恵ありてこそ
Before the corona pandemic, there were two restaurants in the Kanto region that I had been wanting to visit. One was our restaurant, and the other was Don Bravo in Tokyo Kokuryo. Both places gave me a good sense of being pleasantly eccentric. I had heard that the prices were reasonable as well. I had wanted to visit before they relocated, but due to the pandemic, it kept getting postponed, and I finally managed to visit at the end of last year. In conclusion, every dish was consistently above a certain level, and there were some dishes that made me go "wow," feeling like they were the result of deep thought. However, I felt that each dish seemed to be trying to excel individually, and some did not quite fit in terms of flow or overall coherence in the course menu. Nevertheless, I felt the intention to pursue better quality in each dish, and I appreciated the pleasantly eccentric atmosphere, making me glad that I visited. The prices were reasonable, and although there were some minor points that bothered me, overall, I was very satisfied. The course menu consisted of small portions of colorful dishes. It has been about three months since my visit, but I have all the information on each dish, so my memory is quite clear. Due to time constraints, I will limit my comments to some of the dishes, but I believe I can convey the general atmosphere. The first dish was fresh oysters from Akkeshi. They were served with lemon on the left and red wine vinegar on the right. The oysters had a straightforward, light taste that was easy to eat, more fresh than anything else. I found the lemon easier to eat, as the red wine vinegar tended to stand out a bit too much. Next was the turnip brûlée. This dish left a strong impression on me, and I wanted to try making it at home. It was not a dish with a strong broth, but rather a light one with mascarpone cheese. In my memory, it was thickened with rice, creating a delicious blend of Japanese and Western flavors. The presence of onions was not prominent, and the dish was very pleasant. The olive oil on top was from Croatia, and although I don't remember it well, I believe it was not a strongly flavored extra virgin oil. The careful sprinkling of pepper was noticeable, with the pepper not overpowering the dish but adding a natural flavor. Overall, I felt that the mascarpone cheese was the key to this dish, more so than the turnip itself. Skipping a dish, the next one that left an impression was the dish with Negi (Japanese leek) and Wagyu beef. Overall, it reminded me of sukiyaki. Despite Negi not being in season, cooking it brought out its sweet and delicious flavor, making the dish very enjoyable. The Wagyu beef did not leave a strong impression, but it was delicious in a comforting way. I believe there was shichimi pepper sprinkled on top, but it was not a very stimulating addition. The dish was centered around the delicious flavor of the Negi. Next was the Tsaiptaan, an omelet with dried radish. Although my mother used to make a similar dish, it had been a while since I had it. I learned that it is a common dish in Taiwan. The sweetness of the radish was present in the omelet, but personally, I did not find it very tasty. I had the impression that the eggs were cooked quite firm, which seems to be the norm. Next was the sushi with wasabi on top of Hitachi beef, which is considered a specialty. However, I did not taste the beef or the rich flavor of Wagyu. I believe that beef is best enjoyed when it is cooked. This dish left me feeling skeptical. The shari (sushi rice) was firm, and there was no salt or pepper, so I did not taste the meat. I remember having a similar sushi dish with Matsuzaka beef (probably A4 or A5 grade) near Ise Jingu Shrine about 20 years ago, and I distinctly remember tasting the meat, which left me impressed. I apologize for the lengthy review, and if I continue in this manner, it will never end.