栗太郎★
I was very curious about the Italian restaurant Monne in Matsuiyamate. I had been thinking about going there for a while but never had the chance... (*_*; This time, I finally went alone for dinner on a Friday evening. I made a reservation for 6:00 PM and drove there, but I passed by a few times and got a little flustered. (laughs) The restaurant blends into the city and doesn't stand out. Finally found it and parked in the adjacent parking lot. Inside the restaurant, there was a counter in the back and about four tables in the front. A seat was prepared at the end of the counter. For the evening, there were course options for ¥6,000 and ¥10,000, and I opted for the ¥6,000 course. First, I ordered a non-alcoholic beer. • Chawanmushi made with soy milk - A surprising start. Soy milk chawanmushi at the bottom, topped with sake lees soup, steamed shrimp, butterbur sprouts, celery, sweet potato, lightly sprinkled with shichimi pepper. • Assorted appetizers - Tuna, sweet shrimp, striped jack, karasumi, prosciutto, homemade senmai-zuke, served with fromage blanc espuma. Each sashimi is wrapped in homemade senmai-zuke and prosciutto. Truly a sophisticated fusion of Japanese and Western cuisine. The complex and delicate flavors of each dish spread throughout the mouth. The chef's sense shines brightly. (laughs) • Homemade walnut bread • Grilled yellowtail with grated daikon - Daikon mochi at the bottom, topped with grilled yellowtail, egg yolk, grated daikon, wild chives, and kabosu. Oh, how I wish I had wine or sake... I reluctantly ordered a non-alcoholic sparkling drink. • Scallop with uni, suguki and mochi rice, lily bulb - This feels like the "otemoto" in kaiseki cuisine. I also had a rice dish. The tartness of the suguki was refreshing, another fresh surprise. • Main dish - Sauteed duck from Hungary with nanohana sauce, Shogoin daikon, kumquat, black pepper - Incredibly tender duck, meticulously seared with a charcoal aroma, wonderfully delicious. If only I didn't have to drive, I'd ask for red wine... I really want to... (*_*; • Pasta - Pasta with cod milt, topped with wood sorrel • Desserts - Apple kuzumochi - Caramelized apple mixed with kuzumochi for a warm dessert • Strawberry daifuku - White bean paste, black sesame and white chocolate cookie, vanilla ice cream. The daifuku is dusted with powdered sugar. • Coffee with a bite-sized matcha cookie - Chef Kawamura, who trained at restaurants Yonemura and Il Ghiottone, opened this restaurant with his wife in their hometown. Their experience shines through in creating this wonderful Italian cuisine with a sense of Japanese aesthetics. It reminds me of Dangobata, a traditional Japanese restaurant. Upon reflection, Chef Danbata also trained at Yonemura, didn't he? (^^♪ Lastly, I was impressed by the wonderful hospitality of the charming hostess. She subtly engaged each table in enjoyable conversation, explaining the dishes and eliciting laughter. Even as a solo diner, she took the time to explain each dish when she noticed me struggling to take notes. What a wonderful hostess they have here. (laughs) Next time, I'll definitely try to come by train! It's such a shame not being able to enjoy alcohol with such amazing food... (tears) Thank you for the feast. (^^♪