清家一郎
7/20 "Ginza Rekan" (Tabelog: Top 100 Restaurants) is a super long-established restaurant founded in 1974. The past head chefs include big names like the first chef of "Chez Ino," Chef Inoue, and the chef of "Ginza Totoki," Chef Tojiki... And last night, Chef Takara from "L'Affinage" was also one of them. Sitting alone in the sophisticated space that exudes the history of Japanese French cuisine, entrusting yourself to the refined service of the waitstaff is... very comforting... ★ Amuse-bouche from Toyama Prefecture, Kurobe City, Yoshida Kogyo Goat Farm... Goat milk yogurt, rosemary-flavored watermelon jelly, goat cheese La Capra's sablé ★ Marinated squid and Wakayama ayu fish with tapenade, pistachio oil, microgreens. Tapenade is a paste made with black olives, anchovies, olive oil, and herbs... It's delicious even when eaten with bread, of course... The crispy fried ayu fish, while decent as it is in Japanese cuisine, transforms into an exotic flavor when generously coated with tapenade... ★ Terrine of Bresse chicken and foie gras, white peach compote, white balsamic reduction. It was a beautiful terrine... Admiring it for a moment before tasting the Bresse chicken, the unmistakable sweetness fills the air... The combination of Bresse chicken and foie gras is perhaps a first for me. The subtle sweetness of Bresse chicken and the allure of foie gras complement each other perfectly... Adding white peach to the mix creates a beautifully harmonious and glossy experience that tickles my tongue, nose, and brain... Opening a bottle of wine with a sense of satisfaction, the young sommelier pours with a smile, saying, "You seem to enjoy wine." ★ Pan-seared Japanese flounder "ainame" with artichoke barigoule. "Ainame" is a high-quality white-fleshed fish. When used in Japanese cuisine, it offers a delicate and refined taste, but today's dish, with its crispy seared skin, presents a slightly wild flavor... And from here, did the young sommelier take a liking to my drinking habits?... The wine selection expanded to two varieties... Initially presented blind without showing the bottle... With a smile, the sommelier asks, "Which one do you prefer?" I chose the left glass and said, "This one!" It was "Puligny-Montrachet, Les Referts," and the sommelier smiled... The wine that followed had a fantastic development... ★ Pan-seared domestic crossbred beef fillet with summer vegetable sauce, Béarnaise. The choice was between "summer deer" and "crossbred beef." Revealing that I visited Chef Takara's restaurant last night, I opted for the crossbred beef as I had the summer deer yesterday. Crossbred beef is characterized by robust red meat flavor and a healthy amount of fat... Two varieties of red wine were served this time without the blind tasting... As I enjoyed them with peace of mind, the sommelier poured a third glass of red wine. After a sip, I was asked, "How is it?" I replied, "It's excellent," and the bottle brought over was... none other than... "Château Mouton Rothschild 1989." The wine, wonderfully matured, overwhelmed me with its complex aroma and glamorous taste... ★ Cheese selection. The lineup of cheeses was fantastic... My choices were Brie de Meaux, Shime, and Epoisses... ★ Summer orange sorbet, champagne jelly, lemongrass aroma ★ Apricot compote and shiso brûlée, almond ice cream... (Forgot to take a photo) ★ Herbal tea & petit fours As usual, enjoying the dessert without saying a word... Just smiling and having fun... Of course, Sauternes was also served... Additional...ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー As time passed, the seats filled up... Before I knew it, it was fully booked!... Truly a prestigious grand maison. Lastly, they lined up all the wines I had today, which was a bit moving... Such a stylish service...