paaaigerenae: it is raining so hard, isn't this like a monsoon or something?
about 3 hours ago
javierabrown: @torigriffin you need to go to either snug harbor or port of call and get a monsoon!
about 12 hours ago
r_tam: INSEAD Monsoon Ball tonight. Dress code - black tie or "Asian traditional dress". Filipino barong? Would be a lot cooler in this hot weather
about 16 hours ago
Paulaa257: This is the 7th time I listen to Monsoon on the @tokiohotel Radio... there are like 5 or 6 different versions. Awesome!!
about 1 day ago
ChristopherBeau: "Like an ox-cart driver in monsoon season or the skipper of a grounded ship, one must sometimes go forward by going back." - John Barth
about 1 day ago
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It means the source of the fifth element of taste - deliciousness. |
 | By Jeff Sherman   OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writer E-mail author | Author bio More articles by Jeff Sherman |
| Published Dec. 28, 2007 at 5:34 a.m. |
|
Michael H. Polaski, owner of the Monsoon restaurant, 17800 Bluemound Rd., in Brookfield, and Mikey's on Cathedral Square in Downtown, has announced that he is relaunching the restaurant with a new Asian fusion concept and name, Umami Moto (oo-mommy).
According to a news release, "umami is a bit hard to translate into English, but the most literal meaning is 'deliciousness' or 'delicious essence.' It has also been associated with words like savory and roundness of flavor. Beyond this, some offer that there is an emotional connection experienced or a feeling of 'perfect quality in taste.'"
Since his SU Restaurant Group bought Monsoon from business partner John Vassallo in late 2007, Polaski says he has been inspired to build on the success of Monsoon and offer a new take on Asian fusion and present it in a better way.
"I am a big believer in Asian fusion, but I think it can be done better offering greater flavor and an experience," Polaski said in the news release. "For years we've all known that there are four main tastes: salty, sweet, sour and bitter. Without realizing it, many of us have encountered a taste that lives beyond these four, a rounder, savory flavor. It's umami and this is the flavor in certain foods that causes us to crave those foods and now I want to share this experience in my own way with Metro Milwaukee."
Monsoon will close its doors shortly after the new year and the space will be completely renovated. The new restaurant is scheduled to open to the public in late January 2008 and will be lead by former Vivo owner and current restaurant consultant, Al Balda.
17800 W. Bluemound Rd.
Brookfield, WI 53045
262-782-SAKE
http://www.monsoonwok.com/
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8 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review. |
Recent Talkbacks ...
Posted by itravel on July 1, 2008 at 10:41 a.m. (report)
We recently had a business lunch here. There is nothing that I can say that is positive. Our waitress did not have an understanding of Asian cooking or flavoring. She guessed her way through our questions. The food itself was terrible. The crispy honey chicken had no flavor, very bland and the chicken was soggy. The other dish that two of us were subjected to was beef rendang. Do not even attempt to eat this unpleasant bowl of grey slop. I simply cannot find another way of explaining the beef dish. We all agree that this place will close down shortly. Also no lunch menu, much too expensive
| Rate this: |
Posted by wisclaw on May 9, 2008 at 9:11 a.m. (report)
I ate at Umami Moto last night for the first time. We ordered 3 items: calamari fries to start, then the chicken and eggplant entree, and for dessert we had the mandarine orange chocolate spring rolls. When we first walked in, it felt incredibly awkward. What I mean is, the staff were all a little bit awkward. The girl who showed us our table behaved like it was her first day on the job as well as our waitress who kept on trying to suggest add-on's to our meal, which got to be kind of annoying. The waitress first offered us fiji water or sparkling water. Thinking those were the only two options for water, we chose fiji, only to later regret it when $8 waters showed up on our bill when we could have gotten free water. The calamari fries were good - they came on a bed of lettuce (salad) and had a great lime and sriracha aioli sauce. The entree was less than average, something I could have made at home and would have tasted a lot better. The dessert was good because the chocolate instead the wrapper was a nice bitter orange chocolate flavor that was complemented by the raspberry sorbet. All in all, I give Umami Moto a 4 out of 10 stars. I came to the conclusion that the less Asian the dish, the better it tasted. They need to work on their Asian cuisine because it did not taste like anything close to an Asian dish. I would rather have gone to one of the less chic and less expensive Asian restaurants on National Ave. If you're looking for a great pan-Asian restaurant, I would take some time and drive down to Chicago's Joy Yee's to know what real pan-Asian food tastes like.
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Posted by martyg on Dec. 29, 2007 at 5:51 p.m. (report)
I found Monsoon to be just like all the other Johnny V restaurants. Mediocre food with just average service. I have tried all the restaurants twice and always come to this same conclusion. Anyway, I will be glad to give this new restaurant a chance. See you in '08
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Posted by HungryGuy on Dec. 28, 2007 at 8:03 p.m. (report)
Must agree with the first two posters. TERRIBLE service. Went there later one evening and the place was close to empty. Was seated and promptly forgotten about. Must have been 6 servers wandering past us with nothing to do pretending we were invisible. Even when we were waited on the service was slow and disorganized and the food was just average. If the owner is serious about making a go of this place he better start with the basics; food and service. Chic and trendy only lasts for about two months. HG
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Posted by Dean on Dec. 28, 2007 at 11:37 a.m. (report)
My wife and I tried Monsoon after it replaced the wonderful Thai Kitchen. It was :good: the same way that any of the Mo's restaurants are just good. Yes, it has the ubiquitous trendy atmosphere and chic decorations we've all come to expect from this family of restaurants, but instead of being exciting or memorable the food was not as charming as it could have been. Perhaps this really is why the make-over. There is another pan-Asian restaurant in Pewaukee called Asiana that tries to be too many things to too many people, also, and suffers from the same bland "safe" preparations. I hope Umami Moto really takes some chances and challenges the pallets of a diner ready for something new and interesting.
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