moiutya
The stifling hot days continue. It feels like midsummer even though it's early summer. My body is tired. I decided to visit this restaurant to enjoy some delicious food and cool off. It's a traditional Japanese restaurant located in Horikawa Marutamachi. The entrance is connected to the building by a narrow alley, giving it a charming atmosphere. Since I was dining alone, I was seated at the counter. I had already reserved the 5,500 yen course in advance. I started with a glass of Kyoto's dry wind (Anaze) Junmai Ginjo sake. It was served with an appetizer consisting of minced green pepper, Tosazu jelly, tomato, and water shield. The green color of the dish with the water shield floating on top was beautiful. The slight bitterness of the green pepper and the acidity of the Tosazu vinegar created a refreshing combination. The smooth texture of the water shield was enjoyable. It was a perfect appetizer for a hot day. Next, a plate of assorted appetizers was served, including simmered green plums, hydrangea leaf, frog cucumber, shrimp sushi, small taro potato, and simmered sardines with plum. The simmered sardines with plum paired well with the sake. The shrimp sushi had a unique flavor with snowflake cabbage as the rice. Following that, sliced raw sea bream from Awaji was served with Asatsuki soy sauce. The dish was meant to be enjoyed with just the Asatsuki soy sauce, without wasabi. The sea bream with Asatsuki soy sauce had a refreshing taste with the aroma of green onions followed by the rich flavor of the aged sea bream. The Asatsuki soy sauce complemented the white fish well. I continued with a second plate of assorted sliced raw fish, which included sea bass, Kanpachi, and grilled squid, accompanied by mackerel sushi. The sea bass and squid were tasted with both Asatsuki soy sauce and regular soy sauce. The squid was better with Asatsuki soy sauce, while the sea bass was refreshing with wasabi and soy sauce, perfect for summer. The mackerel sushi was vinegary and tangy. The grilled octopus and zucchini with paprika koji sauce, eggplant tempura, red konjac, and bracken rice cake were served as the grilled dish. The half-cooked octopus was delicious with the paprika sauce, enhancing the umami flavor. The simmered dish consisted of a tea leaf-wrapped tofu skin with Asatsuki bean paste and duck breast. The duck breast was delicate yet full of flavor, a standout dish. The fried dish included conger eel, young corn, long green pepper, and corn tempura. The young corn was sweet and tasty, along with the conger eel. The long green pepper had a pleasant bitterness. The vinegar dish featured grilled young sweetfish with a Nanban marinade, winter melon, lotus root, and thickened sauce. The winter melon and thickened sauce had a lively and refreshing flavor. The meal was completed with steamed white rice, miso soup, and pickles. The rice was perfectly cooked, with a sweet taste. The pickles included kombu and cabbage, dried sardines, and the restaurant's special dried fish with sansho pepper.