EN Japanese Brasserie’s annual sakura (cherry blossom) festival is now underway.  The cherry blossom is Japan’s national flower and represents the start of spring. 

Through April 30th, EN’s chef Abe Hiroki is offering a seven-course kaiseki or tasting menu which consists of an array of seasonal fish, meat & vegetables with the incorporation of cherry blossoms, leaves and wood chips with dishes such as sakura smoked sashimi and tilefish & bamboo shoot marinated in cherry blossom dashi & grilled; local scallops & sea urchin from Santa Barbara, California with a plum wine geleé; local Hamaguri clam clear soup; among other delightful delicacies.

The interiors are decorated with cherry blossoms throughout - it’s a beautiful time to visit the restaurant.

The menu costs $95/person, with sake pairings from sake sommelier Takahiro Okada for an additional $55.