During Golden Week, I really wanted to have a day drink, and my wish just barely came true (laughs). I visited a restaurant called "Tanokuya" in Kyoto, which is a branch of a beloved game meat restaurant in Miyama Town that opened in 2020. We made a reservation the day before and visited at exactly 12 o'clock with my husband for the first time. The lunch service is only available from Friday to Sunday. On this day, the chef was working alone. We ordered the "Chef's Choice Course," a special menu not listed on the regular menu, where you can enjoy rare dishes at a reasonable price. We started with a toast with a draft beer. The first dish was "Warabi no Nitsuke," which was full of seasonal flavors that got me excited right away (laughs). Next, we had "Free-range Chicken Liver Pickled," which was fresh and delicious, with both the eggs and liver being extremely tasty. The flavors were rich and deep. By this point, I had already finished my beer. Then came "Venison Tataki" and "Free-range Chicken Thigh Tataki." They were served one after the other, and we enjoyed them with "Yukinomatsuya" and "Chourodan" sake. The meat was tender and had no particular strong taste. It was just incredibly delicious. We then had "Free-range Chicken Thigh Sansho Yaki" and a tempura of mountain vegetables. The texture was firm and chewy. The mountain vegetables included five types: koshiabura, kogomi, takenoko, takanotsume, and shiitake. When did I start thinking that this bitterness was delicious? Truly a mature taste. The main dish was "Venison Heart Steak," a dish I had never tried before. What a deep and flavorful taste. So tender! We paired it with "Satonoake" black sugar shochu and "Miyama Tanoka's Plum Wine." We finished with "Venison Bolognese," which was not included in the course. Oh, what a happy moment. It felt like a dream. We also ordered "Tamashiba Ice Cream," another first-time experience. The scent of magnolia flowers spread refreshingly. The chef was friendly and created a comfortable atmosphere. They offer a selection of high-quality alcoholic beverages, as well as organic vegetables and water directly sourced from Miyama. Even in the heart of Kyoto, we were able to fully enjoy the deliciousness of Miyama. They also have reasonably priced set meals. I would love to try their dinner menu next time.

Last year, I hardly did any, but this year I will continue with my series. Starting with a straightforward topic, the 2021 Meat & Seafood 30 Challenge, I covered two topics: beef & pork and fish. I also resumed the "Enchanting Pancakes" series along with the "Chicken 10 Challenge," "Roast Beef Bowl for a Week," and "Seafood Bowl for a Week." This week will be a meat-heavy week with unique and impactful meat dishes. Today's feature is venison at "Hunter's & Farmer’s Tanuta" in Kyoto. The venison kebab & sausage lunch costs 1300 yen. Interestingly, this restaurant has something in common with the meat and pancake restaurant I visited. It took me several attempts to finally dine here due to confusion over their operating days.

Enjoying a feast from the great nature of Biyama♡ The owner also goes hunting, and all the ingredients are sourced from Biyama Town at this game specialty shop. The space is wonderful, with tables, chairs, and chopstick holders (made from deer antlers?) all designed with a concept of coexisting with nature. ・Deer Keema Curry 1,100 yen (including tax) (Comes with salad and miso soup) I had heard that game meat is very good for the body, so I was curious about the ingredients, but I was very satisfied with both the taste and portion size!! The deer sausage had a deep flavor that intensified with each bite, and while I had heard that game meat can be a bit peculiar, I didn't mind at all - it was very delicious. The salad vegetables were also delicious on their own, so the salad was juicy and satisfying to eat. This is a restaurant that I would want to visit again and again♪

On a certain Saturday afternoon, we took the Hankyu train to "Kyoto Shijo-Omiya". It was a nice sunny day, with winter coats feeling too hot. We had made a reservation for lunch at a restaurant run by producers, offering their specialty game meats such as venison and wild boar from Kyoto Miyama, as well as freshly picked vegetables. The interior of the restaurant, filled with wood just like the exterior, had a comforting atmosphere. We ordered the "Venison Kebab & Sausage (1,300 yen)" from the lunch menu, and the "Game Meat Sampler Set with Alcohol (1,200 yen)". We started with the "bottled beer" from the set of drinks we chose. The "Venison Kebab & Sausage Lunch" included salad, side dishes, black rice fermented with brown rice, soup, and more. The venison sausage had a tender texture without any strong flavors, and the venison meatloaf with tomato sauce was delicious. The fresh and unique vegetables were plentiful. The free-range chicken dishes and pickles were also tasty. The chewy texture of the rice was addictive, and the soup had a deep and subtle flavor. The "Game Meat Sampler Set" was surprisingly abundant, with items such as roasted venison, duck egg omelette, venison prosciutto, free-range chicken skewers, and fresh Miyama vegetables. The price with alcohol included was a great deal for the variety of dishes offered. Each dish was delicious, with well-balanced seasoning, making it a truly satisfying meal. I may have bitten into a chicken foot for the first time in my life. The food was so delicious that we even had another bottle of beer in the afternoon. It was truly a grateful lunch menu that allowed us to enjoy such a variety of dishes at a reasonable price. There are many other game dishes that I am curious about, so I would love to visit Tanaka again for lunch or dinner. Thanks to the warm hospitality, we had a wonderful time. Thank you for the meal.

I was walking along Omiya Street and came across a shop that had caught my attention before. After searching online, I found out that their main shop is located in Minami-Tanba City, Miyama Town, Kyoto Prefecture, and this is like their flagship store. While there are many shops that specialize in game meat, this one stands out because they don't just sell ingredients, but also carefully prepare the deer, boar, and other ingredients (including vegetables) that they have caught in Miyama. It was my first visit, so I decided to try their trial set. It included appetizers and a drink for 1,200 yen, which was a great deal. The dishes were beautifully presented, and the game meat was cooked in a gentle and not too wild flavor. I then switched to wine and let the staff choose the dishes for me. They prepared a plate centered around deer meat. The small bowl in the top right corner of the image contained deer meatballs and oden, which were delicious. The female staff member serving us was very friendly and made our evening enjoyable. I initially thought the chef cooking behind the counter looked intimidating and quiet, but he turned out to be very sensitive and kind. His personality was reflected in the dishes he prepared. We enjoyed wonderful game meat dishes and finished with cauliflower risotto before leaving the restaurant. Thank you for the meal~

Visited in December 2020. This is a community called Takasho in Ukyo-ku, Kyoto, where they live a self-sufficient life through agriculture, hunting, gathering, animal husbandry, and construction. They have a direct store where you can enjoy game meat harvested in Miyama, even in Kyoto city. I recommend starting with the trial plate with a drink for 1200 yen, which includes 7-8 small dishes made with carefully selected ingredients. After trying the above, I also added some other dishes that caught my eye. The game meat here, including badger, boar, and raccoon dog, is fresh and has no unpleasant odor. With a casual atmosphere and reasonable prices, this place is quite a hidden gem. It's recommended for those who want to enjoy delicious Miyama game meat.

I visited Hunters & Farmers Denka in Kyoto, a restaurant recommended by an acquaintance in the game industry. It is a place where fishermen and farmers provide their produce. Due to COVID-19 precautions, reservations were required. I decided to try the lunch set along with an additional dish for dinner. For lunch, I chose the deer kebab and sausage set. There were also options like deer keema curry and deer cutlet, but I wanted to taste the deer in its original form, so I went with the kebab and sausage. The kebab was topped with tomato sauce and served on a hot plate. The Japanese deer was easy to eat, with a simple and delicious taste. It came with a generous salad, potato salad, pickles, a light soup similar to minestrone, and brown rice. I also had a refreshing clove tea ice cream. The wild boar steak I ordered separately was stir-fried with eringi mushrooms, potatoes, and green beans. It was served with a side salad. The wild boar meat was a bit tough but had a delicious fat content. Although the dishes were served quickly, I feel like this is a place I would like to visit leisurely at night.

This is a restaurant that serves delicious game meat and vegetables from Miyama. I visited for lunch on this day. I ordered the venison kebab and sausage lunch set. The venison meat has a slight gamey taste but no unpleasant odor. The sauce on top is flavorful with spices. The soup and rice were also delicious. Thank you for the meal.