It's been a while since I visited "Kizaki"! On this day, my wife and I bought bamboo shoots and mountain vegetables in Tsukigase, then stopped by the Nanshankyo Michi-no-Eki on our way back before heading to Kizaki. When we arrived, we noticed that the freezer full of game meat was gone and replaced with a refrigerated case. Inside, we found packs of boar meat, duck meat, and various types of offal. I was specifically looking for boar meat and venison sashimi. I had tried the boar meat before and found it to be slightly gamey and delicious, while the venison sashimi was refreshing, tender, and without any strong flavors. I asked the staff for these items, and they brought them out for me. I also had the boar meat sliced. I purchased the venison sashimi, smoked venison, sliced boar meat, and some beef offcuts. I also bought some croquettes, which I love from this place. We also got some beef bento boxes. We enjoyed the bento boxes in the car, and they were delicious with a hint of sweetness from the beef. For dinner, we cooked the boar meat and mountain vegetables we bought earlier, including tempura, stir-fry, rice, and more. The boar meat was flavorful and different from pork, and the venison sashimi was tender and delicious. We enjoyed it with some wine. The remaining beef offcuts were made into gyudon by my wife. The venison sashimi was also enjoyed with ginger soy sauce, which mellowed out any gamey flavors. The smoked venison was ordinary, and the game meat in general offers a unique taste that you don't get from everyday meats. Overall, it was a delicious meal.

I visited a tea plantation in Wazuka Town, Kyoto Prefecture, where cultivation began in the Kamakura period. While cycling through the town on a pleasant spring day, I noticed a lot of fur hanging on the roadside! Upon closer inspection, I realized they were wild boars, next to a butcher shop. I went inside and learned that they butcher natural boars here. I purchased 100g of recommended thigh meat for 1000 yen for a peony hot pot. The beautifully fatty boar meat, along with the special miso, winter mushrooms, green onions, and ginger, created a delicious peony hot pot! I plan to finish with Chinese noodles.

I found a hidden gem of a game meat shop in the mountains of southern Kyoto that I didn't want to open up too much about. This shop is so authentic, which is rare. I discovered it after visiting Yoshisho-an for soba and the national treasure Joruri-ji temple. Located deep in the mountains of Wazuka town, this butcher shop is addictive once you visit. They sell wild boar that they personally butcher. A true meat shop indeed. They not only offer wild boar meat, but also a small selection of deer and duck. They even have a variety of ham and sausages made from game meat. What surprised me was the sight of wild boar hides casually hanging to dry in the courtyard next to the shop, with chunks of meat still attached. You can even see the noses and ears. It might look pitiful, but it's the same as wearing a fur coat. There seemed to be about enough for 10 boars, but the owner casually mentioned, "Maybe it's for advertising." The owner taught me how to distinguish good and bad wild boar meat. The difference in taste and tenderness of the meat depends on factors such as gender, size, and age. However, the most important factor is the "skill of the hunter," according to the owner. Indeed, I remembered a program on NHK called "Professional" that featured a bear hunter, who said, "When aiming with a gun, target the neck. If you hit the organs, the blood will spoil the meat." As someone who consumes animals like cows, pigs, and chickens, avoiding killing is a matter of life and death. But it's not often that you get to see the actual scene. It was quite a shocking experience. After sampling the owner's recommended wild boar meat, he kindly said, "This is delicious and reasonably priced." The meat had a beautiful balance of lean and fatty parts, which is the hallmark of wild boar meat. The owner also shared tips on how to make a delicious wild boar hot pot using their miso broth. The hot pot was indeed flavorful, thanks to the owner's miso broth. The selected wild boar meat was so tasty with its perfect balance of lean and fatty parts. I think wild boar hot pot will be a hit when entertaining guests at home. I'm thrilled to have discovered this great meat shop. Thank you for the delicious wild boar meat.

The other day, I drove around the area of Kazusa and stopped by a shop I hadn't visited in years. Although it looks like a regular butcher shop, they also have dried furs of boar and bear, indicating that they offer game meat as well. Inside the shop, in addition to the meat showcase, there is a large freezer case filled with various frozen game meats and processed products such as boar, deer, and duck. Just like last time, I explored the contents and purchased a few items. ・Venison simmered in mirin, which is very sweet and almost like canned food. However, the sweetness overpowers everything else, and you can't really taste any ingredients used to eliminate the gamey taste (like sake or ginger). It's quite a challenge to achieve a sweet yet tender and non-gamey flavor, but this dish is very well-made, thanks to the quality of the ingredients. ・Boar meatball flavored with ginger and shiso, giving it a refreshing and flavorful taste. Despite being lean, it's not dry, and it doesn't fall apart easily while cooking. You can enjoy the clear umami of the lean meat, making it very delicious. It pairs perfectly with a soft-boiled egg, enhancing the richness of the dish. ・Fatty tekkadon with a chewy texture on the wall part and a soft, flavorful fat with a clear sweetness and a sharp richness. There is no sign of oxidized or poorly stored fat, allowing you to truly enjoy its deliciousness.

There is a butcher shop called "Kawachiya"~ located on the route from National Route 163 through Wazuka Town towards Shigaraki, where you can't miss the sight of drying wild boar fur. I have been a customer here for about 20 years. I love Shigaraki, and whenever I go there, I always make sure to stop by this shop. My must-buy items are the homemade roast ham and homemade bacon. They are absolutely delicious. Of course, I also buy beef as it has a wide variety and is reasonably priced. This shop is known for handling natural wild boar meat, which is truly delicious. You can also find deer meat, duck meat, and pheasant meat here. The deli section is well-stocked on weekends. This time, I purchased beef, homemade roast ham, and homemade bacon. Once you try the ham, you won't forget its taste. It's on par with the ham from a famous chain store but at a better price. I highly recommend it.

After going to eat deer for lunch, I visited this place known for wild boar meat, but they also serve delicious beef and ham. Today, I tried their croquette, which is currently my favorite. I bought some domestic beef tendons, which are hard to find in the neighborhood lately. I made simmered tendons as a side dish for rice, and it was perfect! I also bought some seasoned grilled meat on sale, which was high-quality meat with marbling. My family devoured it in an instant. The homemade bacon was also delicious. I will definitely visit again when I am in the area.

It's a delightful gift. A premium wild boar meat gift from the specialty store Inoshishi Kizaki. High-quality wild boar meat that even luxury Kyoto restaurants desire. Carefully selected from wild boar caught by a dedicated fisherman, then quickly frozen. They claim it remains delicious even after thawing at home. The meat becomes tender when simmered, with a rich broth enhancing the flavor even more. I can't wait to try this. I'll make a wild boar hot pot right away. The meat is indeed tender. I don't taste any unique wild boar flavor. The included "special wild boar hot pot miso" from the store must be enhancing the meat's flavor even more. This is delicious. I can't stop eating. Even the kids are enjoying it. I've never had wild boar meatballs before, but the flavor is rich. The meatball is packed with the essence of wild boar. It's exquisite. Lastly, I'll finish with ramen. The miso soup infused with wild boar essence. A stamina-packed hot pot that warms you from the inside out! I'm sure I can tackle the year ahead with this. Winter's luxurious hot pot is definitely the wild boar hot pot! It was delicious! Thank you for the meal.