如月 来夏
There was a drama called "Queen's Breakfast" or maybe not. Located on the 2nd floor of Lumine directly connected to Shinjuku Station. As I glanced at the guide sign, I went up the escalator and saw a crowd forming, which made me a little anxious, but it turned out they were waiting for Lumine to open. By the time I left the store, the customers waiting for "Sarabeth's" had replaced them, so there was always a crowd forming in front of the escalator. This place is structured so that you can come directly from outside without going through Lumine, so they open the store without waiting for Lumine to open. It's said to be the 10th anniversary of its launch in Japan, and this Lumine Shinjuku store was supposed to be the first store. Due to its location in Shinjuku, there are many inbound customers. I wondered if they came all the way to Japan to eat pancakes, if there were no stores in their home country, or if they wanted to experience the unique hospitality of Japan, or if it was a unique Japanese menu. "Sarabeth's" is famous for its pancakes, but here, the Eggs Benedict is a must-try. So I ordered the Half & Half Eggs Benedict, which includes both the classic type and the salmon version. The atmosphere of the store, which resembles a palace of white marble, and the high percentage of female customers reminded me of "Kilfebon". Even though it was just past 10 o'clock, the place was already 80% full, showing its immense popularity. It seems that Eggs Benedict takes time to make, as the French toast and pancakes ordered by the customers next to us were served one after the other. I wish they had mentioned that it takes time, but I didn't have any plans after this anyway. Back when I was into cooking, I made various things by watching and learning, but Eggs Benedict was the one thing I never saw or ate the real thing, so I didn't even know if what I made was correct. I used to eat something like Eggs Benedict often, but it was always just a fake Benedict from family restaurants or cafes, so I ended up living my life without ever knowing the real thing. I think I waited for about 30 minutes. The moment when the phrase "waiting was worth it" fit so perfectly has never been more true. The Eggs Benedict standing proudly in front of me looked like a small hamburger with plenty of hollandaise sauce poured over it. I was taught that the recipe is based on an English muffin with bacon, poached egg on top, and hollandaise sauce poured over it, but it seems that the real thing is quite different. The English muffin base had a slightly burnt and smoky flavor. This added depth to the taste, and I remembered that burning (just before) adds flavor and richness to the dish. The hollandaise sauce was as rich as a raw egg yolk, and as I ate, I thought it was similar to pasta carbonara. The classic type had a juicy and flavorful bacon overflowing from the buns, and the saltiness of the muffin added to it. The real thing was so different and delicious, and I was impressed and moved. In contrast, the salmon Benedict had a slightly strong fishy smell that stood out. I couldn't tell if this was how it was supposed to be or if it was just that day's ingredients. It was a bit off-putting. No matter how skillfully I used the knife and fork, the plate ended up messy after eating, which was a drawback. I would like to learn the proper way to eat it if there is one. The salad served was mostly arugula, and I wonder if there was a reason for that. Among the three major pancakes, alongside "bills" and "Eggs'n Things", I like "bills" ricotta pancakes the best. That feeling of melting and disappearing on the tongue is unforgettable once you experience it. By the way, the Japanese entity that operates here is said to be the same as "Eggs'n Things", but there are also affiliated stores like "Romex Pavlova" and "Hard Rock Cafe". If you think about it, even the currently trending "Ziyouken" is one of them. I wonder where the trendsetters get their ideas from. Most customers ordered the signature course, which includes drinks and ==========