PART I: As I’ve been catching up on one year+ overdue posts🫣, I thought about which meal I would most want to enjoy again. The answer is SOWER! 🍂
In fact, everyone who’s asked me for a recommendation in Kansai knows that this restaurant is my reflex response because it is a truly transportive and ridiculously delicious dining experience🙌🏻! Shiga has long been one of my favourite destinations for sake and gastronomy adventures, but @coleman__griffin , Kathy and the collective team at SOWER are doing something really special that is totally worth the detour🥰. The restaurant is located within the L’Hotel du Lac, nestled between the lush mountains and expansive shoreline of Lake Biwa — I highly recommend booking one of the private guest villas so you can fully immersing yourself in this unforgettable, Kohoku region inspired culinary journey. 🏔️🐒🎣🐗🌿🌰🦐🍶

https://restaurantsower.com/en/
菅浦産手長海老 🦐🥂
Sugaura freshwater shrimp
Pairing: José Michel & Fils Brut Tradition

椎茸、鴨のハム、ベルガモット 🍄🦆
Shiitake, duck ham, bergamot
Pairing:初桜 晴 純米 日本晴 60%精米 火入 (安井酒造場・滋賀県)
Hatsu Sakura ‘Hare’ Junmai, 60% Nihonbare, Hiire [Pasteurised] (Yasui Shuzōjō・Shiga)

蓮子鯛、グリーントマト、塩漬けチリ 🐟🍅🌶️
Crispy renkodai (yellowback sea bream), green tomato, salted chili

根菜、黒ニンニク、アマゴの卵 🥔🧄🧡
Roots, black garlic, Amago (red spotted trout) roe
Pairing: 不老泉 山廃純米吟醸 うすにごり 生原酒
Furosen Yamahai Junmai Ginjō Usu-Nigori [slightly cloudy] Nama Genshu [unpasteurised, undiluted] (上原酒造・滋賀県)

鰤、卵黄、春菊 🎣🥚🌼
Yellowtail, egg yolk, chrysanthemum
Pairing: Finca La Despeinada Zombie

甘鯛、白菜、蕪 🐟🥬
Amadai, grilled cabbage, turnip
Pairing: Les Grandes Vignes Pin’Eau de Loire

美浜産鹿、茄子、エゴマ 🦌🍆🍃
Mihama deer, aubergine, egoma [ a shiso varietal]
Pairing: 2019 Celler Jordi Llorens ‘Blankeforti’ Garnacha Negra - Cabernet Sauvignon

鳥山椒 🐓🌱
Chicken sansho tsukune

栗と猪のご飯 🌰🐗🍚
Chestnut and wild boar rice
Pairing: 寿々兜　熟成三年古酒 (望月酒造・滋賀県)
Suzukabuto Jukusei Sannen [3yr aged] Koshu (Mochizuki Shuzō・Shiga)

無花果、塩アイス、山椒 🍦🌱🧂
Fig, salt ice cream, sansho oil

柿と生姜 🫚
Persimmon & ginger

最後の一口 🍪☕️
Last bites. Shiga bancha tea cookie, mochi covered with burdock coated sesame seeds Less