Katatsumuri is a renowned restaurant located deep in the mountains of Gifu's Yamanaka City.This reservation-only establishment specializes in local cuisine and wild plant dishes. The owner, Shigeto Shimizu, personally ventures into the mountains to gather seasonal wild vegetables and mushrooms, combining them with game such as bear, boar, and venison, as well as river fish to create exquisite dishes.The greatest charm of this restaurant is that the menu is determined by what is freshly harvested that day. Unlike typical high-end restaurants that source premium ingredients from across the country, the focus here is on what can be found in the surrounding mountains and rivers.For example:* Game meats like bear, boar, and venison* Wild mushrooms* Mountain vegetables and herbs* River fishParticularly, the selection of wild mushrooms and mountain vegetables changes significantly with the seasons, making it fascinating to experience completely different dishes in spring, summer, autumn, and winter, even at the same restaurant.On this Saturday night, I visited with a companion, and we happened to have the place to ourselves, possibly due to the forecasted typhoon. Chef Shimizu and the staff shared various stories, including how he forages for wild vegetables and mushrooms, and even the process of skinning the meat he receives from hunters, which truly brings home the feeling of being connected to the source of our food.
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