Dishes and drinks that have us doing a double-take this week include a mapo tofu-inspired cocktail made with sesame oil-washed rice vodka, a seasonal shad roe toast and a Belgian waffle sandwich created in collaboration with Yasiel Puig of the Cincinnati Reds.

Those of us at Restaurant Hospitality regularly see what independent operators are dishing out, but some menu items make us stop and stare — whether they involve an out-of-the-box way of using an ingredient, the appearance of a burgeoning trend or simply stunning presentations. We bring you NOM: our New on the Menu weekly roundup.

Email Anna Kang at [email protected]

Follow her on Twitter: @annaheekang