It was the year Florilège (3rd) outranked Odette (5th) on the Asia Top 50 Restaurant list.
Like many restaurants in Japan, reservations could only be made over the phone. As the dinner was meant as a surprise, I had to make the booking myself with an international call that cost me $3. It wasn't a straightforward process at all: following the call, I had to correspond with an email provided.
I wonder why couldn't we have skipped the call entirely. That's one of the many things I don't understand about the way things work in Japan.
The restaurant is located at the basement of a building within a quiet neighbourhood. I don't remember much about the neighbourhood itself, but I remember us crossing the road several times because we missed the inconspicuously tucked stairway leading to the restaurant, and also talking about our favourite gelato flavours on the bus ride there.
Florilège features an open kitchen with a U-shaped dining counter surrounding it. There's a reception with a lounge area that we were showed to before we were brought to our seats, and we were also advised to use the restroom prior.
Sweet Potato nestled in leaves.
I... don't remember what it tasted like, but I assume it would taste like a sweet potato ball.
Scallops, Konbu.
This didn't leave an impression, either. Look, from this point on, let's just take it that the dish isn't impressive if I don't remember it.
I ordered a non-alcoholic drink pairing, while E had the wine pairing. We both agreed that the non-alcoholic pairing was better.
This, I remember. It's my first time getting a steamed bun instead of the usual bread.
Shiso Flower.
Pacific Saury. This was my favourite dish of the night.
Shitake Mushrooms.
I only remembered the bun, and forgot about the bread completely. So. they gave us both a bun and a bread.
I can't even tell you what it is because I don't remember this. Looks like orange juice but I know it's definitely not, or I would have remembered their audacity.
Sustainability - Beef. This is their signature dish, with the sustainable aspect being the usage of an old breeding cow that's four or five times older than the usual cows slaughtered for the market.
The story left an impression, but the taste did not. Honestly I don't even remember it tasting any different from the usual beef.
Pork, which will make a formal appearance two dishes later.
Conger Eel and Eggplant.
I give up.
Abalone.
I don't know what this is.
Pork, with Burnt Rice. I liked the pork, but not the burnt rice.
Not even going to try guessing what this is.
Mandarin.
Tarte Tatin.
I remember the gooseberries clearly because we received an extra serving. There was a Taiwanese Commis Chef that stopped to talk to us pretty often the whole night. He spoke to me in Mandarin, and to E in Japanese.
"你们真的是很奇妙的组合。" He commented, after hearing about us. I also remember E giving him life advice about surviving in Japan.
Which reminds me, E requested to hear the introduction of every dish in Japanese, because he didn't want a stripped down translation that would most probably leave out certain details.
Amazon Cacao.
It was listed as a gift on the menu, so I was expecting a take-home chocolate or something. But it ended up being a plated dish. I wonder what's the point of including the word "gift".
The food that evening was underwhelming, but I will always remember the place fondly because it holds memories of happier times and people.
No comments:
Post a Comment