natsushun
Fushimi Inari Taisha is located across the railroad tracks from a road with heavy traffic, where elegant shops can be found. The exterior of the shop exudes sophistication. The menu consists of Stone-Grilled Kyoto Dango x Irori Grill x Hand-Drip Japanese Tea x Anko Gold Powder Ice Cream (1800 yen) only. Upon seating, you will be surprised to see six test tubes lined up in front of you. These contain different types of Japanese tea and blended coffee for the hand-drip beverage, and you can choose one. The staff will pour hot water into the chosen tube, cover it with a lid, let it steep for 2 minutes, and then pour more hot water. The steeping time is measured with a large hourglass. I chose "Omaesama" (deep-steamed green tea) this time, and I eagerly awaited the steeping time. I savored the depth of Japanese tea. The Irori Grill allows you to grill dango, nama-fu, aburaage, and nama-yatsuhashi over charcoal. The dango and nama-fu, grilled to perfection, taste amazing with the special miso dip. The dango, made with Kyoto tofu as a binder, had a chewy yet firm texture. The crispy aburaage was delightful. Unfortunately, the nama-yatsuhashi was undercooked due to a cooking mishap. The Stone-Grilled Kyoto Dango is served in a stone pot with simmered anko. You can choose from 6 types of anko, and we shared the recommended "Amber Mitarashi Anko" and "White Miso Yuzu" between two people. The dango, with a different ratio of Kyoto tofu binder for grilling, was very soft yet held its shape, with a rich rice flavor. The Amber Mitarashi Anko, made with white tamari soy sauce, had a transparent appearance with a strong dashi flavor, resembling more of a meal than a dessert. We enjoyed it with added condiments. The leftover anko was poured over vanilla ice cream. The contrast of hot anko on cold ice cream made for a delightful experience, showcasing the comforting nature of vanilla ice cream. This shop, opened in 2020, shows a strong dedication to ingredients, cooking processes, and creating an atmosphere that naturally makes you want to support it. Leaving the shop, I felt as satisfied as after having a full meal. I am grateful for another day of enjoying delicious food!