Jan 31, 201211:06 AMThe Telegraph
The Premier Blog of the West
Some East-West Food Pairings in Honor of New Texas Rangers Pitcher Yu Darvish
Just a few days before the Texas Rangers baseball team signed Japanese pitching sensation Yu Darvish to a six-year, $60 million agreement, team president and noted cattleman Nolan Ryan got closer to sealing the deal with the aid of one of his favorite things – a big ol’, juicy steak.
The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Darvish is the current pride of his country after reaching professional-baseball heights there and, previous to that, playing in the 2008 Olympics. And his signing with the Rangers gives the reigning ALCS champs hope that they’ll reach their third World Series berth in a row.
So, Ryan (who’s graced the cover of C&I before) wanted his first get-to-know-you meeting with Yu to be special. He and other team personnel took the young pitcher to Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse in Fort Worth, and found that their prospect had quite the appetite.
In addition to the expected oversized hunk of beef, Yu also wolfed down lobster and onion rings.
His choices prove that the pitcher – a media superstar in his own country – isn’t averse to the time-tested delicacies of his new, temporary home. But it doesn’t mean he wouldn’t long for some Japanese and Asian flavors once he’s in the States, training for and playing in the regular season.
We’ve taken the liberty of tracking down a few ideal menu items for Yu (and for you, too!) – dishes that combine his part of the globe's defining flavors with ours. You’ll find selections from restaurants in the Rangers’ headquarters, North Texas, as well as the site of their upcoming spring training – Surprise, Arizona.
Silly, yes, because the pitcher can now afford as many personal chefs as he wants. But those rabid Ranger fans would love to see him at the next table from time to time. Something to keep in mind.
NORTH TEXAS
ZEN SUSHI: Chipotle Roll (fish tempura, adobo sauce, chipotle peppers) and Xalapa Roll (tuna, cilantro, lime, jalapeno and avocado), 380 W. 7th St., Dallas. zensushidallas.com
DEL FRISCO’S DOUBLE EAGLE STEAKHOUSE: Shanghai-style fried calamari, tossed with a tangy, pepper-y sauce. Locations in Dallas and Fort Worth. delfriscos.com
STEPHAN PYLES: Lobster ceviche with mango and basil. 1807 Ross Ave. Suite 200, Dallas. stephanpyles.com
TEI-AN: Miso-braised beef brisket. 1722 Routh St., Dallas. www.tei-an.com
ALL GOOD CAFÉ: Chicken-fried steak, otherwise known as “Texas Tempura.” 2934 Main St., Dallas. allgoodcafe.com
BOLSA: Sweet Potato & Kabocha Squash Stew (with roasted peppers, golden rasins, Brussels sprouts, pine nuts and homestead grits). 614 W. Davis St., Dallas. bolsadallas.com.
FEARING’S: Coriander-Crusted Lamb Chop and Honey/Pistachio Kibbeh on Melted Coconut/Eggplant Curry with Fragrant Basmati Rice, Tomato Chutney and Cucumber Raita. At the Ritz-Carlton Dallas, 2121 McKinney Ave. fearingsrestaurant.com.
SURPRISE, ARIZONA
FRESH WASABI JAPANESE RESTAURANT: Arizona Roll (with spicy crab, avocado, cucumber an salmon). Crazy Horse Roll (tuna, salmon, yellowtail and avocado, covered with tobiko). 13732 W. Bell Road, Suite 2. freshwasabisurprise.com
HAYASHI JAPANESE HIBACHI AND SUSHI BAR: Chicken Katsu (deep fried chicken cutlet served with katsu sauce). 13828 West Bell Road. www.hayashihibachi.com
SAMURAI SAM’S: Chicken or Steak Asian Tacos (with cucumbers and other veggies, served over rice). 13761 W. Bell Road, Suite 211. www.samuraisams.net
With that, here’s to Yu’s continued satisfaction with dinners in America. If the kid’s as good as they say, Texas will want him to stay as long as is humanly possible. And that translates to a lot of steaks. Good thing Nolan has his own line of beef products.
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