Foodle Reviews
in shiga, japan (june’24)
following yukimoto, we drove towards lake biwa to this beautiful estate for a dinner and stay. the restaurant is very focused on sourcing from its surroundings, from ingredients, plates and even some of the wines from its pairing.
started with lightly grilled spring peas with amago roe and pickled sakura from the previous season, a simple sea bream sashimi salad plate with a light touch of ume dressing which i loved. as its ayu season, one of them gems of the summer... More
in shiga, japan (june’24)
following yukimoto, we drove towards lake biwa to this beautiful estate for a dinner and stay. the restaurant is very focused on sourcing from its surroundings, from ingredients, plates and even some of the wines from its pairing.
started with lightly grilled spring peas with amago roe and pickled sakura from the previous season, a simple sea bream sashimi salad plate with a light touch of ume dressing which i loved. as its ayu season, one of them gems of the summer season in lake biwa, was really looking forward to sampling how they’d creatively prepare this widely available summer ingredient. it was fried in a fritter along with bitter herbs, balancing the bitterness of the fish well, so good. one of my favourites of the night was the barbecued zucchini in a hona leaf, with a sabayon dip from zucchini seeds and a homemade furikake. main dish of a local wild deer, served with a deer heart and deer sausage was excellent before ending the savouries with a gohan, which was burdock and heshiko (dried and salted masu).
a long and very substantial menu, with everything unique to its terroir applied with a innovative twist, as well as a super welcoming team and the most beautiful stay, all-in-all making it an extremely worthwhile journey. its also only an hour-ish drive from kyoto, so definitely a place i’d recommend for families or as a quick getaway, especially during the beautiful spring and summer months.
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dinner course: (¥20,000)
✨snap peas, amago roe, sakura
shiitake, dried duck ham, lemon
sea bream salad
✨crispy ayu and bitter herbs
✨bbq zucchini, hoba, biwako furikake
amadai, wakame, watercress
✨wild deer and young alliums
✨burdock and heshiko rice
✨amazake, hassaku, dill
mint, sansho, adoberry
last bites
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would revisit: yes
reservations online
price range pp: ¥10,000-¥30,000
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📍RESTAURANT SOWER
location: 2064 nishiazaicho oura, nagahama, shiga
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#2feastingpigs_shiga
#2feastingpigs_kyoto
#2feastingpigs_japan Less
Fantastic meal and experience @restaurant_sower 🔥🔥🔥 Thank you @coleman__griffin @k_hyesu_jeon and your team for the hospitality 🙏 Amazing work being done in Shiga 🙌
#sower #shiga #tastingmenu #localeverything #destinationrestaurant #worthgoingfurtherfor #thankyou #damngood
On the northern shore of Lake Biwa in the Kohoku region lies the charming @restaurant_sower run by a lovely couple from California - Chef @coleman__griffin and service manager @k_hyesu_jeon! I had met them last year at a culinary retreat in Karuizawa, and finally had the chance to visit them earlier this year. Having trained at @therestaurantmw, @benu_sf and @inuajp, Chef Coleman is reinterpreting Kohoku cuisine at Sower while highlighting... More
On the northern shore of Lake Biwa in the Kohoku region lies the charming @restaurant_sower run by a lovely couple from California - Chef @coleman__griffin and service manager @k_hyesu_jeon! I had met them last year at a culinary retreat in Karuizawa, and finally had the chance to visit them earlier this year. Having trained at @therestaurantmw, @benu_sf and @inuajp, Chef Coleman is reinterpreting Kohoku cuisine at Sower while highlighting local ingredients from the region. From the first dish, we already knew we were in for a good meal with favorites including the shijimi clam, “funazushi”, wild deer and maitake rice. Complimented with the fantastic hospitality from Kathy and team, this is a hidden gem not to be missed when in the area!
Access: complimentary pick up service from Nagahara or Omi-Shiotsu Station
Our menu:
Shijimi Clam, Chinese Cabbage, Spinach
しじみ、白菜、ほうれんそう
Shiitake, Dried Duck Ham, Lemon
椎茸、このハム、檸檬
Crispy Wakasagi, Bitter Herbs, Bergamot
ワカサギ、ハーブ、ベルガモット
Black Bass, Beet Root, Komatsuna, Sesame
プラックバス、ピートルート、小松菜、ゴマ
Salt Baked Turnip, Amago Roe, Funazushi
蕪の塩釜焼、アマゴの卵、鮒ずし
Buri, Chrysanthemum, Egg Yolk, Nanohana
鰤、春菊、卵黃、菜花
Wild Deer, Sunchoke, Kale
野生の鹿、菊芋、黒キャベツ
Maitake Rice
舞茸のご飯
Persimmon, Tomato, Salted Lemon
柿、トマト、塩減けレモン
Pumpkin, Kokuto, Orange
南瓜、黒糖、オレンジ
Strawberry, Kuwasake, Hime Lemon
苺、桑酒、姫レモン
Last Bites
最後の一口
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SOWER
Shiga, Japan
#supermelJapan #supermelKansai Less
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... More
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
Sower 1st visit — 1.5 hours by car from Kyoto, on the northern shore of Lake Biwa. Despite the remote location, this place is definitely worth a visit. By ex INUA sous chef, some interesting creations using only ingredients sourced around the lake area. Loved the the shiitake with duck ham and lemon, and the boar bacon, mountain veggies rice. Looking forward to the next visit! @coleman__griffin •
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#foodgasm #yum #eat #foodpic... More
Sower 1st visit — 1.5 hours by car from Kyoto, on the northern shore of Lake Biwa. Despite the remote location, this place is definitely worth a visit. By ex INUA sous chef, some interesting creations using only ingredients sourced around the lake area. Loved the the shiitake with duck ham and lemon, and the boar bacon, mountain veggies rice. Looking forward to the next visit! @coleman__griffin •
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#foodgasm #yum #eat #foodpic #foodpics #foodphotography #foodlover #tasty #hungry #foodblogger #dessert #foods #cooking #foodies #eating #chef #foodblog #nomnom #delicious #sower #japan #japanesefood #noma #lakebiwa #shiga #日本 #日本料理 #創作料理 #琵琶湖 #滋賀 Less
Coleman Griffin, a young American Chef with stints at The Restaurant at Meadowood and benu in California, had his first job in Japan at Inua, the spin-off of Noma in Tokyo. After Inua closed he had a few short term projects before starting to work on the Sower/Hotel du Lac project. There he created with his partners in a former retreat for NTT employees a wonderful oasis on the shores of Biwako, the largest lake in Japan. There are rooms in the main building but also some individual cottages a short... More
Coleman Griffin, a young American Chef with stints at The Restaurant at Meadowood and benu in California, had his first job in Japan at Inua, the spin-off of Noma in Tokyo. After Inua closed he had a few short term projects before starting to work on the Sower/Hotel du Lac project. There he created with his partners in a former retreat for NTT employees a wonderful oasis on the shores of Biwako, the largest lake in Japan. There are rooms in the main building but also some individual cottages a short walk from it.
The restaurant is mainly a counter seating set up with 2-3 tables for up to four people. The open kitchen has a big open fire pit. The ingredients are sourced mostly local, the restaurant provides you with a detailed map showing all suppliers and partners.
The food follows roughly the Kaiseki sequence of dishes, but always adds a modern twist to it. The flavors are delicious and the execution expertly. The kitchen team seems to work silently in a well rehearsed choregraphie with Chef Coleman often putting the finishing touches to the plating.
Given that this place is open for 6 months and it is the first head chef position for Coleman, the result is extraordinary. I am sure this place is going to be a destination restaurant which will require long term planning for a reservation.
Well done! Kudos to Coleman and his team.
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Sower (@restaurant_sower) is a new spot on the north side of Japan's Lake Biwa. Mother Lake. Local ingredients from the area, like ayu 鮎 and masu 鱒 are found at high end restaurants around Japan, so it's nice to go to the source. Looking forward to see what the next season holds.
Such a pleasure to experience the brand new @restaurant_sower in Shiga prefecture. Situated on the expansive grounds of a hotel beside Lake Biwa, they have access to incredible natural product from the lake and surroundings, as well as nearby mountains and ocean.
Chef @coleman__griffin and team bring a wide range of experience in some of the world’s most notable restaurants. The space makes good use of natural textures, local ceramics, and borrowed scenery out of broad windows.... More
Such a pleasure to experience the brand new @restaurant_sower in Shiga prefecture. Situated on the expansive grounds of a hotel beside Lake Biwa, they have access to incredible natural product from the lake and surroundings, as well as nearby mountains and ocean.
Chef @coleman__griffin and team bring a wide range of experience in some of the world’s most notable restaurants. The space makes good use of natural textures, local ceramics, and borrowed scenery out of broad windows.
For a restaurant only open three days, the level of precision in cooking and service was admirable. Wine parings were thoughtful, balanced, largely natural/low-intervention, and included a few locally made saké as well.
A very solid menu across the board. Everything was quite enjoyable, and the flavors and pace were nicely balanced. I particularly enjoyed the venison with pickled strawberries and a spicy sauce that was quite addictive, the yuba dish, the grilled cabbage, and the okayu at the end.
I’m really excited to see how they evolve, and look forward to returning as the seasons change. Definitely worth the trip. Less
Recommended in Nagahama
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- Tokuyama Zushi (徳山鮓)
- 1408 Yogochō Kawanami, Nagahama-shi, Shiga-ken 529-0523, Japan
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OAD 59Tabelog SilverLL #532
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11 Meals
Address
2064 Nishiazaichō Ōura, Nagahama, Shiga 529-0721, Japan
Phone
+81 749-89-1888