There is a huge recreation area near Satoshi's parents house called Shouzan. When Satoshi was growing up he and his brother would often go to the pool there during the summers.
The property has been reformed a bit and now holds several wedding chapels and party facilities. They also still have the bowling alley, pool, a large Japanese garden, several restaurants and cafes.
After the disastrous
49-day service, Satoshi's mom wanted to make amends with the relatives and have a late lunch after the 100-day service, which will be held at the end of June.
Since we went to visit her on Sunday, Satoshi's brother also stopped by, and she felt it was a good chance to check out Shouzan to see what kind of atmosphere their restaurants had.
When we arrived, Satoshi ran into his classmate, who works there, they chatted for a bit and exchanged business cards.
We then went to the Japanese restaurant, Senjukaku. The restaurant was full for the day, so we weren't able to taste the food or look at the rooms, but this is where we will be eating on the day of the 100-day service. Business cards were exchanged and we were shown to their yuka (summer eating area).
In Kyoto, especially near Kamo River, there are many yuka (literally means floor but are places to eat outside near the river), kind of like a terrace but you sit on the floor.
Shouzan has a kawadoko called Keiryoyuka. Sitting near the river was actually quite cold, but very relaxing.
The restaurant had two types of courses for lunch. One was 4042 yen (about US$40) and another one for 5775 yen (about US$58). Since there was 4 of us, we decided to get two of each and try the different foods from each others course.
The difference in price also meant a difference in presentation and quality of foods.
The first course was appetizers, the photo on the left is the more expensive courses foods. (inside of the shrimp was karasumi (bottarga)--this was my first time eating it and it reminded me of cheddar cheese.)
The next course was the sashimi course.
This was a dish that both courses received.
Next came the fried course, this was only for the more expensive course.
Then came the fish course, a whole ayu (river smelt)--the more expensive course came with a tiny crab and some soy beans.
The rice and soup course came next, the goodies in the soup were different and the kind of tsukemono (pickled veggies) were different--by this point, the waitress was all confused as to who had what course so, the tsukemono got mixed up....
Lastly was the dessert course--wasabi pudding and watermelon (not sure which was for what course, though my first impression of receiving wasabi pudding was that I had lost some kind of bet and had the boobie prize). Surprisingly, this pudding wasn't spicy, but sweet and there was a slight tingle as you ate it.
It was a nice lunch, I think Satoshi's mom enjoyed herself. She was also happy to be able to find a nice place for lunch for the 100-day service.
Shouzan47 Kinukasakagamiishimachi
Kita-ku, Kyoto
Phone: 075.491.5101
Baked some scones using a new recipe. These definitely have to be eaten with jam--not sweet at all, still delicious though.
New version of stuffed bell peppers, added some renkon (lotus root) to the beef and onions and left out the egg.
Made some 3-bean salad (only with 2 beans--canned garbanzo & cooked daizu(soy bean)). Added corn, bell pepper and onion.
Curry fried chicken. Added some curry powder, salt and pepper to panko (bread crumbs). Dipped the chicken pieces in egg then dredged it in the panko mixture. Ate it with some tonkatsu (pork cutlet) sauce--delicious.
New version of Meiji's almond--this one has salted caramel wrapped around the nut. Japan's latest fad is salty sweets. Delicious, but gets quite salty after awhile.
Used one pod of the Lifou vanilla to make strawberry jam.
Have been enjoying the jam on yogurt in the mornings.
Cut some basil tops so that it wouldn't flower, put them in water---hydroponics?? (maybe) Planted them in the soil, hopefully they will grow.
Found these cute bananas, called "monkey bananas" in Japan and are also called Senorita. Thought they would taste like apple bananas, these were really sweet, not tart like the bananas we get in Hawaii.
Tried the Green & Black's Organic Cocoa. Followed the instructions on the can. Not much flavor. Kind of disappointing.
Got this Japanese confection from one of the memorial services. It is called Hakata no hito (lady from Hakata). A tiny baum kuchen with a sweet bean paste filling--delicious.
Our neighborhood 7-eleven closed on Friday. Satoshi and I are particularly sad to see it go because it came into the neighborhood the same year we moved into the neighborhood.
Another store which closed on Friday is the bakery in our shopping arcade a.k.a. my almost everyday lunch pick-up place. Since I have to find somewhere new, looked into buying bento (boxed lunch) from a sozaiya (pre-made foods store)--420 yen (about US$4.20)--rice with crunchy ume (pickled plum), hijiki (edible brown seaweed), tsukemono (pickled veggies), iwashi hamburger (sardine patty), tamagoyaki (omlette), pumpkin & kusamochi (rice cake mixed with yomogi (mugwort)).
