Conceived by Kissaki brand owner Garry Kanfer and Chef Chris Jaeckle who developed the menu, O by Kissaki serves a blend of Japanese and Italian cuisine commonly known in Japan as Itameshi, which translates simply into Italian meal. Many people who have traveled to Japan claim that it is where they’ve eaten the best Italian food mostly due to the care that Japanese chefs put into choosing their ingredients.
In both cuisines ingredients are the key to creating a perfect plate of food, and simplicity wins out over complexity. Itameshi offers the best of both worlds where one may find roasted tomatoes in a bowl of ramen, or spaghetti topped with seaweed. This is not fusion though, Italian pasta was introduced to Japan during the Edo period, and spaghetti came into the mainstream Japanese diet from the U.S in the 1980s when spaghetti found its way onto menus at local kissaten (casual coffee shops). The Japanese found a way to make it a cuisine of their own.
At O by Kissaki Chef Jaeckle’s menu takes diners through a Japanese/Italian vocabulary of food, starting with small dishes such as Tomato Tofu Salad- whipped tofu, tosazu, summer herbs; Spicy King Crab- calabrian chilies, sesame crunch; and Uni with Lardo on crispy rice. The Big section offers Wild Mushroom Truffle Donabe; or Paccheri (wide tube noodle) with Peking duck, hatcho miso, and marsala; and Yaki/Griglia offering grilled steaks and fish with a choice of sauces. Kissaki’s Specialty Nigiri, Maki Rolls, Futomaki, and Sashimi created by Chef/Partner Mark Garcia is also available making O By Kissaki a restaurant that can be enjoyed by pescatarians, vegetarians, carnivores, and all who love Japanese and Italian fare, which pretty much is everyone.
The breezy blue and white interior is comfortable and stylish, fitting perfectly into the Hamptons “scene”. O by Kissaki seats 60 indoors, 50 outdoors, and 10 at the bar.
O By Kissaki is located at 47 Montauk Hwy in East Hampton. Explore their menu at www.exploreobykissaki.com
