にゃんちゃん♡0215
Let's go eat some Japanese food somewhere during the long weekend. I received an invitation for a meal and this time it was with my parent. Instead of searching from scratch, I decided to make a reservation at a restaurant that I had saved and had reliable reviews. Looking back at my LINE messages, it seems I made the reservation at the end of March. I must say, I was really determined. The restaurant is located near Shinbashi Shimizu, diagonally across the street. This area is filled with slender alleys lined with numerous restaurants, giving off a nostalgic Showa era vibe. After scrutinizing the map, I coincidentally met up with my father and we entered the restaurant together. The restaurant had only 10 counter seats, and it was run by a team of the head chef and three Vietnamese apprentices. The dedication of the apprentices to their work, influenced by the head chef, was heartwarming to see. The course meal included the usual dishes (appetizer, sashimi, soup, grilled fish, beef with sansho pepper) along with rice and one additional dish that we could customize as we liked. Of course, we ordered rice and potato salad as additional items. The appetizers included chawanmushi and fuki no tosa. The chawanmushi was luxurious with three pieces of sea urchin delicately placed on top. The gentle dashi flavor was prominent and I couldn't help but feel entranced. The texture of the chawanmushi, on the edge of holding its shape, left a lasting impression. The sashimi consisted of shrimp, bonito, and horse mackerel. I forgot to mention that I don't like shrimp at first, and a bell rang in my head. However, I decided to try it and it was surprisingly delicious. The shrimp had a soft texture with a gentle flavor. The bonito had a light taste but a satisfying texture. The horse mackerel was of a brand that met the criteria for size and fat content, and it was indeed delicious. The soup included shrimp shinjo, grilled shiitake mushroom, and bamboo shoots. The dashi had a gentle flavor that reflected the character of the head chef. The grilled shiitake mushroom added a hint of smoky aroma to the soup, making it very flavorful. The fluffy and tender grilled cherry salmon was cooked perfectly. It melted in my mouth and satisfied my taste buds. The beef with sansho pepper may seem simple, but the key was the dashi used in this dish. The simple seasoning highlighted the flavor of the sansho pepper, and the combination of the meat's umami and the vibrant flavor was delightful. The fried items included squid, horse mackerel, and conger eel. The squid had a light and fluffy batter. When eaten with salt, it had a sweet taste. The horse mackerel had a crispy texture unlike the sashimi. The light batter complemented the rich flavor of the fish. The conger eel, a whole piece, was fried perfectly. The squid and horse mackerel were delicious, but this light and flavorful conger eel was also a delight. The dessert was pudding, which had a subtle sweetness and a strong vanilla aroma. The pudding had a soft and jiggly texture, and it was a perfect way to end the meal.