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This year is not over yet — and there's still time to indulge in rich party food and cocktails.
Heaven knows there is champagne to open in just a few days. But if you’re feeling the pinch of a too-tight belt after all the Christmas/Chanukah/Kwanzaa merrymaking,
Namu Gaji has a dish that’s both healthy and seriously delicious. Simply identified as “Napa” on the dinner menu (under “Cold” items), this is a huge, colorful salad that can generously feed two or be shared as part of a family-style meal with a whole table. Napa cabbage is one of the stars of the dish, both tender leaves and thinly-sliced stalk; there are also shirataki noodles, a favorite of the healthy set for being low in carbs and calories (they’re yam-based), while also having a fun and slippery mouthfeel.
Cucumber slices add another level of cooling refreshment, and shreds of nori impart a faint taste of the sea. All of these ingredients come together in a slightly tart ponzu dressing, while sparkling pomegranate seeds provide a sweet crunch and visual appeal. Stir it all together to distribute the noodles underneath and scoop it up with your chopsticks: it’s a symphony of flavors and textures, light yet satisfying.
Lucky customers may be the recipients of napa from Namu’s own farm in Sunol, and while the menu of this neighborhood restaurant may change in the new year, one can only hope this dish will stick around. A big bowl of Napa combined with a sizzling Stonepot (koshihikari rice, vegetables, egg and killer house-made kimchee) is more than enough for two hungry people; Namu Gaji doesn’t skimp on portion size. They also know that food can taste really good and be good for you. Just try to stay virtuous after paying your check because, well,
Bi-Rite Creamery.
