堀川 香織
I was lucky to be able to make a reservation by chance. It's been a while, but the entrance door remains the same as before. I feel the unchanged goodness. Passing through the door like a barrier against the hustle and bustle outside, the neatly watered stone staircase with moss green is beautiful. Please be very careful if you have trouble with your legs. I like the nostalgic atmosphere of the entrance door, which sounds creaky like visiting grandma's house. Beyond the door, a beautifully arranged cherry blossoms and a large lacquerware jubako welcome you. The staff quickly guided us to our seats. The seating is at a sunken table where you can sit comfortably with your legs down, which was appreciated by me, as my knees have not been feeling well lately. I love the course that includes tai shabu. To start, 16 small dishes are elegantly served in red cups, each portion placed on a side plate and brought in, which looks impressive on its own. The staff carefully explains each dish. As far as I can remember... scallions and firefly squid with vinegar miso, rolled omelette with young sweetfish, boiled yuba with young sea bream, duck meat and broccoli, mozuku vinegar with lily root, boiled sardine sushi, wrapped in bamboo leaves, boiled bamboo shoots and shrimp, fish roe simmered, simmered wheat gluten, tomato tofu sauce, burdock roll, boiled greens and yuba, and more. I enjoyed each dish slowly. Everyone has their own preferences, but the young lady at our table widened her eyes in delight several times and whispered "delicious," so I'm sure even young people can enjoy the flavors. The grilled dishes were tempura: young bamboo shoots, bracken ferns, and butterbur sprouts. Especially the young bamboo shoots were tender and had a delightful bamboo fragrance, a spring delicacy. They brought a dish of warm tofu in a dashi broth with yuzu slices floating on top. The tofu was smooth. I usually eat Morika tofu, Nansenji tofu, and Toyo-ukeya Yamamoto tofu, so I can't help but compare, but the portion served here was about half of Nansenji tofu. It felt a bit lacking, but the taste was... smooth and... as always, delicious. The tai shabu is made with fresh sea bream, so half-cooked is recommended! Just dip it quickly in the broth. Also, quickly blanch the mizuna. The crispy texture of the mizuna, the moist and firm texture of the sea bream, and the elegant sweetness and umami are superb! There were sea bream bones in the pot of broth, so we took them out at the right time, shredded the meat, and enjoyed it. It was also delicious with just the broth, with a hint of yuzu fragrance and flavor. Squeezing the accompanying yuzu and adding some yuzu pepper enhanced the flavor. By the time we finished the tai shabu, our stomachs were slightly full, and I wondered if we would have some porridge next. They removed the pot, prepared the porridge, and brought it to us. The yolk of the egg inside was deep orange?! or vermilion?! I crushed and mixed it, and it might be best to have it slightly runny! The porridge, made with sea bream broth and yuzu, was refreshing and delicious. I was worried if I could finish it, but it was so delicious that I managed to eat it all! For pickles, they served "Kanotomi pickles" from Iseya, which were pickles made with daikon radish and ginger, and they were so delicious that I decided to visit Iseya later to buy some. For dessert, we had warabi mochi with a melting texture. The 16 small dishes and grilled items change according to the season, so no matter how many times you visit, it always feels fresh. I have written a lot (>_<), thank you for reading this far. I was satisfied again this time! Not related to the food, but the restroom was a bit dark and hard to see, which was inconvenient.