Lately I've adopted the attitude that my favorite restaurants don't need defending. Places like Sushi Zo, for example, have a long list of supporters and nay-sayers, and I no longer find it prudent to step into the fray. I defend them simply by going to them. Besides, maybe having more naysayers will make it easier for me to get a seat.

I brought Kim to Sushi Zo for her birthday lunch, and Keizo-san's perfect pacing during our omakase lunch gave us ample time to catch up. She and I have been busy leading our separate lives, but like a well executed meal at a favorite restaurant, the comfort of familiarity comes flooding in, as if no beat were missed.

The lunch started off with amberjack sashimi as well as abalone. Normally I wouldn't be thrilled about either individually, but served simultaneously, an interesting textural contrast comes through. All of a sudden, my aversion to abalone (based on its toughness) and my aversion to sashimi (based on its slippery nature) both seemed not so harsh when they're served together. This is akin to the wonderful marriage of the mortar of peanut butter and the cloyingly sweet jelly.

After that, Keizo-san was in full swing. Marinated bluefin tuna, bonito, yellowtail (pictured above) and skipjack all came out as winners, as I always know they will here at Zo. Why defend this sushi house? The product always defends itself!

At this point, I lost track. I'm sure I had a snapper dish as I managed to take a picture of it (above) but my mind was now elsewhere. The whole point of omakase is to extend trust to the sushi chef, and I could have jotted down every minute detail, but like a good friend, I gave Kim my undivided attention. I trusted the itamae to hold up his end of the bargain, as he always does. While arguments rage on, I was busy happily clinking a glass of yuzu to signal the end of another great meal.