EATspeak

Monday, May 5, 2014

Kushikura... if you must

Speaking frankly Kushikura is not somewhere I'd probably visit again. However, I am posting this for those who find themselves in Kyoto wanting to try some easy Japanese without risk of being misunderstood. This is 'first time visitor to Japan/ don't speak the lingo/ bit scaredy cat and not afraid to own it' foreigner paradise - ie definitely a happy place for the less adventurous. English menu, plenty of room if you are in a larger group, decent enough food (if you aren't too fussy...), booze, yaddah yaddah..

The eatery is clearly used to foreigners/tourists - there were certainly an embarrassing number of them there when I visited. The food is ok, but there's a bit too much pre-prep, without the usual amount of care that would be taken in Japan, for my liking- eg part of my course was some vegetable crudites with a rather decent miso dip - some of the veg had clearly been cut many, many hours if not a day or so beforehand and were so cold and dried out in spots that they were almost frozen. And no - that's not just because they were sitting on ice - everything that was premade had been sitting in the fridge some time - the dishes were cold too.

While the grilled-things-on-sticks (Kushi = stick) were tasty enough I nearly gagged when I saw one of the cooks snip the top of a plastic bag of pre-peeled quail eggs and shoot them into a bowl. This is not what I am used to in Japan - certainly not in Kyoto but this busy business keeps em coming so I guess they are just trying to keep up with demand. I've seen some glowing reviews for this place on other sites - I'm guessing by people who have either had better experiences here ( perhaps in its heyday?) or they are not used to real, honest, well prepared Japanese fare.

So, what I am saying here is if you are travelling with kids, or have really finicky, meat and 3 veg kinda foreigner visitors in town in town you might go/send them here coz they probably won't appreciate the finer offerings of Kyoto town.

The one thing I did love was their painted veggie signposting out the front - and the restaurant is housed in an atmospheric, traditional space.

Here's a link to it on expedia where it is currently no.84 out of 3003 Kyoto restaurants mentioned... hmmmm

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Ryoria Stephan Pantel

Kezako, one of my favourite high-end restaurants in Kyoto closed down last September. I would have been very sad had the chef, the lovely Stephan Pantel, not informed me of the fact he would be opening his own place this year. He wasn't open in time for me to visit in February but opened shortly after so I knew that I'd be visiting in April come hell or high water!

The new space, in a refurbished traditional building, just south of Gosho (the Imperial palace) and opposite the law courts on Yanagibaba street, is gorgeous - a delightful improvement of the former restaurant space (even though it was perfectly lovely!) as there was much more light and dining was all on one level. If you sat upstairs at Kezako you were separated from the action. My favourite spot was, and still is, the counter.

The food was happily still in keeping with the Kezako style. They've even retained their signature dish of foie gras wrapped in nara zuke (daikon pickled in sake kasu for 2 years - it has a deep umami richness and mellow sweetness - perfection with foie gras) served with a tropical fruit sauce - which sounds very 80's to those of us who live in Australia but the flavours just sing together, the sweet fruit acid and perfume from the likes of pineapple and passionfruit makes for a curious but successful marriage.

Sweet but refreshing was this non alcoholic juice made from semillon grapes. The wine selection is small but interesting and I also enjoyed a glass of fine Charddonay.

First course in ode to spring was a type of raw trout from Lake Biwa marintated in Bergamot, earl grey tea jelly, almond crumble, topped with snap pea mousse, garnished with a wild mountain sprig that tastes of green peas and grated dekopon citrus.

The famous Foie gras in Narazuke ( as mentioned above) - the foie gras is wrapped in the pickle and aged for 10 days before serving - sensational. I just can't get enough of this dish.

White bean soup with balsamic jelly and tiny seasonal, whole squid underneath.

Stephan explaining each dish to diners. And a side view of the soup/jelly layers.

Tai (snapper) fillet with nanohana (canola greens) and fresh shiitake stuffed with slow cooked pork leg and ika shiokara (salt fermented squid guts... sounds challenging to the uninitiated but truly this was delicious!)

Hard to resist nicking this great knife - luckily this restaurant is based in Japan where theft is unusual. Stephan - watch out for gaijins with large handbags!

Succulent pork from Kameoka, just west of Kyoto city with Jerusalem artichoke puree, roasted vegetables from Ohara - in the mountains north of Kyoto and a sauce including miso and fuki no tou - the buds of the slightly bitter fuki plant - the stems are also commonly used in season.

Precision and dedication.

Airy Coconut lime mousse on a sable topped with pistachio paste, yuzu miso ice cream and strawberries. Such a wonderful way to end the meal - I was pleased to meet this dish again - it's another favourite of mine and Stephan's ice cream was the inspiration for one of the recipes in my book Zenbu Zen - finding food, culture and balance in Kyoto. Thank you Stephan!

But wait! there's more. Great coffee and perfect, chocolatey, coconutty, very cherry petits fours.

The lunch course, including coffee, was just under 6000yen.

Congratulations Stephan and team - and thank you for yet another wonderful meal.

Jane x

Find the link below:

RYORIA STEPHEN PANTEL

Grains De Vanille

Um. If you are in Kyoto and appreciate a fine dessert....Go here. That is all.

WARNING: Sweet Porn ahead

I chose the milk chocolate, caramelised hazelnut and lemon dome below. It was heaven. One of the best desserts I've thrown down my gullet. And that is saying something. When I move my base back to Kyoto I will need to ensure I don't live anywhere near this shop.

They do a decent cuppa too - variety of teas or coffee - made with as much care as the cakes and desserts.

There are plenty of take out options that don't need to be kept refrigerated - grab yourself a little basket and fill from the wall of friands, financiers, dacquoise, jams etc...