京夏終空
Craftsman-made seafood sushi from Misaki Port, enjoyed with a light drink and a quick bite. Recently, the automation of this Kyoto Taru chain store has been advancing. There are more and more stores where amateur staff make and serve sushi on conveyor belts. However, there are still establishments like this one where craftsmen make the sushi. I don't know the exact percentage of sushi made by craftsmen in today's sushi restaurants, but with the rise of conveyor belt sushi, that ratio has likely decreased significantly. When we were children, there were hardly any sushi made by anyone other than craftsmen... Sushi, in its essence, is a culinary culture that involves people and their skills. However, lately, there seems to be a growing indifference towards that aspect. In my hometown of Ikebukuro, a highly rated eel restaurant on Tabelog, even after the owner, Mr. I, retired, continues to receive high praise and remains fully booked. It makes me wonder, what was the significance of that old man's craftsmanship and storytelling skills. I used to meet Mr. I often as we were in the same neighborhood association, and I know he is a good person, but he seems to feel more limited by his own evaluation than by the success of his apprentices. Even the fifth generation of San'yūtei Enraku's "Shōten" is said to be criticized for replacing Shōta... Eel didn't suddenly become delicious, and I've known the quality of the eel supplied to that store by T Fish Market, an old acquaintance of mine, for a long time. In the sushi culture as well, it feels like sushi made by robots with high-quality toppings is starting to be more highly regarded than sushi made by craftsmen with average toppings. Uni, Otoro, Abalone... I remember a time like that 30 to 20 years ago. It serves as a stern reminder, and I've been feeling it particularly strongly lately. Now, back to this restaurant, as I mentioned, there is a craftsman. A skilled craftsman is making sushi inside the rotating island counter. Starting with a beer, we enjoy some appetizers. A small sashimi platter with Hokkaido live surf clam and Kagawa cold yellowtail. Two seasonal dishes that are just right. Whitefish milt from Madara. Also well received at this time of year. Scallops from Aomori, seared with soy sauce butter, delicious. The nigiri starts with fresh mackerel. Herb-infused fresh mackerel from Nagasaki. And the trending Toro Salmon. (laughs) We try a few more dishes and finish with a seared upper red. Thank you for the meal. If you choose wisely, you can be reasonably satisfied with this chain restaurant. Not a rave review, but a useful place. (By Kyonatsu Shūkū, 2018.12.8) (18 reviews/3.02) (Note: Photos will be posted later.)

