Hyperlocal Tokyo

I stopped by "Yoshizawa" for lunch before watching a movie at Roppongi Hills. It's a sister restaurant of the famous "Ginza Ichiriki" and opened in Roppongi Hills. It's amazing to find such a place within the Hills. It feels so new. The counter has a luxurious feel. From the counter, you can see the custom-made earthenware pot. I could even see matsutake mushrooms in the distance, which made me excited! I had sake for my pre-dinner drink. We toasted with champagne. For the meal, I ordered the lunch course. The appetizer was a clam soup. Next came the soup. It was a luxurious soup with matsutake mushrooms and hamo (pike conger). The clear broth was packed with the deliciousness of seasonal ingredients. This is their famous grilled saury with straw. The fragrant aroma stimulated my appetite. The moist and tender flesh was delicious. I switched to sake. You can choose your own sake cup. I started with Tedorigawa. Next came the grilled silver cod in saikyo-zuke (marinated in sake lees). The silver cod, rich in fat, melted in my mouth with a perfect sear. This is the main dish. It's black sea bass and sesame tofu simmered in a sweet and savory sauce. The turnip sauce warmed me from the inside out. The rice cooked in the earthenware pot was served al dente first. The rice cooked in the earthenware pot for each person was truly exquisite. Of course, you can also enjoy the freshly cooked rice. Pickles and dried baby sardines were served with the rice. You can even enjoy the rice crust made in the earthenware pot. For dessert, I had chestnut mochi. I was able to enjoy a luxurious and elegant time from lunchtime. Thank you for the meal!

I enjoyed a light lunch in a private room, where I could relax. The balance of ingredients, cooking methods, plating, and seasoning was very impressive, and the overall dish was to my liking. There was no excessive presentation, just a sense of being "done right." I appreciate that.

The overall atmosphere was very pleasant, and the meticulous attention to detail made for a truly wonderful space! The aroma of eel and the texture of burdock were both excellent, and the eel and burdock rice was absolutely delicious.

We celebrated a coworker's birthday at Yoshizawa again today. We were lucky enough to get a seat at the counter, which allowed us to watch Yoshizawa-san prepare each dish right in front of us. We also had the privilege of hearing him talk about the dishes, the plating, and the seasonal elements, which added a layer of enjoyment to the already delicious food. It's not cheap, but it's perfect for a special occasion.

I visited once in 2019 and revisited in 2022. It's a Japanese restaurant located in Roppongi Hills. The food is gentle and delicious. I was happy with the take-out rice dish. It's nice to be able to remember it the next morning. The eight-course appetizer is impressive. It's beautiful to look at and you can feel the seasons, which I think is the essence of Japanese cuisine. (Revisited in September 2022)