In the season when young leaves gleam in the early summer sunlight, we bring you fresh water shield (junsai). Served in a dashi broth, subtly enhanced with citrus, the dish offers a bursting texture and smooth finish. The cockles (torigai), sourced from Kyotango, are lightly seared with their livers intact. Enjoy their inherent sweetness and the crisp scent of the seashore.
Read more ＞

Ripe black figs and ayu (small freshwater sweetfish) filled with roe, the perfect balance of sweet and savory. The textures of the dish delight just the same: flaky ayu, grilled over charcoal to perfection, and figs smooth and melting.
Read more ＞

Stroll around Kyoto in July and you’ll find dumpling-shaped talismans hanging on doorways, marking homes as “Descendants of Somin Shōrai” (蘇民将来之子孫也). A nod to the legend of a poor man who offered food to a god disguised as a weary traveler and received generous blessings in return, the talisman is said to offer protection from disease and misfortune. Food can improve one’s quality of life, just as the character 食 suggests. What better reminder than a dish to celebrate the summer harvest, carefully nurtured and free of pesticides: sea urchin and tomatoes from Umemoto Farm in Kyotango blended together in a chilled soup.
Read more ＞