7070JAZZ
Tonight, we visited a popular Japanese restaurant in the Kyoto area that has been the talk of the town recently. After hearing everyone's praises, I was fortunate enough to be invited by a friend to dine there. It was about a 10-minute walk from the Keihan Shichijo Station, passing by the rarely visited Kyoto National Museum and Kyoto Women's University on a drizzly evening. Surprisingly, we stumbled upon a magnificent villa-like house on the way to the restaurant. Being the first ones there, I couldn't resist taking a peek at the rumored beautiful garden. Despite the rainy weather, the garden was quite impressive. However, since we were not seated at the main counter, all we could see during the meal was the kitchen. Nonetheless, visiting early was definitely the right choice.
The chef, Mr. Yamashiro, trained at Kyoto's "Miyamasou" and later opened "Shiorian Yamashiro" in Tokyo, earning three Michelin stars for three consecutive years until last year. The only option available is the omakase course for 15,000 yen. We started with a toast with beer.
[Food]
1. Clams (Kuwana) and udo - A light and refreshing small dish to start with, with a hint of sansho pepper.
2. Hassun - A luxurious assortment featuring smoked bonito with green onions, boiled icefish (young ayu from Lake Biwa), rice octopus, carabinero prawn, stir-fried nanohana, snow crab with celery, wasabi leaves, and morning glory roots. An incredibly lavish hassun for the price.
3. Sashimi - Red snapper (from Genkainada) and ark shell (from Ube). The red snapper aged for a day and the fresh ark shell were bursting with flavor.
4. Tempura - Tempura of young ayu, bracken, wild vegetable shoots, and butterbur buds fried in rice flour. Seasonal Japanese cuisine that allows you to enjoy the changing seasons.
5. Mackerel sushi (from Kyushu) - A small yet thick mackerel sushi with a perfect balance of shiny silver mackerel and vinegared rice.
6. Soup - Soup with sweetfish, sea squirt, orchid, dandelion, and bonito flakes and kombu dashi. The controversial soup that has been causing a stir. A mild and gentle flavor, but perhaps lacking a bit of impact.
7. Grilled dish - Charcoal-grilled cherry salmon (from Aomori). The seasoning and grilling were excellent, although the fish was difficult to cut due to the incisions made on the skin.
8. White bamboo shoots (from Oharano) - White bamboo shoots, warabi, and butterbur buds served with a lightly flavored soup of bonito flakes and kombu. A Kyoto-style dish.
9. Rice dish - A luxurious two types of mixed rice cooked in an earthenware pot. The mixed rice with white fish (from Lake Shinji) and burdock root, and sansho pepper was delightful. The other dish was mixed rice with green soybeans and seasonal firefly squid, with vibrant green soybeans adding a beautiful touch. The color scheme of the dishes stimulates the appetite. A good way to end the meal is with ochazuke, served with sweetfish soup and pickles (cucumber, turnip, nanohana).
10. Dessert - Contrast of light snow strawberries and rich strawberries. The homemade manju with sweet red bean paste was a favorite for me. Matcha prepared by the chef. Although I didn't have many opportunities to chat with the chef, Mr. Yamashiro, due to him being busy in the kitchen, I managed to have a brief conversation with him. He seemed quite reserved. The restaurant offers a very reasonable and conscientious pricing. Unlike the foraged cuisine of "Miyamasou," the restaurant serves traditional Japanese cuisine, which was a pleasant surprise. While all the dishes were delicious, none particularly stood out. I couldn't help but wish for a signature dish that would leave a lasting impression. Despite my amateur opinion, the meal was enjoyable. Thank you for the feast.