Sushi Moriawase Matsu + Alpha

2.25

at Izakaya Den

-Ermita, Manila-

solo

Sushi + Alpha*, Day 1.  Embarking on a week-long sushi binge, just because I can now afford to.  In college, I had reportedly proclaimed that my financial ambition in life was simply to earn enough money so that I could eat sushi every day.  I was reminded of this over a recent get-together in Seoul with DP — actually, I don’t recall ever setting such a target, but it sounds like something that I would’ve said.  Even back then, apparently, my primary frame of reference had been food.  For a college student, I suppose that sushi would’ve been quite a luxury.  And as an English lit major, getting rich obviously hadn’t been part of the plan.  In any case, I’ve since attained that relatively humble measure of success, and perhaps a stretch beyond.

*In Korean, the phrase “plus alpha” — pronounced “plus al-pa” — describes “something more, a bit extra on top.”

1. Izakaya Den (6.118 Sushi Moriawase Matsu…) (2.25) / 6 nigiri + 1 gunkan + 6 maki (+ soup) = 420 PHP / alpha : tako karaage (2.5)

As anticipated, the sushi wasn’t that great.  Decent quality fish.  But despite the name — “moriawase matsu = assorted premium” — the selection was basic, no special cuts.   Otherwise, nothing to complain about.

Whereas the point of this project is to enjoy the symbolic fruits of my modest success, Manila — at least this part of town — may not be the best place for implementation, given the lack of sushi capacity in the area (see generally 5.250 Assorted Sushi).