TAKASAN-BATACHAN
After finishing a round of hospital visits on October 22, I stopped by my aunt's place before heading to the final bus to Esashi. I decided to have dinner in the Goryokaku area, where I wanted to visit a particular restaurant. This restaurant is actually the origin of "Hakodate Garibee," a place I've been interested in since a couple of years ago. Around 2016, the president of a group of izakayas that includes this restaurant came up with the idea of using "Cola Up Garana" instead of ginger ale in a cocktail called "Shandy Gaff." This led to the creation of a popular and easy-to-drink cocktail, which eventually spread through word of mouth. Subsequently, the president established the "Hakodate Garibee Association" to promote the local beer cocktail in the Hakodate area and beyond. The definition of "Hakodate Garibee" requires any type of beer (malt beer, third-category beer, dark beer, non-alcoholic beer, etc.) to be paired with "Cola Up Garana" from Shichinohe Town. I was eager to try the original restaurant where it all started, so I visited on that day. I ordered the "Hakodate Garibee," the original "Shandy Gaff," and edamame. The ordering system at this restaurant was new to me - I was given a QR code to scan with my smartphone or tablet, which opened a dedicated ordering website. It felt similar to using a special tablet device, making it convenient for tech-savvy individuals. For those without a smartphone or tablet, there were also menu sheets and call buttons available. As for the taste of the ordered items, the "Hakodate Garibee & Shandy Gaff" were cocktails made with Sapporo Classic beer. The Hakodate Garibee had a strong unique flavor from the garana, making it sweeter and easier to drink than beer alone. The Shandy Gaff, with added ginger ale's ginger flavor and sweetness, was less distinctive. The "assorted appetizers," "special croquettes," "Emperor's (I think?) shiitake mushroom chawanmushi," and "simmered sardines" were served. The croquette's seasoned potato was delicious on its own, the shiitake chawanmushi was rich in umami, and the simmered sardines had a mild sweet flavor with minimal fishiness. The freshly boiled edamame was perfectly salted and paired well with drinks. The "yellowtail sauce cutlet" was part of a "Yellowtail Festival" event in Hakodate, featuring lightly sweet and salty soy-based sauce on breaded yellowtail that was cooked just right. The "live squid sashimi" was a bit pricey at 2,000 yen, but the temptation was too strong to resist. The live squid from the tank was lively and tried to escape, showcasing the freshness and quality of the dish.