くるのすけ
In July in Hokkaido, during my summer vacation garden stroll (part 3/3, bonus). This is a lunch visit in between the annual tradition of exploring Biei from "Farm Tomita". It's at Family Restaurant Daimaru in Biei. [Location] It's near Biei Station, with a parking lot next to the store. There doesn't seem to be many people around the station, maybe because it's a weekday or because it's a late lunch, I'm not sure. [COVID-19 Measures] Hand sanitizers are available, and the tables are spaced out. [When in Biei] Biei is famous for its local cuisine, such as "Curry Udon", but on the day of the visit, the curry udon was sold out, so we tried the "Yaki Men" instead. Another popular dish is the recently introduced "Biei Pork Tonkatsu", so we decided to try that. ★New Biei Curry Udon <Yaki Men> @950 yen. This was ordered by my wife. It looks good, with a generous portion of hot yaki curry udon. I tried a bit, and it was milder than I expected. ★Biei Pork Tonkatsu Set @1,080 yen. The presentation was nice, and it was my first time trying Biei pork. The tonkatsu was about 1cm thick, with a wide surface, giving a good impression. The pork was sweet and tasty, and the lean meat was juicy and delicious. The side vegetables were probably from Biei, and the corn was sweet. I enjoyed the Biei pork tonkatsu. When we were about to pay, we found out that coffee was included (laughs). We took it to go and enjoyed it on the way back. [Bonus: Biei Sightseeing] "Blue Pond" is less than 30 minutes by car from Biei Station. It was a bit cloudy, and the water level was low, resulting in a slightly milder "sky blue" color on this day. "Shirahige Waterfall" is near the Blue Pond, less than 30 minutes by car from Biei Station. I always quickly visit this spot, but the viewpoint is high, which makes it a bit scary for someone like me who is afraid of heights. Still, it's a worthwhile attraction. "Zerubu no Oka" is about a 5-minute drive from Biei Station. It's not very big, but it's well maintained and colorful, which I like. You can drive around the area in a buggy or cart, which is fun. This time, we took a cart and had a great time. This alone made the visit enjoyable. [Closing] This summer, while being mindful of infection prevention measures, I was able to enjoy the scenery of Furano and Biei. I hope I can visit calmly next summer. Thank you for the meal.