Dashi in a dash!

Using a recipe from the famous Japanese cook, David Tanis,(lol) I decided to dive into Dashi.  Basically it's a traditional base for Japanese soup using kombu, dried shiitakes, soy sauce, mirin, sake and a bit of sugar.  All the ingredients were on hand except for the sake, but it turns out that vermouth with a splash of rice wine vinegar is a good substitute.  

After a long simmer the broth is strained and voila, a clear flavorful broth with a whiff of the sea is ready for the next step - soup!