The Nodoguro Haruki Murakami August themed pop-up

Here’s my recap of the Nodoguro August themed pop-up- which this month was themed after the author Haruki Murakami, a famous post-modern literature author. I attended this dinner on 8/12/2014.
Nodoguro Haruki Murakami August themed pop-up Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014

For next month, September, the new theme will be Totoro, from the animated move My Neighbor Totoro by Hayao Miyazaki!! Buy your tickets now for this pop-up of Nodoguro PDX that pops up at the Evoe space. The menu changes every month so it is only for a special 6-8 time culinary performance by Ryan Roadhouse and partner in crime behind the kitchen Mark Wooten of Phantom Rabbit Farms. At least, it seems, until they are ramped up to take over the Evoe they have been popping up in permanently!!

This time, because of where I was sitting by the counters, I took some special edition photos of our two chefs Ryan in the hat and Mark ready-for-a-shampoo-commercial preparing and plating the dishes. You will also get a glimpse of hostess and pop-up atmosphere curator Elena assisting in serving and explaining the dishes.

The Nodoguro Haruki Murakami theme this month meant creating dishes as described from various books by Haruki Murakami inspired a diverse journey of flavors, and yielded my most favorite sunomono yet from them. Each dish came from a description of the book listed with the dish (shown in bold italic), and spanned across 5 novels.

Nodoguro Haruki Murakami August themed pop-up, The books Nodoguro Haruki Murakami August themed pop-up The books inspiring the various dishes
Nodoguro Haruki Murakami August themed pop-up Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014 Nodoguro Haruki Murakami August themed pop-up, special painting Elena's dad does (as he does every month)

For the optional beverage pairing, I shared a bottle of Ippongi Denshin Yuki Sake with my two dining friends, though I was tempted by the Wind Up Bird cocktail (The Wind Up Bird is another Haruki Murakami novel).
Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014 Drink options for our dinner Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014 Ippongi Denshin Yuki Sake for our dinner Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014 Ippongi Denshin Yuki Sake for our dinner

So now, come take this visual journey…
Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014 Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014

Torke Oyster with Uni, and ginger blossom

From Hotel Lobby Oyster
 Torke Oyster with Uni, and ginger blossom at Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014  Torke Oyster with Uni, and ginger blossom at Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014

Fig Salad with tofu cream, chanterelle and pine nut

From 1Q84
Bonus photos of some of the prepping of the tofu cream mixture by Mark
Mark Wooten preparing the next dishes at Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014 Ryan Roadhouse and Mark Wooten preparing the next dishes at Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014

And here is the super tasty dish, which I think surprised many guests in its interesting flavors.
Fig Salad with tofu cream, chanterelle and pine nut by Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014 Fig Salad with tofu cream, chanterelle and pine nut by Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014

Sea Bream Sashimi with citrus, skin salad and water pepper

From Kafka on the Shore
Sea Bream Sashim with citrus, skin salad and water pepper, Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014
Ryan Roadhouse and Mark Wooten prepared these dishes on the cool fish plates while Elena Roadhouse explains something to a fellow guest diner
Ryan Roadhouse and Mark Wooten preparing the next dishes at Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014 while Elena Roadhouse explains something to a fellow guest diner Mark Wooten preparing the next dishes at Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014

Midori’s Broiled Sablefish and spicy Lotus root

From Norwegian Wood
It smelled sooo good when Ryan opened this oven door. Sure, the handle fell off a little later, but it did the trick for this melt in your mouth fish with its crispy skin.
It smelled sooo good when Ryan opened this oven door. Sure, the handle fell off a little later, but it did the trick for this melt in your mouth fish with its crispy skin
Definitely one of my favorite dishes of the evening.
Midori's Broiled Sablefish and spicy Lotus root from Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014 Midori's Broiled Sablefish and spicy Lotus root from Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014

From Norwegian Wood/1Q84
Ryan Roadhouse and Mark Wooten preparing the next dishes at Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014
I liked this sunonomo the most because it’s been more substantial then previous ones that were more palate cleanses, this one felt much more like a course that just happened to have refreshing acidity (and which I still picked up the bowl at the end and drank the rest of the vinaigrette). I liked that this time it had egg which gave a little creaminess to it as well.
Smoked Mackerel Sunomono with egg vinegar, cucumber and seaweed, my fave sunomono they have made so far at Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014 Smoked Mackerel Sunomono with egg vinegar, cucumber and seaweed, my fave sunomono they have made so far at Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014

Seared Japanese Eggplant, bonito, ginger, and red miso

From Norwegian Wood
The teamwork continues…
Ryan Roadhouse and Mark Wooten preparing the next dishes at Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014
And the artsy plating of the dish
Seared Japanese Eggplant, bonito, ginger, and red miso from Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014 Seared Japanese Eggplant, bonito, ginger, and red miso from Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014

Salmon Oyakodon with Koshihikari Rice

From 1Q84
The wasabi was grated with this shark skin paddle:
The wasabi was grated with this shark skin paddle
I never get tired of fish eggs and sashimi cut fish on rice.
Salmon Oyakodon with Koshihikari Rice, Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014 Salmon Oyakodon with Koshihikari Rice, Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014

Omelette in Dashi

From Norwegian Wood
Omelette in Dashi at Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014 Omelette in Dashi at Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014

From Hear the Wind Sing
Canned Peach, pancake, and Coca Cola dessert course at Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014 Canned Peach, pancake, and Coca Cola dessert course at Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014

Watermelon Manju and Genmai matcha

Watermelon Manju and Genmai matcha at Nodoguro August themed pop-up- Haruki Murakami 8/12/2014
You can see past recaps of Nodoguro dinners I have attended here for July and here for June and here for May!

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Comments

  1. That looks so fun! I kept seeing photos on Instagram about Nodoguro so I’m glad you put up a post about it! I really want to check it out!

  2. What a fun event! I am sadly not adventurous enough for this kind of food, but you make it all look and sound tempting!

  3. What a fun idea! My friend loves Murakami and she’ll be sad she missed this!

  4. You always know the best places to go 😉

  5. Mr. B must never know about this. Never. He would have loved this way too much.

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  1. […] as a pairing when you get there for $85 (gratuity not included). Previous themes included Totoro, Haruki Murakami, a July Tanabata Matsuri Japanese Festival theme, and Firefly, for instance as […]

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