かわとよ
"There seems to be a new French restaurant in Abeno," I heard from the owner of a Japanese restaurant I often visit around mid-June. In my opinion, Abeno is a French cuisine desert. Even if a new restaurant opens, it might just be a casual, pseudo-French place, right? But since I heard about it, I wanted to go. I decided to check it out for lunch first, and I somewhat forcefully invited an acquaintance to accompany me. The restaurant is located about a 3-minute walk from Abeno Station on the Tanimachi Subway Line, and about 10 minutes from Tennoji Station. It's tucked away in a narrow alley off the main street. It's a bit hard to find, but that adds to its charm as a hidden gem. Since it had just opened, the entrance was filled with flowers. They only offered set courses on the menu, so we opted for the mid-priced course (3500 yen). It's a bit over budget for a weekday lunch, but it's nice to splurge once in a while. First up was the appetizer. Flounder carpaccio with eggplant tapenade, cucumber and caper, soy vinaigrette. The thinly sliced flounder was fresh and delicious, with a nice texture from the fried skin. The playfulness of pairing eggplant with tapenade, cucumber and capers was enjoyable. They even used soy sauce in the sauce. It seems they incorporate Japanese seasonings in their French cuisine. Next was the pan-fried white fish with baby zucchini and burdock root fritters, beurre blanc sauce? I couldn't quite catch the explanation of the dish, so I'm not sure about the type of fish used. It resembled sea bream in texture. The crispy skin and tender flesh of the fish, paired with beurre blanc sauce, was a classic combination. But what stood out the most was the zucchini fritters. Despite their small size, they were fragrant and flavorful, holding their own against the fish. We also had bread. The wheaty, delicious bread paired well with butter and wine. It was so good that with just this bread, butter, and wine, I would be satisfied. Maybe that's an exaggeration. We used the bread to soak up the remaining sauce on the plate. Then came the pork girello with sherry vinegar sauce. The pork loin, marinated in brine, grilled, sliced, and finished under the salamander, was served with sherry vinegar sauce. Another classic flavor that was faultless. For dessert, we had American cherry compote with Jersey milk vanilla ice cream. The cherries cooked in red wine, paired with rich Jersey milk ice cream, was a match made in heaven. I wished the compote was richer and more concentrated, perhaps with a hint of spice for added interest. Nevertheless, having authentic French cuisine on a weekday afternoon was a treat. Each dish was meticulously prepared, using a variety of ingredients, showcasing the chef's dedication. However, I felt that the portion sizes were a bit small for the price of 3500 yen. Some may opt for other restaurants considering the price. Nonetheless, it was delicious, and I look forward to returning for a leisurely dinner. Thank you for the meal."