てじお1326
My wife and I are on a trip to Kyoto. On this evening, we visited this Italian restaurant. It is located about a 5-minute walk from Karasuma Oike Station. Inside, there is one table near the entrance and a small, cozy interior with a counter that extends along the kitchen in a zigzag shape towards the back of the restaurant. I opted for beer, while my wife, who loves wine, chose a white wine. The chef kindly selected a wine that suited her taste and served it in a glass, explaining the wine in detail. That evening, we had a full course meal consisting of an amuse-bouche, two appetizers, two pasta dishes, a meat dish, a fish dish, and dessert, which got us excited.
- The first dish was a sweet onion potage with a hint of onion flavor and a unique black deep-fried leek that resembled the aftertaste of okonomiyaki leeks.
- The amuse-bouche was a carrot blancmange with a carrot mousse underneath a white sauce, topped with buckwheat seeds and shiso flowers for contrasting textures.
- The first appetizer was confit of rockfish with yogurt sauce, apples, and French caviar, which was surprisingly tender and had no fishy taste.
- The second appetizer featured firefly squid, white asparagus, and cherry tomatoes, providing a salad-like experience with the crunchy texture of blanched asparagus.
- The first pasta dish was white fish and broccoli with bottarga pasta, which had a delicate texture similar to udon noodles, using young ayu fish for the white fish.
- The second pasta dish was ravioli with fuki (butterbur) inside, complemented by a creamy sauce with a bitter taste that perfectly matched the ravioli.
- The palate cleanser was a granita made from baked oranges, offering a unique flavor of orange sherbet with a hint of roasted aroma.
- The fish dish was pan-seared flathead mullet with crispy skin, accompanied by rapeseed blossoms and a subtle white shrimp sauce that highlighted the shrimp as the main ingredient.
- The meat dish featured roasted veal with a sweet grain mustard that was refreshing and tender without being greasy, providing a delightful dining experience.
- For dessert, pistachio ice cream was served first, followed by a small dessert assortment with delicious raw caramel on a spoon, and strawberry frozen and crushed with meringue powder on top.
The restaurant seemed to have many regular customers, and the chef occasionally interacted with them, explaining the ingredients. Overall, the dishes were not heavy or greasy, making it a friendly option even for older diners who might not experience indigestion the next morning. I would love to revisit this restaurant if given the chance. Thank you for the wonderful meal.