ハル隊長
On October 14, 2022, I discovered a new restaurant listed on Tabelog that I didn't know about. Since it was impossible to scout on a weekday, I decided to just check the location on the weekend. When I arrived, even though it was well before opening hours, the lights were on and I could see people inside! Feeling a bit bold, I signaled my presence from the window, and the staff came out to give me a polite explanation. They even mentioned that their additive-free bread had just finished baking and invited me inside. I declined taking a menu or photos of the interior, but I did buy some bread that day (no photos, but a few people who ate it within 30 minutes said the dough was delicious!). I informed tomako-san and the next day we decided to visit Cooking Culture Dining Any (Annie). Even though it was before opening time, there were already customers enjoying their meals. We took some photos of the interior (tomako-san even took a video) and ordered various items, resulting in the total amount mentioned above (laughs). One of the restaurant's concepts is that they welcome people who just want to eat as much as they like. If you like a dish you ate, you can watch the cooking process in their open kitchen (note: you cannot enter the kitchen). Dishes marked with a recipe icon on the menu come with the recipe, and you might even get some tips (probably). It's a unique restaurant experience! We ordered the following:
- Seafood and Chicken Mix Paella for 1210 yen
- Luxurious Bouillabaisse with Homemade Tomato Sauce and Hokkaido Fresh Cream for 1540 yen
- Lemonade Squash for 550 yen
- Cassis Lemonade Soda for 550 yen
Additionally:
- Mixed Berry Parfait for 660 yen
- Cold Brew Coffee for 550 yen (hot and iced)
Tomako-san wanted to try the Gnocchi Gratin, but we were already full! It was a good decision to hold back (laughs). First, we cleansed our palates with a lightly flavored soup (pumpkin) and pickles (yellow beets, cucumber and bell pepper, red beets). It felt like our bodies were being purified (laughs). After about 14 minutes, our ordered dishes arrived. We carefully took the recipe book and the taste of what we ate. Our Soup Pasta was made with Watarigani, Soft Shell Shrimp, Clams, and Scallops cooked in a soup that has extracted the umami flavors. The Paella is made with fish, chicken, and vegetables, baked in a 300-degree oven for a quick service, and it was rich and delicious. We paired it with a light red wine (laughs). The homemade lemonade drinks had no strange tastes (what does that mean? (^^;)). The Berry Parfait was generous in portion and creaminess, and we agreed that it was delicious. The texture was light like whipped cream, but maybe it was made with fresh cream. The cold brew coffee was flavorful and refreshing, making us want more. The bright mother-daughter chefs at the restaurant cook dishes with a strong dashi flavor. The restaurant is also managed in conjunction with a shop in Kushiro, so it is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (but the daughter chef is there, so the cooking classes should be fine). I sneakily asked for a different bread from the one I bought the previous day (same price), and the staff kindly obliged (thank you!). Tear bread is not something you see often, and you can also just buy this additive-free bread separately. The next morning, when I reheated it in the toaster, it had a nice buttery flavor and was delicious even without any spread. Tomako-san and I are planning to invite more people (or just go ourselves) to try different menu items at this restaurant. We had a delightful meal at this restaurant where "eating delicious food, cooking with joy, and seeing happy faces when people eat delicious food" is their motto. Thank you for the wonderful meal!