moiutya
I used it for a social gathering with beautiful colleagues and juniors who I worked with at the office. The restaurant is a Bib Gourmand establishment in Jingumae, Maruta-cho, known for its Japanese sake, wine, seafood, and charcoal-grilled meat. When there are four or more people, the appetizers are chef's choice, and you can order your favorite main dishes. I made a reservation and visited the place. We were seated at a 10-person table. We started with a toast with Sapporo Red Star beer and lemonade. The thin glasses felt nice to hold. We wanted to have wine first, so we went to the wine cellar to choose a wine. We selected an Italian wine from Tuscany with orange peel infused. It had a light orange color and a faint orange aroma. When tasted, it had a soft sweetness. The first appetizer was a seafood assortment. It included tuna tartare, seared mackerel with leek sauce, marinated firefly squid, confit of young sweetfish, and sea bream with rapeseed blossoms. The tuna tartare was wrapped in seaweed, which complemented the sweetness of the tuna. The seared mackerel with leek sauce harmonized well with the mackerel's richness. The marinated firefly squid and confit of young sweetfish had the expected flavors and paired well with the wine. The harmony between the sweetness of the sea bream and the bitterness of the rapeseed blossoms was delightful. We enjoyed all of them. The second appetizer was a charcuterie platter. It included Kyoto duck prosciutto, heart confit, venison rillettes, pork rillettes, and homemade roast ham, along with black Campania bread. The duck prosciutto, roast ham, and heart confit were perfect with the wine. The rillettes were delicious when spread on the bread. The well-balanced saltiness paired nicely with both the bread and wine. Since the grilled dishes take time, we ordered the main dishes, which were charcoal-grilled meat and vegetables. We ordered Aso beef steak, Kawamata Shamo chicken leg and breast, and Brittany baby duck, along with Misozuke chili pepper and Negi from Gunma. We were worried if we could finish everything, but with four people, we thought it would be fine. The third appetizer was firefly squid and mountain vegetable spring rolls with butterbur sauce. The chewy texture of the firefly squid and the bitterness of the butterbur shoots complemented each other well. We felt like having some sake at this point, so we ordered a bottle of Shichihonyari Junmai Namazake. The flavors of the firefly squid and butterbur shoots were enhanced by the sake. At this point, the beautiful colleague chose a bottle of Chenapan Tout Gamay, a French red wine. It was light but had a good balance of astringency and acidity, which paired well with the meat dishes. The aroma was delightful. The Misozuke chili peppers and Negi from Gunma were brought to us first. The Negi was sweet and could play a leading role. The Misozuke was thick and sweet. We thought it was delicious. After a while, the Aso beef steak, Kawamata Shamo chicken leg and breast, and Brittany baby duck were served on a large wooden plate. The side dishes included potatoes and various vegetables. The Aso beef was lean and had a strong yet refined flavor. The Shamo chicken had a good texture, and the flavor spread as we chewed. The baby duck was from the leg part, which had a rustic charm compared to the breast. The seasoning was perfect, and the wine and sake went well. We also tried pairing it with Hanatomoe Junmai Ginjo, and it was delicious. Finally, only three of us forgot to take a photo, but we ordered pudding. Being a drinker, I continued to enjoy the sake until the end. The dishes were quite hearty with distinct flavors. They were all delicious items that reflected the owner's dedication. The wine selection was excellent, and there were also good choices of sake available. The price may not be cheap, but above all, I had a great time with colleagues and juniors. Spending about 4 hours at the restaurant, enjoying delicious food, sipping good drinks, and having a great time with wonderful people was a very precious experience for me.