kinako-anko
On August 26, 2019, I rode my bicycle from home to Nambancho Intersection in 3 minutes, still in my biking gear, and finally decided to make a dash for the hotel lunch~♪ I visited "dining SAKURA" on the 2nd floor of "Premier Hotel CABIN Osaka," which opened just before Golden Week two years ago at Nambancho Intersection. I thought I could go anytime since it's close, but it ended up taking me two and a half years. I, a slightly rebellious dad in jeans, a t-shirt, and sandals, entered as the third customer at the 11:30 a.m. opening and was seated at a window-side table for two. The dish I ordered was the "Cool Breeze Soba with Water Eggplant and Summer Vegetables" for 1300 yen (tax included), which came with a salad bar, seasonal mixed rice, and coffee. Osaka, with temperatures over 35 degrees, had finally dropped to just over 30 degrees, but it was still hot, so I chose the refreshing "Cool Breeze Soba with Water Eggplant and Summer Vegetables." It seemed a bit pricey, but since it's a hotel lunch, I thought it was unavoidable. However, the staff kindly said, "It comes with the salad bar, so please help yourself to whatever you like," and there was also rice, so I felt like I could eat heartily (^o^)/ I quickly prepared hot soba tea and cold coffee for myself, and filled a small plate with coleslaw, burdock, and other salads. For another plate, I chose spinach and bacon stir-fry, Spanish omelette, and potato salad. Additionally, the "seasonal mixed rice with sakura shrimp" was served in a teacup with pickled vegetables on the side. After 10 minutes, the "Cool Breeze Soba with Water Eggplant and Summer Vegetables" was brought to me~! The soba, served in a cool glass dish, was topped with water eggplant, shishito pepper, tomato, grated daikon radish, large leaf, tenkasu, and thinly sliced lemon, with cold broth poured over it. The refreshing soba had a sharp edge and good texture, and was delicious. The water eggplant, fried shishito pepper, and generous toppings of large leaf and tenkasu worked well together. This dish alone wasn't enough, but after eating the salad, side dishes, and mixed rice, my stomach was full. Today, I can take my time going to work, so I'll take a nap with my dog before heading out. Bon appétit (●^o^●)