Dylan McGrath has elevated the Japanese-inspired food experience at his Bonsai Bar restaurant in Dublin city centre with the introduction of a new Bonsai Bento food experience, the highlights of which include an Open Tuna Maki, Green Tea Ice Cream Sandwich and Frozen Kakigori.
Dylan McGrath said, “Bonsai Bento for me is a work of passion and creativity from our team at Bonsai. It is high-end, delicious food made with a distinct and unique, creative flair, gathered into a bento-style offering. It’s a twisted authentic version of Japanese pub food. We have also created some very cool Japanese cocktails to accompany the food, as well as our own take on desserts from Japanese flavours.”
Each of the three Bento menu choices of meat, fish or vegetable is accompanied by a unique and different version of miso soup. For example, the Tuna Sashimi is accompanied by Miso Soup with Cockles and Shimeji; the Chicken Wings, Soya, Sushi Rice & Charred Spring Onion with Miso Soup with Pork and Truffle; and the Broccoli Tempura with Miso Soup with Tofu and Truffle. Each Bento choice also comes with Pickled Vegetables and a Slow Cooked Egg Salad.
Besides the Bento choices, a number of individual dishes and sides are available to order like an inventive twist on Maki sushi, or Roast Salmon with Broccoli & Sesame, and a plain Miso Soup.
Newly introduced dessert options comprise a Green Ice Cream Sandwich made of malt, green tea, Japanese cheesecake and puff pastry; a similar Black Ice Cream Sandwich is made with sesame ice cream; while a show-stopping Frozen Kakigori is made of strawberry jelly, fresh strawberry and lychee.
In addition to the full Bonsai Bar cocktail menu being available, there is an evolving specially-created Bonsai Bento cocktail selection, which has a focus on fresh, homemade, low-to-mid alcohol-by-volume concoctions and infusions like Japanese teas and sakés. The Bonsai Bento Cocktail Menu currently lists a Sparkling Saké Mojito which is laced with yuzu soaked chia seed and has an earthy balance of mint and shiso leaf. It also features a fruit laced Scotch Soda with coconut, brûléed pineapple juice, almond and chilli bitters.
Bonsai Bento is available in Bonsai Bar on Wednesday to Saturday, 4pm until 8pm, starting Thursday 31st May.
The Meat, Fish and Veg Bento cost €18.00 each, the Maki is €10.00 and the other individual items are priced at €7.00.
Bonsai Bar is located at First Floor, 17 South Great George’s Street, Dublin 2 (below Taste and above STONE at Rustic).
