Hidden Gem: Satsuki Omakase and Sake

You may have had the good fortune of tasting Chef May Ng’s food at Concorde’s Goro + Gunn or Lonely Mouth before she made the leap into entrepreneurship with the opening of Satsuki in Kensington. Meaning “early moon” or the month of May in Japanese, the eponymous eatery is one chef’s ode to the cuisine of the land of the rising sun. Chef Ng emigrated from Hong Kong to Calgary as a teen. Her passion for Japanese food and culture led her to live and train there. Lending her time and talents to various Calgary restaurants, Ng built a reputation as an innovator in contemporary Japanese cuisine, while honouring the centuries-old traditions she learned in Japan. It was this marriage of respect and creativity that Ng says prompted her to go out on her own. And we’re so glad she did.

The focused first menu shines a spotlight on Ng’s skill and imagination. A mix of small plates, sushi and entrées, the menu also offers weekly or biweekly features. For now, though, there’s so much to choose from – all available with sake pairings (Ng is a trained sake sommelier), and an exceptional tea offering.

We began with the cherry tomato salad with black sesame dressing, which was sensational. Bright tangy tomatoes balance a dark and earthy dressing, which made our mouths water. The wagyu dumplings (beef direct from Japan) highlights Ng’s dedication to the little things. You’ll also find the A5 wagyu on a sushi roll wrapped around snappy blanched asparagus and topped with a delicious black garlic sauce.

A full array of nigiri and maki sushi is available on the menu and as a part of the omakase experience.

For us, the piece de la resistance was Ng’s signature sablefish risotto, a hearty and creamy dish that is almost unbelievably dairy free.
So delicious.

For dessert, try the matcha experience (matcha cake with matcha tea) or a zingy yuzu panna cotta.

Find Satsuki tucked away under Manana in Kensington 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Wednesday – Sunday.

Satsuki Omakase and Sake | 1130 Kensington Rd. N.W. | 403.300.2405 | satsuki.ca