In Search of the Perfect Gyudon: Poetry In Motion

It's been a long while since I last ventured on my culinary journey, since I continued my long trek in search of the perfect Gyudon... That sacred bowl seemed so elusive lately, with I being so busy with seemingly mundane stuff... But the thirst, the longing for this holy dish led me to scrap the idea of an overfilling buffet, for the simplicity and humility of a single bowl... And what better way to stumble upon a work of art, melodious piece of rhyme and rhythm, with Haiku's version of the Gyudon.

The moment the bowl is set upon your table, this humble dish seems not to grab your attention... Enclosed in a rugged, roughly square bowl, with the contents apparently arranged carelessly... Oh but the poetry erupts once you take a few bites of this... The beef strips are tender, but not too soft, offering a hint of grit, a slight resistance to your rabid, hungry teeth... Sliced into ample portions, the beef strips are the body of this dish, for in fact, the slices are neither too thick or thin.. The onions come in two types... The green onions provide a touch of spice, while the larger white ones a contrast to the darkness of the bowl and sauce.. Oh, and the sauce... What stands out is that the sauce feels like it's not there... I mean, it blends so well with the dish, and that it does not overpower the essence of the gyudon, which is of course, the beef itself.. The sauce gives you a slight hint of sweetness, and a tease of tangy... And like an idyllic haiku, the sauce blends well with the rhythm, immersed in its music... But I'm not all praises though, as this version strikingly wants in shitake mushrooms, as it gives that sense of contrast, an opposing smoothness to the rugged beef strips.. Even so, Haiku scores on a high note with their version.. A masterpiece of poetry and taste, all for a very reasonable price at this classy place... If a face launched  a thousand ships, this gyudon will launch a thousand haiku to be sung endlessly...

Gyudon Beef Bowl

P240 per serving

Haiku Japanese Restaurant

Greenbelt 3, Makati City
Rating: 4.5 stars!!

(originally posted on January 17, 2010 in http://volvox23.multiply.com/reviews/item/13)