じゅみりん
Located just a few minutes walk from Nogizaka Station, this place has a very special atmosphere, which I was looking forward to experiencing. This area seems to have a variety of charming and stylish shops. As I approached the shop, feeling a bit lost, the staff actually came out to greet me, which added to the excitement and anticipation of my visit. The course I tried was the "Horse sashimi and shabu-shabu course" with all-you-can-drink option (August) for 40,000 yen. First, I had the special "OSMIC tomato juice", made from 150 specially grown cherry tomatoes without adding any sugar, salt, or even water. With a sweetness level of 15, this juice was not only sweet but also fruity and full of umami, making me want more! I was tempted to buy a bottle since I've been drinking tomato juice every day recently, but it was priced at 10,000 yen (laughs). I was grateful for the opportunity to taste it! The "Premium Kumamoto horse sashimi 5 types platter" included a special addition of "Premium triangular belly" this time, with two extra slices as a service. The horse sashimi is from Kumamoto, where the horses are raised in a stress-free environment, making it a rare and high-quality dish. The sauce included sweet soy sauce, sesame oil, and salt, with the option to add ginger, garlic, green onion, and myoga according to preference. The "Premium triangular belly" surprised me with its deliciousness, combining the richness of fat with a healthy aspect. The "Otoro" was rich in flavor with a melt-in-your-mouth texture, while the "Harami" had a good bounce and spread the deliciousness of the lean meat in the mouth. The "Upper lean meat" was refreshing compared to other parts, fitting perfectly with my image of horse sashimi. The "Fillet" was incredibly tender and had a depth of flavor and elegance. The "Selected Japanese beef shabu-shabu" featured a rich dashi made from Rausu kombu from Hokkaido, known for its intense flavor extracted with soft water. When I dipped the meat in the dashi, I could feel the umami and aroma of the kombu. The sauces included foie gras sesame sauce, aged ponzu with vinegar and kombu, and spicy sauce with red chili pepper and roasted ground pork. For garnish, there were white truffle salt, yuzu pepper, sansho miso, Kujo green onion, and black pepper from the original Kyoto. If you wanted rice, they offered brand rice as well. The "Shabu-shabu meat" included tongue from Japanese black beef, lamp from Miyazaki beef, fillet from Miyazaki beef, and misji from Kobe beef. Each type had its own unique qualities, and the combination of sauces and garnishes made the experience enjoyable. The "Selected vegetables" included green onion, lettuce, Chinese cabbage, spinach, yellow zucchini, hijiki seaweed, shiitake mushrooms, and firm tofu that didn't fall apart easily. Usually, at high-end shabu-shabu restaurants, I always want more vegetables, but here they were generously portioned. The casual and friendly service made me feel like they would even offer additional servings if I wanted. For the finale, I had the "Nagasaki handmade Gotou udon", one of Japan's top three udon varieties. The thickness, chewiness, and smoothness of the noodles were outstanding. The dashi was made from bonito and kombu, ===========