The Start of the Kaiseki Dinner
山ノ内町へ出張中で湯田中温泉のよろづやさんにお世話になりました。日本文化財登録された松籟荘という長野県の旅館を代表できる宿に。あまりにも豪華に贅沢で、我が亀清旅館には参考にならなかったけど、今回は勉強の為よりハードな出張のリラックスの為でした。宴会の時の小野社長のしっかりした挨拶からそれこそ長野を代表できる露天風呂と立派な内湯「桃山風呂」の雪景色、とにかく忘れらない夜でした。
そして、お料理。一品一品出してくれた会席料理で次から次へ、これは美術ですか？食べ物ですか？と。早取りの旬の味を出して、そして地元の美味しい食材をたっぷり生かして、日本の旅館は素晴らしいなと改めて思いました。
まあ、その中で亀清旅館で少しまねできるヒントも頂きましたので、我が宿こそ信州を代表できる作りでこれからも努力します。
During a business trip to Yamanouchi Town in northern Nagano, I spent the night in Yorozuya Ryokan in Yudanaka Onsen. Specifically in Yorozuya's Shoraiso, a building listed on Japan's National Historical Register. The facilities were so luxurious and extravagant that I had a hard time finding ideas I could possibly use at our humble Kamesei Ryokan. But this stay wasn't for research, it was for relaxing from a very ambitious outing.
From the way Ono-san, the owner, gracefully greeted us during our dinner to the winter scene Momoyama Bath, a building also nationally recognized, and its outdoor bath that is bigger than Kamesei's inner garden koi pond, we were thoroughly happy. And then the kaiseki dinner. What a treasure. Each individual dish, brought out one at a time, each one almost more of an artistic creation than just food. And such great use of 'haya-dori' -- ingredients anticipating the upcoming season, as well as showcasing the area's bountiful food culture. We were amazed.
Hopefully our efforts to improve Kamesei Ryokan will someday result in our inn being able to represent Nagano to some extent, too.
松籟荘のＨＰはこちらClick here for Shoraiso's website.
