ガレットブルトンヌ
It's been a while since I visited Hokkaido. Leaving the dampness of Tokyo behind, even in summer the humidity is low and the refreshing breeze instantly lifts your spirits. I arrived directly from New Chitose Airport to this place. Right next to the restaurant building, I could hear the sound of sheep, goats, and black pigs. It turns out there is a livestock farm so close by. The farm grows various vegetables and herbs that are used as the base for the chef to create dishes using produce from local farmers, showcasing the abundant vitality of the land. The chef, Natsuo Yoshida, originally from Hakodate, trained at "Le Muse" in Sapporo and its sister restaurant "Restaurant SIO". She was very cheerful, explaining the dishes with great enthusiasm, and her positive energy was infectious. The lunch menu offers 3 courses: 4400 yen, 11000 yen, and 19800 yen. On this day, I opted for the 11000 yen course. As I sat at the table, I could see beehives through the window with bees buzzing around actively. It seems they also keep bees here. Being surrounded by such an environment, not typical of Tokyo, really lifted my spirits. Soon, a large plate filled with a variety of vegetables was brought to the table. Today's vegetables included zucchini, romanesco, wasabi leaves, celeriac, garlic scapes, snow peas, and snap peas, among others. The colors were vibrant, brimming with life. And so, the course began. 1. White Asparagus Coropokuru Village-grown white asparagus. Chilled white asparagus soup served with sorbet and a jelly made from boiled asparagus skin. Everything was gentle and the flavor of the white asparagus was rich. 2. Taco Salad Sausage, cheese-filled tacos with a generous serving of salad. 3. Turnip A round dish with a beautiful green mound inside. It contained flan, chrysanthemum and turnip mousse, as well as cubed turnip, sprinkled with wasabi leaves. Turnips were sourced from a local farmer. 4. Charcuterie Bologna Sausage, venison, pork pate de campagne, bacon. The bacon had a rich and excellent flavor. 5. Soft-Boiled Egg and Tamogi Mushroom Soup Impressive that such a flavorful broth could come from tamogi mushrooms. 6. Pork Loin and Belly with Tomato Pickle Sauce The loin was perfectly pink and tender. The zucchini was incredibly flavorful. Served with garlic scapes. 7. Vinegar and Herb Sorbet Made from fermented false acacia with mulberries and fraises des bois picked from the nearby mountains. 7. Free-Range Chicken from Chicks Raised in the evening. French-origin Poulet Noir. Bone-in, with a wild taste. The flavor and texture unique to free-range chickens. The crispy sear was delicious. 8. Yubari Melon Soup Yubari melon soup with Kikuchi Farm milk ice cream. An outstanding combination. Even though Yubari melon and milk ice cream are common ingredients, the origin makes a remarkable difference, creating a delightful dish. 9. Tea Hibiscus, Rose, Lavender Bread made with mashed potatoes. Served with Sapporo yellow onion skin tea. Before leaving, I was shown the livestock farm. There were one male and five female sheep, like a harem. They were in the middle of their meal. The giant black pig also rushed in from the outside to greet us, leaving us in awe of its massive size. I truly felt the potential of Hokkaido, nurtured by the bountiful land.