For lunch on this day, we went to GION NISHI STORE, where they recently started offering dine-in service. My husband started with a beer (small bottle for 1000 yen) to quench his thirst, and we both ordered the oxtail curry. We have gotten takeout from here before, but this was our first time dining in. The chairs were comfortable, and the tables were made of solid wood. The staff consisted of two young women. Before the curry arrived, we were served a salad with green leaf lettuce, sliced purple onions, daikon radish, and plenty of dried fish flakes which added a nice crunch. The oxtail curry was served on a elegant plate, with a generous portion of curry on top of lightly seasoned rice, topped with a soft-boiled egg. The egg was cooked to a firm but slightly runny consistency. The curry, which was cooked with tender oxtail, had a familiar and nostalgic flavor without any sharp edges. Breaking the egg and mixing it with the curry made it even milder. The portion size was not too big, making it a perfect lunch option. Although I was tempted by the delicious mango mousse pudding, I decided to save it for another time as I wanted to visit a cafe afterwards. The atmosphere was relaxing, making it a great place to enjoy tea time with friends. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

I always bring chocolates or baked goods as gifts to the geisha photoshoots, and I want to showcase my skills as a food blogger by bringing something that people will say "delicious" to. I like to introduce different sweets from popular shops in Kamakura, Zushi, Hayama, and even Kyoto. I always think about what to bring as a gift right up until the last minute. This time, with Valentine's Day in mind, I came across some chocolates on Instagram that were recommended by Gion Nishijin. Although I have never received their chocolates before, I know their sweets are always delicious, so I decided to include their chocolates as a gift this time. The chocolates came in a plastic container wrapped in washi paper, with two types of chocolates inside - almond and hazelnut. The almonds were coated with bitter chocolate, while the hazelnuts were coated with smooth milk chocolate. Both were delicious, but I preferred the hazelnuts. I'm glad I chose a gift from Nishijin. I also bought some for my friends and myself. I heard that their mango mousse pudding is back in April, so I look forward to visiting again. It was delicious! Thank you!

Today, I visited Gion Nishi, a Kyoto cuisine restaurant located in Gion. It seems to be a popular restaurant that offers kaiseki cuisine by reservation only. I heard that a takeout-only store has opened on the second floor of the restaurant, so I decided to check it out. When I tried to go up to the second floor, a kimono-clad proprietress came out from the first floor and guided me upstairs. On the second floor, there were counter seats, and they are planning to open a cafe in spring 2022. However, they mentioned concerns about the impact of the ongoing semiconductor shortage and the new coronavirus. At the moment, the second floor is a takeout-only store. They were selling items like pudding, miso pickles, and curry roux. A female staff member in a chef's outfit introduced the products to me. The pudding came in plain type and one with seasonal mousse on top. Apparently, at Gion Nishi, the head chef serves pudding he made in a glass at the end of the meal. So, I bought the pudding and took it home. Pudding (Plain): The pudding was packed in a small jar, making it suitable for gifts or souvenirs. It seems like you can enjoy it by pouring the included caramel sauce over it according to your preference. The pudding, made with the finest Madagascar vanilla beans, had a rich and smooth flavor that danced in the mouth. It felt even more luxurious when topped with the caramel sauce. It's a truly indulgent dessert! I'm delighted that you can purchase desserts from Gion Nishi as standalone items!

The shop is located on the second floor in Gion, and when I went up, there was no one there, so I was instructed to go to the first floor to notify the staff. I opened the door nervously and all eyes turned towards me... A staff member in a kimono quickly came out and opened the second floor for me. I ended up buying a pudding (648 yen), a Miyazaki mango mousse pudding (1080 yen), and nagaimo (Chinese yam) noodles (1296 yen). I thought the prices were a bit high, but when I tried them, they had a refined and delicious taste. I also thought it would be nice to use them as gifts for others rather than for myself. They mentioned that they were considering opening a café in the future, which I think would be great. Their wonderful customer service left a lasting impression on me.

Nishi-san is known for delicious food and the handsome head chef and beautiful hostess. Recently, they opened a takeout shop on the second floor of their restaurant. The space is very spacious and has a calm atmosphere. Inside the showcase, there are various items displayed. When dining at Nishi-san, the dessert specialty that comes at the end is a Miyazaki mango mousse pudding, which is incredibly delicious. This dessert is also available for purchase in jars. The jars are a bit heavy, but it's great that they can be carried without spilling even if you have to walk for a while. This time, I bought two jars of the Miyazaki mango mousse pudding (1080 yen each), two puddings (648 yen each), and a corn soup called "tama-shuko" (price forgotten). I put them in a cooler bag and brought them home to enjoy after dinner. The Miyazaki mango mousse pudding is topped with small pieces of mango and has a lovely aroma, rich in mango sweetness in a smooth mousse. Although it's a bit pricey, it's so delicious that I would buy it again. The pudding is also smooth, creamy, and tasty, but both my daughter and I prefer the mango one. The corn soup "tama-shuko" is rich in concentrated corn sweetness. My daughter, who loves corn, was delighted and said it's one of her top three favorite foods. I follow their Instagram account, and I recently learned that they have introduced a new machine and successfully commercialized the chef's curry as a retort product. I plan to try it for dinner on our next homecoming day. Thank you for the delicious meal! It was truly enjoyable.

I bought Miyazaki mango mousse pudding and plain pudding. To put it mildly, they were exquisite. As expected from Nishidaimyo, the sweets at "Gion Nishi" are also outstanding. They also offer various seasonings, tsukemono (pickles), and miso-marinated fish. I regret not buying nagaimo (Chinese yam) noodles. I think it would make a nice little gift. Maybe I should send miso-marinated fish as a year-end gift...