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During the slightly early summer vacation in August 2020, I visited a high-end restaurant called Fruit Chef. This place is known for its parfaits made with fresh fruits sourced directly from producers. The restaurant has limited seating to begin with, and due to the pandemic, they have implemented a system where customers are rotated every 40 minutes with a restriction on the number of people allowed inside, making it even more exclusive. I heard that reservations for weekends can fill up quickly as soon as they open. Despite knowing this, I decided to visit the restaurant without a reservation on a weekday. I couldn't get in right away, but luckily I was able to secure a spot for the next time slot. Later I found out that I was lucky.
I arrived at the restaurant around 3 pm, and due to social distancing measures, each table could only accommodate one person. With only four tables available, the maximum number of people allowed in at once is four. It's definitely better to make a reservation in advance.
On this day in August, the parfait featured peaches, mangoes, and musk melon. Unfortunately, the musk melon parfait was already sold out, so I decided to give peaches another try, even though I had a disappointing experience with them last year. Despite the peaches not being great this year as well, the ones used at Fruit Chef had a sugar content of over 14 degrees, so I was hopeful.
I tried the Peach Parfait (¥3000) made with a white peach variety called "Natsuko" from Ichinomiya. The parfait had slices of Natsuko peaches on top, along with fresh cream and vanilla ice cream. The peach juice was delightful, oozing out from the soft flesh. The sweetness of the peaches was indeed remarkable this year. The cream and vanilla ice cream were not overly sweet, allowing the fruits to shine. The peach jelly at the bottom enhanced the peach flavor, and the lemon sorbet added a refreshing touch.
I also tried the Mango Croissant Sandwich (¥1200) as a takeaway since I couldn't have mango in the parfait. The croissant had a light brown color, allowing the fruit to be the star. The mango was juicy and sweet, complemented well by the fresh cream. It was a delicious croissant sandwich that showcased the flavor of the fruits.
Although the prices are on the higher side, it's justified by the high-quality fruits they source. This restaurant is quite competitive, but I would love to visit again to try the Shine Muscat grapes in season.