ヒング
I visited a sheep barbecue specialty restaurant, Sheep Sunrise, in Azabu-Juban, Tokyo, which I had always wanted to visit. The purpose of this gourmet experience was to stay in Tokyo the day before and visit that famous restaurant in Karuizawa the next day. We made a reservation online about a month in advance. The restaurant has about three locations, and we chose the Azabu-Juban location, which specializes in Genghis Khan lamb barbecue. We arrived at the restaurant at the reserved time and were seated. The interior of the restaurant is small, with counter seats and four-person table seats, as well as a single table at the back of the counter. We were seated at the far end of the back. The menu is mainly à la carte, but we also added some items while consulting with the staff to ensure we had just the right amount of food. All the meat is grilled by professional staff, so each dish is cooked perfectly. Let's enjoy Sheep Sunrise! The menu includes a daily special sheep dish, and that day happened to be a lucky day where we could try a comparison of hogget (a sheep between lamb and mutton). Hogget is a rare type of sheep, so I was delighted and felt lucky to have the opportunity to try it. We started with condiments such as coriander, wasabi soy sauce, and minced garlic. The seasonings included a slightly acidic vinegar sauce, pink rock salt, Korean chili paste, and chili oil. Additionally, pickled onions and lotus root in soy sauce were served as palate cleansers. We enjoyed trying three different types of domestic sheep. The meat was mainly seasoned with salt to fully appreciate the aroma and flavor. In between grilling the meat, we also grilled some vegetables, and the staff smoothly served each dish based on our progress. Here are the three types of sheep we tried: - Ishida Menyo Ranch Hogget: grass-fed, shoulder loin with a moist texture and a hint of grassy aroma. - Setana Hogget: grain-fed, loin with a savory and sweet aroma. - Onaka Mambetsu Hogget: vegetable-fed, loin with a juicy texture and a mild aroma. After comparing the three types, I personally found that the Setana Hogget had the best flavor, followed by the Ishida Menyo Ranch Hogget and the Onaka Mambetsu Hogget. The Setana Hogget had a strong aroma derived from grains and a sweet flavor, while the Ishida Menyo Ranch Hogget had the most tender texture and fine grain. This comparison allowed us to appreciate the unique characteristics of each type of sheep. We also tried Shupauro (Mongolian-style salt stew), which had a slightly salty but light and flavorful soup with a hint of sheep fat. We then enjoyed Australian lamb chops seasoned with two types of mixed spices and honey mustard. The chops were juicy and tender, with a refreshing taste in the lean meat and a crispy, sweet, and savory taste in the fatty parts. The professional grilling resulted in perfectly cooked meat with a milky aroma typical of Australian lamb. My personal favorite was to enjoy the lamb chops with the two types of mixed spices. Lastly, we tried yam balls made of natural yam, which had a stretchy texture that was quite impressive. Overall, the experience at Sheep Sunrise was satisfying, and I particularly enjoyed the opportunity to try different types of sheep and appreciate their unique flavors and aromas.