palm sugar and garnished with scratch- made green jellies. Guests have been known to demand the recipe, even offering money for it. Tight-lipped, the staff knows better than to let slip the “secrets of snoot.” In addition to a fantastic dining experience, The Snooty Asian offers
catering services, authentic Southeast Asian dishes for brunch, and an exciting new concept coming in March 2014 calledClub Sushi.
The Snooty Asian is located at 3925 4th Avenue in Hillcrest. For reservations and hours of service, call 619.255.6330 or
visitthesnootyasian.com.
Work Hard... Play Harder... Drink Responsibly!!!
“The Loft San Diego”
Serving Our Community Since 1978 (619) 296-6407
3610 FIFTH AVENUE, HILLCREST JANUARY 2014 | RAGE monthly 55
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