マッハのオススメごはん
Kitashinchi "Kokuya Motodori Store" This day, I had a meeting at a restaurant I had always wanted to go to. It's the "Kokuya Motodori Store" located just a short walk from Kitashinchi Station. "Kokuya" has another store (main store) in Kitahama, and they also have a tempura restaurant in Sakaisuji Honmachi. The chef, who is from Awaji Island, creates innovative Japanese cuisine using local ingredients, and I was eager to try it. The chef uses carefully selected ingredients from Awaji Island and other regions across Japan to create visually appealing and appetizing dishes. Awaji Island is not only known for its seafood but also for its delicious vegetables, making it a treasure trove of ingredients. It makes me want to visit Awaji Island!
Appetizers: The appetizers for the day included shrimp mousse, smoked dashi soy sauce potato salad, and summer vegetable and scallop namasu. The attention to detail in the appetizers set a high standard for the meal.
Sashimi Platter: The sashimi platter included five varieties such as fresh tuna, seared Spanish mackerel, Tottori swordtip squid with sea grapes, natural sea bream, seared conger eel with Hokkaido sea urchin, and water octopus. It was a delightful surprise to have six varieties instead of the expected five, showcasing the chef's skills and the quality of the ingredients.
Ebisumochi Pork Steak: The Ebisumochi pork, raised on a diet of rice and bananas from Awaji Island, was incredibly flavorful and almost sweet. The smoked soy sauce and grated radish added a nice touch to the dish.
Awaji Conger Eel and Asparagus Cream Saute: This dish combined Awaji conger eel and thick asparagus, resembling a French dish. The rich cream was followed by the sharpness of black pepper and the fragrance of perilla flowers, enhancing the flavors of the eel and asparagus.
Shizuoka Golden Eye Snapper Simmered: The tenderly simmered golden eye snapper was flavorful and the sweet and savory taste made it a perfect dish to enjoy with drinks.
Awaji Beef Roast Beef: A dish from the course menu, the Awaji beef was rich in flavor, and the meat could be enjoyed with just wasabi, without any additional sauce.
Kokuya Specialty Foie Gras Daikon: The foie gras daikon, a specialty of Kokuya, featured sweet and savory foie gras cooked with daikon, garnished with perilla flowers and sansho pepper. The contrast in textures and harmony of flavors made it a must-try dish.
Grilled New Onion with Miso and Salt: A simple dish of grilled Awaji Island new onion with miso and salt. The sweet and juicy onion was incredibly delicious.
Awaji Noodles: The Awaji noodles served as the final dish featured a broth made with onions and tenderly simmered onions as part of the ingredients. It was a comforting end to the meal, enveloped in the gentle flavors of Awaji Island.
Overall, it was a fantastic dining experience at a highly recommended restaurant. Thank you for the meal!