1365 Osage Street
Denver, Colorado 80204
303-595-3666
info@domorestaurant.com
Part of Domo Restaurant’s mission is to challenge our diner’s sense of adventure. ZENMAI NI is a typical Japanese country dish, but it raised a few eyebrows when first served in Denver. For most Japanese, Zenmai ferns and shiitake mushrooms are quite common; both can be found easily in the mountains of Japan and are “hunted” during early spring. Zenmai is actually a fern and shiitake mushrooms are actually a form of fungus. They both reproduce by spores and do not bear flowers or produce seeds. Domo’s owner sometimes jokes that Japanese traditional country cooking has roots going back to the dinosaurs. This traditional side dish is a blend of the hearty flavors and rich textures of these primordial plants and is proudly presented at Domo.
Zenmai is a type of fern commonly eaten in Japan. In the late spring, the zenmai hunters go into the mountains to harvest the female plants, which are plumper and tastier than the males, which are left to produce the next generation. It is said that a skilled zenmai hunter can harvest close to 100 pounds of fresh zenmai in a half a day. When the zenmai hunters return from “the hunt,” they remove the fluffy, cotton-like fibers that cover the crown of the plant and cook the stalks in boiling water. The boiled zenmai is drained and left to sun-dry for a day or so, and then hand-massaged gently to soften. Once the zenmai has been boiled and sun dried, it transforms from deep green slender stalks to dark purplish-brown wrinkled strings. Rehydrated by soaking, the carefully preserved zenmai ferns have a vivid flavor and interesting texture.
Pickled and dried zenmai .
Dried shiitake mushrooms are
a valuable preserved food in Japan. They are known as a symbol of longevity
and have medicinal purposes, as well. When rehydrated and used in cooking,
they add an incredible flavor and texture to any dish. Japanese chefs use
shiitake mushrooms to create delicious and versatile soup bases (dashi
jiru). Domo Restaurant
uses more than 600 pounds of dried shiitake mushrooms per year. One of the
first tasks for Domo chefs each morning is to prepare the day’s dashi
jiru soup stock that will be used in many of the day’s
dishes. Fresh vegetables are added to the pot, which then simmers slowly
throughout the day. Guests at Domo will find shiitake mushrooms in various
Domo entrees and side dishes. They’re an important flavor-enhancing
ingredient and key to the success of Domo’s Japanese country cooking.
One serving of ZENMAI NI provides approximately:
40 calories (2%), 8 grams carbohydrates (3%) , 2.4 grams dietary
fiber (9%) , 1.5 grams protein, 0 grams fat, 0 % cholesterol, 10%
Vitamin A, 11% vitamin C, 7% iron, 9% potassium, and 5 % sodium.
Supplier: Shamrock
Foods, Nishimoto Trading co.
Product Origin: Japan,
Taiwan, Korea