Kyoto Restaurant ‘Hatakaku’ – Botan Nabe (Wild Boar Hotpot)

Botan Nabe, or wild boar nabe ‘hotpot’, is a dish commonly found in cold, rural, mountainous regions of Japan today. It may surprise you to learn, however, that it was in fact invented in Kyoto by the founder of Hatakaku, a restaurant founded nearly 100 years ago, located just north of the Imperial Palace. I have been meaning to introduce…
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Dinner at Yoshikawa Ryokan: Tempura Kakiage O-chazuke

The other day I was fortunate enough to be invited for a wonderful tempura kaiseki dinner by some new friends from San Francisco at one of Kyoto’s most famous ryokan inns: Yoshikawa Ryokan. While Yoshikawa Ryokan is a fine place to stay, it is perhaps more famous for its tempura cuisine. Many Kyotoites go there just for tempura dinner. Now,…
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Summer Matsutake Dobin Mushi

Summer Matsutake Dobin Mushi 夏松茸土瓶蒸し Summer Matsutake Dobin Mushi 夏松茸土瓶蒸し
Matsutake Mushroom is synonymous with autumn. Although rare, in early summer it can be had as well and is a favorite among aficionados and gourmets. Last night I got a taste of some at Kichisen, the greatest restaurant in the world.…
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