川井 潤
Invited by a friend who is a movie director, I had a dinner with a TV industry big shot and two other people at a restaurant near Matsumizaka. The location of this restaurant is quite hard to find, especially if you are alone. The interior of the restaurant is a bit dimly lit, with a stylish and trendy atmosphere reflecting the chef's personal preferences. Despite being a hard-to-book place, we found ourselves seated at the counter next to a foreigner who doesn't speak Japanese. It was a mystery how they discovered this place and managed to get a reservation. Furthermore, in the back, there was a famous lyricist sitting. We exchanged greetings as we had worked together in the past. In the unseen space on the opposite side, there were eight people crowded together. Among them was a renowned yakitori restaurant owner who sent a message to us, making us realize we were in a space where notable people gather. The chef presented the ingredients to be used that day, and we toasted with "Hitachino Nest Beer" White Ale. This beer, originally from a sake brewery in Ibaraki Prefecture called Kouno Shuzo, has won gold awards in contests and is well-known internationally. We also enjoyed freshly baked walnut and raisin campagne bread, which was incredibly delicious. It is so popular that they even sell it at a nearby bakery called "PANEVIA." Next, we tried the "Scallop Galette," which was a surprising dish that deviated from our expectations. It consisted of scallops wrapped in a crispy texture and served with aioli sauce containing snap peas, zucchini, and cucumbers, as well as young bean sprouts on top. The combination of textures and flavors was outstanding. We also had the "Hachinohe Tuna Slices and Skewers," which we rolled up with nori, vinegar rice, tuna from Hachinohe, flounder from Takeoka, Chiba, soy sauce, and wasabi. Despite being different from what we anticipated, it was delicious. The "Grilled Eggplant Cold Cappellini" made with white eggplant was gentle and tasty. We also enjoyed the "Mont Saint-Michel Moules" with a complex yet simple and delicious sauce. The meal was accompanied by "Chapata," a crispy and chewy bread, which was also delightful. The "Beef Saute" was tender, and the sauce was flavorful. We also tried the "Mushroom Lasagnette" pasta with a mixture of wild mushrooms, which was smooth and tasty. Adding homemade "Red Hot Oil" with Thai chili peppers enhanced the flavor. We ended the meal with a choice of three desserts: 1) Coffee Jelly with Coconut Pineapple, 2) Yamanashi Peach Ice Cream with Tuile, and 3) Creme Brulee with Passion Fruit. I couldn't resist and had both the peach ice cream and creme brulee, which were both delicious. The peach ice cream had a gentle sweetness with a hint of acidity, while the creme brulee had a strong sweetness that contrasted well with the passion fruit's acidity. Lastly, we had a refreshing herbal tea made with lemongrass and mint, followed by Limoncello, a high-alcohol but refreshing drink, to finish off the meal. Each dish that came out subtly was incredibly delicious.