マダム・チェチーリア
We had dinner with a friendly couple we get along with in the same apartment building, and we invited Beatrice, who is turning 4 in April, to her birthday party. The couple also came to check out the party venue at Ebisu Es and loved it, saying it was a fantastic restaurant. This time, Chef Kozene is here, so I wanted to introduce them to the chef. That night, Tokyo Tower was lit up for Valentine's Day, and although the heart shape wasn't facing our way, we could see the beautiful lights through the vinyl-covered windows cut out towards Tokyo Tower. The terrace was reserved for us that night. For dinner, we all have no food allergies, so we left it to the chef to decide the course. I chose the Versace Nero d'Avola wine, which was delicious last time. The antipasto mist featured tripe in the center, surrounded by smoked hirazuki, carpione, prosciutto, and white cabbage, with lentils and salsiccia on the side, representing a regional dish from the northern Italian lake region (famous for Lake Garda trout). Carpione is similar to nanbanzuke, a familiar cooking method for Japanese people, but it has a more complex flavor profile with the nuances of white wine vinegar, spices, and herbs, making it more flavorful than the typical sweet and sour nanbanzuke. The oven-baked pizza that always comes as an appetizer was enjoyed with the carpione, enhancing its deliciousness. The pizza, named after the German statesman Bismarck, who loved steak topped with a fried egg, had black truffles shaved at the table by the chef. The aroma of freshly shaved truffles filled the table, and even Beatrice sniffed with delight. The pizza was topped with plenty of mozzarella, homemade pancetta, runny egg, and black truffles, as well as a slice of Italian roast pork stuffed with herbs, adding just the right amount of saltiness. The pasta was orecchiette, a regional dish from Puglia, with a sauce made by sautéing broccoli rabe in anchovy-infused breadcrumbs, providing a delightful texture and flavor. We unanimously decided to move on to dessert, which was a combination of tiramisu and nut tart served with kumquat compote and gelato. The chef's philosophy of using high-quality Italian ingredients and making everything from scratch was evident in the delicious dishes we enjoyed. Although we wanted to try the meat dishes after dessert, we were all satisfied and ready to end the evening with a sweet note. The next morning, we received a thank-you call saying how delicious and enjoyable the dinner was, and they even sent us a rare Amahei from Ehime as a gift. The Amahei was incredibly sweet, juicy, and refreshing, resembling a seedless, thin-skinned tangerine with a taste close to a ponkan. It was a perfect way to savor the lingering memories of the dinner once again.