Tonight, I visited a Michelin one-star Japanese restaurant in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, that truly excites the senses.The counter is made of Kumamoto tatami, creating a warm and traditional atmosphere.The owner, Mr. Hanjou Sakamoto, is the second generation of this establishment. He has a rugged appearance with a scruffy beard, but I was amazed by the freshness of the seafood from the Seto Inland Sea that we got to enjoy! We started with a toast with champagne and a non-alcoholic drink. 1. Appetizer - Soft-shell crab from Sakurai, Imabari, served with new rice.2. Soup - Steamed conger eel from the fishing master Fujimoto in the Kurushima Strait, prepared with a delicate broth.3. Sashimi - Freshly caught fish from Ainanshi: - Kinmedai (red bream), Isaki (grunt), Aji (horse mackerel), and Octopus. - Large eel from Imabari waters. - Shabu-shabu of the beautifully prepared Onikozue from Hojo waters, served with lemon soy sauce, wasabi, Seto Inland sea salt, and sudachi.4. Main Dish - Natural soft-shelled turtle raised in the clear streams of Shikoku Karst, winter melon from Oda Town, and green yuzu.5. Fried Dish - Fried Managatsuo (mackerel) from the Kurushima Strait, served with local fruits, aged sweet potatoes, sansho sauce, and sansho salt.6. Noodles - Somen noodles made with natural sea bream broth from Fujimoto, two-year aged somen, homemade yuzu pepper, and premium seaweed from Mikuni.7. Rice - Award-winning new rice from Uwajima, served with boiled flowers, tempura rice with freshly caught small shrimp from Fujimoto, dashi chazuke with pickles, barley miso soup from Kajita Shoten in Ozu City, and local chives fried in Matsuyama.8. Desserts - Fresh ice cream made from figs from Kuwahara area, and water sourced from the ultra-soft water of Yanagidani Village in Kuishi Highland.With each enchanting seafood dish served one after another, I was filled with excitement and surprise.The conger eel prepared by the fishing master Fujimoto, delicately steamed for six hours at 80°C, produced a bold and flavorful broth that overflowed with umami.Every dish was boldly prepared, leaving nothing to be desired. I fell in love with this restaurant all over again! ❤️❤️❤️It was a great meal!
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