A薪火 Italian restaurant where you can enjoy the delicious flavors of Shinshu.I've been curious about this place since it has won the Tabelog Bronze Award multiple times.It's quite close to Kofu.A foodie friend offered to drive, so we went there! (*'▽')Yay! ◼️ Reservations,We made a reservation, but it seems relatively easy to get one. A few months in advance should be fine.◼️ The restaurant,Features a counter and table seating centered around a wood fire. It's a very calm and stylish space. While it’s chic, it doesn’t feel urban, creating a lovely atmosphere.Also, the high ceiling adds to the sense of openness.◼️ The staff,A friendly lady who was quick and thorough in her explanations.I also had a chance to chat with the owner at the end, and he seemed very humble and nice.◼️ Crowdedness,There were two other groups.◼️ Customer demographics,An elderly couple who have been here a few times and a man dining alone. You can come here solo!◼️ Menu,There is only one course available, which is the same for lunch and dinner.◼️ Drink menu,They offer Shinshu wine pairings, non-alcoholic pairings, local beers, and various non-alcoholic drinks.◼️ Pricing,Course: JPY 17,600Shinshu wine pairing: JPY 9,800Yaiyari Pale Ale: JPY 900+ Service charge?Total: JPY 33,550◼️ Selection,You can choose from four types of coffee.◼️ Serving time,It took about three hours.↓ Impressions ↓● Naturally aged prosciutto made at the foot of the Yatsugatake mountains.Contains Masumi sake lees.It’s salty yet not overwhelmingly so, and it melts in your mouth. The flavors are superb.● Asparagus / Wild SweetfishSweetfish from the Tenryu River, topped with vinegar and Jersey milk cheese.Crispy, fluffy, and juicy. If I hadn’t been told it was sweetfish, I wouldn’t have known it was so mild and easy to eat. The combination with the milky, creamy sauce is fantastic.▼ Cabernet Franc SparklingThis seems to be a special wine made for ca'enne by the Mizukake Brewery.It has a unique sweetness and umami that is delightful.● Yatsugatake spring water trout / Azumino caviarFlavored with wood fire. Served with lettuce and snap peas. Azumino caviar.The aroma of the wood smoke is pleasantly fragrant.Simply delicious. The caviar has a mild saltiness that enhances the ingredients.▼ PG / MT Blanc 2024A wine with a transparent sweetness and pleasant acidity, with a very clean umami. This is delicious.● BreadToasty and crispy.Baked over wood, so it has a wonderful aroma.● Iizuna duckGrilled with straw. Served with mountain udo and a wild herb called koyomena.With a white sauce and fig sauce.The duck is tender and very pleasant. It’s the best.This dish captures the essence of the mountains with its sauces and herbs.▼ J's Vineyard Rosblanc NVDespite its red wine-like color, it has a light rosé-like mouthfeel. The crisp acidity cuts through the duck's fat beautifully.● Iwana (char) / Wild garlic / KaleOil flavored with pine new shoots.Soup and miso-pickled taranome (wild vegetables).This char has no bone at all! It’s fluffy and moist! The aroma of the oil is wonderful.▼ MIZUKAKEW BLANCIt’s a Riesling. Quite rare.It has a floral sweet aroma, yet the aftertaste is refreshing. The sweetness is light and pairs well with the delicate umami of the char.● Shinshu wheat / Kairi chickenBraised Kairi chicken with a sauce made from morels harvested from the garden.Freshly made flat pasta.The flavor of the chicken, the umami of the mushrooms, and the cheese combine with the pasta, which is not chewy but has a nice bite.So delicious!▼ Mimakigahara 2023_CWith a mineral feel and iron-like nuance, this wine perfectly complements the robust umami of the Kairi chicken.● Okaya silk eelPrepared in a kabayaki style with a blueberry sauce.It has a fluffy texture unique to local grilling, and it’s very delicious.Despite being blueberry, it truly evokes the taste of kabayaki. This was surprising.It pairs well with celery.▼ J's Vineyard 2023 SentireWith a balanced acidity and fruitiness that doesn’t tire you out, it naturally complements the sweet and salty kabayaki flavor.● Jersey beef from Makigusa MinemuraBeef aged for a month.With Mars whiskey sauce.Salted pepper.Onion puree.First of all, the meat is incredibly delicious! And the pepper is so good that I could drink it on its own. Truly the star of the meal. Absolutely the best!▼ Experience 2023From a place called Vilezon Note in Ueda.It has a calm flavor reminiscent of Bordeaux. The tannins are gentle, and the balance with the fruitiness is excellent, making it perfect for the Jersey beef.● Buckwheat flour from Yatsugatake / Bamboo shootsBuckwheat pasta, nameko extract, bamboo shoots, goat's milk, and sansho pepper aroma.It has a milky sauce yet retains the aroma of buckwheat. It’s pasta, but it tastes like soba. So delicious.● Black wood / StrawberryStrawberries are incredibly delicious with a sauce flavored with black wood.● Wild strawberries / Yomogi / Black sesameEverything is carefully crafted, resulting in a deep and wonderful flavor.Overall☆It was amazing!!Each dish was filled with the essence of Shinshu, and the wine pairings were perfect. Before I knew it, three hours had flown by.I would love to visit again in a different season.This is one of the top Italian restaurants around Yatsugatake!♪Tabelog rating at the time of posting: 4.14Number of reviews at the time of posting: 130Number of saves at the time of posting: 10,298 Less