Chef Kishiyama's recommended lunch course Price: 2,830 yen - Carrot soup - Focaccia - Nest Terroir salad - Drink - Dessert I had the pleasure of enjoying a healthy lunch course at this restaurant, where a vegetable sommelier carefully selected Kyoto and Ohara's seasonal vegetables and fruits, using the expertise of a former French chef and pastry chef. The rich flavor of carefully sautéed carrots combined with the gentle sweetness of almond milk in the soup was delightful. The focaccia, kneaded with white wine, potatoes, and thyme, had a chewy texture and a wonderful aroma. The "Terroir Salad," meaning "all the natural aspects of the region" in French, was vibrant and lovely. The main course of pan-fried chicken thigh was moist and tender, with a crispy and fragrant skin, perfectly seasoned, and served with a refreshing mozzarella, tomato, and basil sauce. The variety of side vegetables with simple dressings and balsamic sauce enhanced the freshness of the salad. The carrot rapé had a rich flavor with cardamom and cumin, while the whole roasted black zucchini and Shishito peppers surprised with their natural sweetness. The quinoa added a delightful pop texture. For dessert and drink, there were several options to choose from. The desserts, decorated with pistachio, passion fruit, and raspberry sauce with meringue, were elegant and charming. The lemon tart had a crispy and fragrant tart crust, hazelnut and praline cream, lemon cream, sponge, and toasted meringue layers. The contrast between the slightly warm meringue and cold lemon cream was delightful, with a soft, tangy, light, and tropical flavor, perfect for early summer. The vanilla ice cream was rich and creamy. The ginger honey tea, with plenty of ginger, was spicy and warming, with a deep and rich flavor. The carefully selected Kyoto vegetables and refined French techniques used in these dishes bring out the deliciousness of the vegetables, allowing you to relax in the warm, woody atmosphere of the restaurant.

The restaurant was not crowded when I visited around 3 pm on a weekday. There is a parking lot which is convenient. I ordered a croissant and a cafe latte, as well as a Sachertorte and a specialty coffee. The dishes were nicely presented, but the cafe latte and coffee were lukewarm. The cakes were a bit too sweet and slightly hard. However, the warm financier that was served as a complimentary treat was the most delicious item.

To Green Kitchen Suibako in Nagaokakyo City, Kyoto. French chef Kishiyama's "Flower Bouquet-like Pudding" trial event with limited 20 sets released on April 29. The pudding comes in 3 types: 1. Fresh egg pudding from Fukuchiyama, Kyoto 2. Ohara field strawberry and herb jelly pudding 3. Kinkan (kumquat), pistachio, and chocolate pudding. I personally preferred the third one. It has 3 layers with citrus jelly, rich pistachio cream, and light chocolate pudding. Smooth and not heavy. I took a photo at home, and the plate matched well with the image of Suibako.

Today's lunch was at "GreenKitchenSUBACO," a cafe located at the intersection of Kyoto Outer Ring Road and Bunka Center Street in Nagaokakyo City. It seems like the nest box that was previously at Hankyu Rakusai-guchi Station has moved here. There is a parking lot in front of the store, and the bus stop is conveniently located right in front. The new location may be smaller than the previous one. It appears that there are many takeout orders for cakes, possibly due to the location. The monthly lunch menu is vegan and caters to a healthy lifestyle. The weekly lunch menu features a luxurious dish with local specialties such as bamboo shoots, lobster, sea bream, and more. A kids' menu is also available. I decided to try the "Nest Box Terroir Salad" for 1650 yen, which uses vegetables from the Otokuni region. The cutlery provided is high-quality. The chef seems to have experience in French cuisine and patisserie. Since it's a cafe, many people seem to enjoy spending time here, hence the dishes may take a bit of time to be served. The meal is presented on a plate filled with a variety of vegetables and dishes, with bread and soup on the side, resembling a lunch meal from overseas. The focaccia bread is fluffy, and the olive oil is of high quality. The carrot soup is frothy and has an interesting texture, without the typical earthy taste of carrots. The main plate is densely packed with various dishes, showcasing the chef's attention to detail. The salad, made with the chef's pride of using fresh vegetables, includes a variety of vegetables, carrot rapé, and quinoa-like grains. The dressing is light, allowing the natural flavors of the vegetables to shine. The seasonal bamboo shoots are also included. I was initially concerned about the salad being filling enough, but the generous portion of roasted chicken added a satisfying volume to the meal, making it a chicken roast salad. The chicken paired well with the mustard sauce. This cafe, located in an area with few options, offers high-quality cuisine that is worth a visit.

A new cafe opened in Imazato, Nagaokakyo City. It is a relocation of the cafe called "Sohako" that used to operate at Rakusai-guchi Taut. I used to get takeout coffee a couple of times at the Rakusai-guchi location. It seems like they integrated Sohako from Rakusai-guchi and another cafe called "Classicafe" from Imazato. In front of the shop, there are two lunch menu options: 1) Monthly plate for 1250 yen 2) Sohako Terroir Salad with bread and soup for 1500 yen. This time, I ordered the monthly plate. First, salad and soup. The soup was carrot and coconut milk, and it tasted good. Then the main noodle dish. It was pasta with a texture similar to soba, with lots of vegetables on top. Here's the problem: they didn't clear the empty plates from the salad and soup until I finished the pasta and bread. The plates should have been cleared, it's not a good look, it's inconvenient for eating, and it increases the risk of breaking the plates. At that time, the staff didn't seem busy, with only two customers and three staff members. Also, for some reason, there was no water service. You have to ask for water, which is a common thing in Liv-affiliated restaurants. In addition, the same issue with not clearing plates is present in other Liv-affiliated restaurants like AKIRA and Fleur. The appearance is not appealing with dirty plates left on the table. It's hard to focus on the taste when these issues are present.

I ordered my grandson's birthday cake from this place last year as well. It was full of fruit and we were very satisfied. I have already placed an order for today's party. I am looking forward to picking it up soon. I have never had lunch here, but since it is close to my house, I will definitely stop by. Thank you in advance.

Three of us, family and friends, used the restaurant during lunchtime. Although the main focus seemed to be set menus, we were in the mood for a casual lunchtime drink, so we asked the staff if we could also order a la carte items. They said it was okay, but it seems like they may not always accommodate such requests, so it's best to inquire beforehand. We ordered using a barcode scanning system and our food arrived in a reasonable amount of time. The portions were normal as we shared one dish among three of us. The fried chicken consisted of three large pieces, and the croquettes were delicious with two large pieces. The hamburger, on the other hand, seemed simple with no accompanying vegetables and a relatively small portion. The menu was diverse with both Japanese and Western options, providing an enjoyable dining experience. The seating consisted of multiple tables with a comfortable distance between them, creating a relaxed atmosphere. The background music was not too loud, allowing for easy conversation. Overall, it was a pleasant dining experience.