ふにふに123
I used ISEPAN for the first time in a year since last year. Located in a quiet residential area on the south side of Kawagoe Kaido in Narimasu, when you open the door of a signless shop, you will find a glamorous separate space! (*´ω`*) Regardless of my favoritism, this is the number one Italian restaurant in this area, and the interior is bright and stylish. I have known this place since it operated under the name "La Fenice" at the north exit of Narimasu Station before moving to its current location, so I have a lot of attachment to this place that I can't casually call it a legend... Owner chef Iwai is as cheerful and friendly as ever, and the banter with the staff Kaneko, who joined in October last year, creates a naturally bright and warm human atmosphere that is lovely (*´ω`*) I have used various Italian restaurants, but the character of this place stands out in a refreshing way. The conversations with the staff are enjoyable, and the food is delicious! It exudes the vitality that makes you think, "This is how Italian should be!" The taste, atmosphere, and later the price all come together... It embodies such a concept. This time, I chose the special course [7 dishes, 6,500 yen + tax/person]. ■1. Croccante of prosciutto with walnut and cheese terrine The terrine is free of any odor, with the nutty aroma of walnuts accentuating its soft yet robust flavor. Thinly sliced prosciutto using a manual slicer (made in Italy) in the kitchen, served with strawberries, allows you to enjoy a refreshing texture (o^^o) (*´ω`*) Olive powder was sprinkled on top. ■2. Foie gras cooked at low temperature with Amazon cacao, passion fruit espuma The foie gras has no odor. The combination of the bittersweetness of Amazon cacao and the acidity of passion fruit creates a wonderful flavor fusion in your mouth (^^) The espuma foam does not last long, so I enjoyed it immediately. ■3. Italian white asparagus sautéed with squid ink and green pea sauce Based on the taste of a restaurant in Italy where Iwai trained in the past. The white asparagus has no bitterness and is mild. The strong aroma of Italian white asparagus, which has less moisture compared to Japanese ones, combined with the slight bitterness of squid ink slices, creates a delightful accent (o^^o) ■4. Tartare of sweet shrimp with Toyama firefly squid, kumquat, and rapeseed The colorful dish is vibrant. The sweetness of both boiled and raw firefly squid spreads in your mouth, and the combination with citrus flavors is refreshing! (*´ω`*) The raw firefly squid was a first for me, but it has only recently become available due to logistics issues. The fishy aroma brought out by the rich taste lingers in your nose. ■5. Focaccia di Recco Here comes the signature dish that is also the namesake of the restaurant! (^^) A traditional dish from the village of Recco in the Genoa province of Liguria, Italy, dating back to the late 12th century. I enjoyed it by hand, with rare Stracchino cheese sprinkled on top, baked at 340°C with a rough fire. You will be captivated by the rich aroma and refreshing acidity of the cheese. Since there are no other ingredients besides cheese, the taste of Stracchino cheese stands out even more! (*´ω`*)♡ ■6. Iwate beef steak with goat cheese and Malo blue sauce The richness of goat milk that follows the umami of beef was exquisite! (*´ω`*)☆ The subtle saltiness is an accent. ■7. Coffee & dessert The dessert served after coffee was Pistachio Zucotti, which is refreshing for winter (^^)♬ Zucotti, made with a dough that you can feel the mass, combined with pistachio, white cheese, and white chocolate, has a beautiful Tiffany blue color (o^^o) The crunchy texture of Zucotti and the taste of the cream go well together! (*´ω`*) It is said to be a recipe from a three-star restaurant where the owner worked during his time in Italy. Fluffy and perfect with espresso after a meal. ------------------------------------------- The drinks include Italian beer, wine, Japanese sake that goes well with Italian food, soft drinks, etc., and the variety of pairings will delight your taste buds (*´ω`*)