特盛ヒロシ
This time, I visited a popular teppanyaki restaurant in Ginza. The location is a 2.3-minute walk from Ginza Station on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, Ginza Line, and Hibiya Line. It's also quite close to Higashi-Ginza and Ginza-itchome stations. The restaurant is open for lunch from 11:30 am to 3 pm (last order at 2 pm) and for dinner from 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm (last order at 9 pm). I made a reservation about two weeks ago and visited with a former colleague from my salaryman days at 6 pm. As expected in Ginza, the interior exudes a high-class atmosphere with various luxury brands displayed. We were seated at the counter, as teppanyaki is best enjoyed at the counter. The atmosphere at the high-class counter truly embodies Ginza. This time, we ordered the most popular Upgrade Course (¥19,800 tax included) and the Pairing (¥11,000 tax included). We decided to splurge a bit this time. There are also other courses available, such as the ¥17,800 tax-included, ¥30,000 tax-included, ¥15,000 tax-included, ¥20,000 tax-included, and ¥25,000 tax-included courses, featuring high-end ingredients, as well as courses tailored to specific situations. For lunch, there are more affordable options like the ¥5,500 tax-included, ¥8,800 tax-included, and ¥11,000 courses. A 10% service charge is added separately. And so, the Upgrade Course begins. First, a live Canadian lobster is served, creating a powerful impression. We started with a toast of Maison Mumm Grand Cordon, a French champagne made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. It is a sparkling white wine with ripe peach, pineapple, and tropical fruit aromas, along with hints of dried fruit and honey, leading to a complex taste with juicy fruit flavors, caramel notes, and a lingering finish. The first appetizer was Edo-style conger eel, presented beautifully with conger eel fritters, eggplant compote, corn polenta, and grapefruit foam. The conger eel was delicious with a refined oil and batter, and the eggplant was also tasty. The next dish was a warm dish featuring Wagyu beef, Kyoto's Saikyo miso, and Kochi's baby eggplant. This dish was incredibly delicious, with the charred black wagyu lamp (instantly smoked with cherry chips) in Saikyo miso, creating a fantastic combination of smoky flavors, umami from the lamp, and the Saikyo miso sauce. The Demi-Glace sauce also paired perfectly with the Saikyo lamp. We enjoyed a second drink, a Junmai Ginjo sake from Saga Prefecture, with a lovely apple-like fruitiness and a smooth, elegant sweetness, leaving a pleasant aftertaste. Next, we moved on to the teppanyaki dishes, starting with the live Canadian lobster sautéed to perfection with Américaine sauce. The dish was exquisite, with delicious golden thread squash and Shishito peppers. We then had a Domaine Drouhin La Mezonnette Chardonnay 2019 from Oregon, a crisp white wine with aromas of white peach, white flowers, fresh fruits, and a hint of honey, leaving a lively impression and a pleasant finish. The following dish featured Ishigaki beef shoulder loin teppanyaki, served with Astaxanthin-rich Chiba-produced AstaRed (eggs) and topped with rice made from Koshihikari rice grown by a contracted farmer in the former Sunazawa-cho, Minami-Uonuma. It was the best teppanyaki I've ever had, with rich, savory flavors, sweet and flavorful eggs, and perfectly cooked shoulder loin with a side of rice.