yukienglish
A modern exterior that looks more like a hidden gem than a restaurant appears in a residential area a 8-minute walk from Temmabashi Station and Ogimachi Station. The Italian restaurant "anu," popular among foodies, has a slightly intimidating entrance with heavy doors and an intriguing object, but once inside, the open kitchen where the chef is cooking creates an exciting and warm atmosphere full of energy. The attention to detail in the displayed onions is impressive, and as you taste the dishes, you can feel the dedication to vegetables even more. [Dinner] Omakase Course with Pairing. A menu card with the ingredients listed is handed to you, and the anticipation grows. The pairing drink starts with Louis Roederer Champagne, a perfectly balanced flavor that is neither too sweet nor too dry. The winter sweet onion potage, with its maximum sweetness extracted from the onions, is a delight in the cold weather. The first white wine is Kisvin Koshu, a clean and elegant wine with a refreshing acidity. The various daikon radishes served with lightly seared aged sea bream in a mille-feuille style is a delightful dish that suits Japanese taste buds. The onion displayed near the entrance had a purpose! The Basque cheese cake made with onions and cream cheese, without using flour, is a masterpiece that highlights the umami of the ingredients. The caramel brown sauce and powder, both made from onions, enhance the goodness of the onions. I asked them to make this a specialty dish that I can enjoy every time I visit the restaurant. A Vié de Romance white wine is served, with a powerful fruity flavor reminiscent of biting into a grapefruit. The surprise element in the dish is the capellini pasta with creamy white sauce containing plenty of shirako (cod milt) and a hint of yuzu, perfect for the winter season. A beautiful label red wine is brought out, Infusion Pinot Noir, a New Zealand wine with a herb tea-like aroma and a balance between red and rosé wines. The dish of oysters is a surprising homage to Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, capturing the flavors of the dish beautifully. I'm not usually a fan of burdock root, but the burdock pasta here is so delicious that I want to have it again, with a deep and unique flavor of burdock ragout sauce. Surprisingly, a Japanese sake is paired with the next dish, featuring Kuheiji Daiginjo, born in 2004 as a sake for warming, best enjoyed at lukewarm to hot temperatures. The dish of amberjack and daikon pairs perfectly with the sake, showcasing a sweet daikon that is incredibly delicious. The Spanish wine, Juan Gil Blue Label (Dieciocho Meses), made from over 55-year-old Monastrell vines, offers a spicy and powerful red wine with ripe black fruit aromas that I love. The dish features Kanazaki Ushi from Iwate Prefecture, a tender and well-balanced cut of lean beef that is surprisingly flavorful.