japanese restaurant: kakomi

Yesterday, the sun came out and I met up with my friend, Kazumi for lunch.

She had heard nice things about the Japanese restaurant located in the basement area of the Hotel Elsereine. The hotel, as well as the restaurants, opened up about a month ago.

This was the first time I've asked if it was okay to take photos, though sitting at the counter in front of the chef, I felt it was kinda necessary.

Our lunch started off with a clam steamed in rice wine and served with a tomato gelee.

Next came the sashimi course. Besides a delicious piece of cherry smoked hamo (pike conger) and fresh hamachi (yellowtail), this course had an interesting item, graptopetalum paraguayense or grapara leaf as the Japanese like to call it.

I recently saw this on television and this succulent is apparently edible. My mom has tons of this plant in her garden. It tasted like watery celery.

Next came an assortment of various little bites. I particularly enjoyed the tsukune (minced chicken meatball) topped with Tasmanian seed mustard.

We also had some tai kamameshi (rice cooked in a clay pot with snapper, fish stock and burdock root) and this delicious pea soup, Japanese style, topped with sea eel.

For dessert I chose the apple ice cream with salt and pepper tuile. This was refreshing and delicious.

Kazumi had the custard pudding. We loved how it was served in the egg.

Lunch ended with a nice cup of coffee. (This photo doesn't do the cup justice, it was a nice pale blue.) I particularly liked the cup that it was served in, though the head chef had mentioned that he had some complaints about it not being practical to drink from.

We had a nice time and the food was very delicious. (Thank you for a great day Kazumi!)

Japanese Restaurant Kakomi
1-5-25 Dojima (Hotel Elsereine B1)
Kita, Osaka
Phone: 06.6136.3135
Closed Sundays
Open 11:30-14:00, 17:30-22:00