Fue
Hanachou-san is revisiting after 7 years. During the pandemic, there was a tendency to avoid course meals and gatherings, but recently, people have been careful while enjoying course meals and gatherings again. Visited with friends for a meal after a long time. It seems that the head chef has recently changed. As you descend the staircase with a painting of model Sayoko Yamaguchi, you reach the waiting room. Hanachou, visited by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and others, is a place with elegant furnishings in the main hall. From the calm waiting room, adorned with the fusuma painting of Etaro Fukui, the camel, to the main hall, there is a lot to see. The official website mentions that the restaurant has been used as a guesthouse for foreigners, and even Charlie Chaplin had a meal here. The cuisine is inspired by Italian and Japanese fusion. The appetizers include simmered conger eel and Yamato potatoes terrine, seasonal vegetable gazpacho, and bite-sized somen noodles. The presentation is not deliberately cute, but it turned out that way, giving a lovely touch. The way they arrange Japanese ingredients in a Western style truly reflects the essence of Hanachou. The appetizers also include blowfish skin jelly, white sesame tofu, red beet miso, seasonal vegetable vinaigrette, salted squid, and pine wind grilled chicken liver. Despite not being a fan of chicken liver, I found it surprisingly delicious and enjoyed it like a dessert. The soup course features eel and vinegar citrus jelly, a treat for eel lovers. The sashimi course includes grilled swordfish, bluefin tuna belly, spotted squid, fresh scallop, and attention-worthy carrot garnish in the shape of Hanachou's logo. The lobster poached in butter is a sight to behold. The seasonal dish consists of steamed duck and Kamo eggplant in a refined cooking style reminiscent of Kamo duck. The eggplant and duck are so delicious that they could be the main dish on their own. The meat course features roasted Japanese beef with homemade citrus sauce. For the main course, Hanachou's specialty, sea bream dashi tea-soaked rice, is served. Unfortunately, the sea bream tea-soaked rice I wanted to eat for lunch that day was sold out, but I was able to enjoy it at Hanachou. For dessert, a rich matcha pudding with a seasonal fruit assortment is served. The food is delicious, and the high-quality, historic ambiance is truly remarkable. With the change in head chef and menu refresh, the dishes have become even more delicious.