Doozo Art, Books & Sushi: Center for Japanese Cuisine and Culture in Rome
When in the midst of a bustling city lined with buildings, finding a serene garden courtyard bordered by ancient Roman walls is gratifying. Doozo Art, Books & Sushi has pinned the ideal spot in Rome where Japanese culture and cuisine can be valued at a most fitting environment. It is a spacious oasis of relaxation where the indoor dining rooms are sprawled upon entry which then leads to a Oriental-style pocket garden shaded with trees. If it's a zen moment you are seeking, then you entered the right door.
On fine days,
dining in the garden is an ideal way to dedicate yourself to the
authenticity of a particular cuisine. Japanese kitchen is loved in Rome
like in all parts of the world and to find the perfect ambience carries
over the experience to a much greater level. In fact, Doozo is not just a
restaurant that carries the most popular raw seafood dishes like sushi
and sashimi because it carries much more of their culinary culture to
the tables. Cooked dishes like karaage (Japanese-style fried chicken),
tofu dishes made with otani tofu following the Japanese method of making
tofu, soba, yakizakana (grilled fish), soba and udon are just some of
the dishes that you will see in the ample menu. An interesting selection
of Italian wines and a number from France can accompany the dishes, or
better yet, a vast selection of sake and tea will pair well with the
food.
Doozo is actually a center for Japanese culture where a
bookshop is dedicated to Japanese literature while artists and
traditional master craftsmen take part in numerous exhibits. Other than
that, events and courses for learning the language, ikebana, origami,
and tofu are offered regularly. Minimal in design with bold red and
light gray walls, bookshelves with books and objects are pleasant
distractions while eating. Doozo's administrator Masako Tominago is
Japanese by origin who has moved to Rome and she has undertaken a
mission to spread the Japanese culture in all its forms, from the
kitchen to artisans’ handiwork, to Italy.
The protagonist of the kitchen is Chef Endo Kazuhiko, who moved to Rome after spending several years of professional experience in Tokyo. Like Tominago, he has the desire to take the richness of his cuisine to Rome, most especially the little-known dishes using well-selected locally-sourced and genuine Japanese raw materials. He makes sure that the menu, which is changed seasonally, offers dishes to clients with diverse needs like vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free. All the dressings, sauces and soups, with the exception of soy sauce and miso paste, are homemade, without any use of commercial stocks.
"Rice is the soul of sushi. Since we opened Doozo, we have been faithfully following the traditional method of sushi making. We add the home made sushi vinaigrette into freshly cooked rice and take extreme care into mixing the ingredients together. Broths and miso soups are made from dried kelp and katsuobushi (dried skipjack tuna). Our aim is to offer authentic Japanese food in Italy," states Chef Endo.
There are two kinds of menu, one for lunch which is
mostly comprised of lunch sets targeting those who are pressed for time,
and a more elaborate dinner menu. For the meantime though, during the
implementation of anti-Covid regulations, availability of both menus can
be modified. In the lunch menu, various interesting set menus and
teishoku (main dish of meat, fish, tofu, etc. plus white rice, miso soup
and vegetables) are available. Prices range between €10 for an Udon Set
(Udon noodles, 2 sushi rolls and salad) to €26 for a Tempura Sushi
Bento (assorted tempura, sushi, side dish and miso soup).
The
options for the dinner menu are plentiful starting from the raw dishes:
Sushi starting from €5.50 for two pieces of Nigiri to €40 for a big
platter suggested for 2 people, while the Sashimi is between €8 to €30
for a mixed assortment and Chirashi (bowls of rice topped with raw fish,
vegetables and other ingredients) at €28. The Tofu dishes made with
Otani organic tofu are between €4 to €8, Tempura are between €16 to €26,
Teriyaki and Yakizakana between €15 to €19 while Udon and Soba are
between €14 to €18. Desserts are around €7.
Doozo Art, Books and Sushi
Via Palermo, 51 - 53
00184 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 4815655
Email: info@doozo.it
Website: http://www.doozo.it/home.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doozoartbooksandsushi