The Golden Week holidays are drawing to a close. With the soft sunlight reminiscent of early summer and the air flowing slowly, it's a time when you can feel the lingering effects of the long holiday. An artist who is also world-renowned as a classic car collector, and who runs a restaurant & bar in Nihonbashi, TokyoSUIGIANHidetomo Kimura, who is in charge of "[Title of the work]", stopped by my home as a "stopover point" on his way from Tokyo to Nagoya.
Amidst his hectic schedule of traveling back and forth between Tokyo and Kyoto, spanning the globe, he comes to my home as a place to unwind for just a moment. He drops by jokingly saying, "I'm coming over for dinner," and then leaves as quickly as he's gone. Apparently, he looks forward to my home cooking every time.
This time, since we've started training at the gym and are in the process of reviewing our diet, we prepared a meal with a focus on a more Japanese-style menu that's gentle on the body, rather than the usual Western-style hospitality paired with wine.
And on this day, he took a short break from his seven-week abstinence from alcohol and lifted his ban. He toasted with champagne for the first time in a while, and as he enjoyed the leisurely pace of time, the conversation naturally flowed. The topic of conversation was the "Event hosted by Mr. Kimura that was held just the other day at Yakushiji Temple, the head temple of the Hossō sect and a World Heritage Site."CONCORSO D'ELEGANZA JAPANIt was a truly exhilarating experience. Hearing Mr. Kimura talk about his passion for classic cars, the interactions with the people gathered there, and the wonderfulness of this grand event that blends Japanese culture and aesthetics, it was a night that made me feel as if I were actually there.
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"Charles Joubert Special Réserve Brut Champagne /
Champagne Charles Joubert Spéciale Réserve Brut
This traditional champagne comes from a long-established Champagne house founded in 1760. Made with grapes from Epernay, and with a higher proportion of black grapes, it boasts a deep, rich body. When poured into a glass, it displays a brilliant golden color and beautifully spreads fine bubbles from bottle aging. The powerful fruitiness of ripe Pinot Noir is complemented by a balanced acidity and tannins, resulting in a champagne with a memorable and well-rounded flavor.
"Marinated salmon arranged in a rose shape," "Pickled new onions in sweet vinegar and mekabu seaweed"
As the seasons change and it's easy to feel unwell, pay a little extra attention to your diet. In the salmon marinade, be sure to include plenty of good quality fats and proteins, and be mindful of the fucoidan and dietary fiber in the mekabu seaweed. Furthermore, by adding a small side dish of vegetables, you can naturally get vitamins and minerals. Create a menu that doesn't put a strain on your body and slowly nourishes you from the inside out.
"Chicken breast, new onion, cucumber, and pea sprout salad"
"Carrot, celery, and apple bean salad"
"Okra and spinach salad," "Green beans with sesame dressing"
"Japanese-style grated radish hamburger steak," "Maitake and king oyster mushroom butter soy sauce sauté"
"Boiled whitebait and Tsuyahime brown rice"
"GLENMORANGIE / Glenmorangie Original (12 Year Old)"
After the meal, we were served Glenmorangie Original (12-year-old) single malt whisky and dried fruit. Then, the conversation naturally expanded to include, "Actually, we also serve special dried fruit at Suigian," and various perspectives and sensibilities were sprinkled throughout the casual conversation, making us completely engrossed and forgetting the passage of time. We talked about work, what we've been feeling lately, and the future—before we realized it, we had lost track of time, and drifted off to a deep sleep, still feeling the afterglow of our late-night conversation.
The next morning, as I was busy preparing breakfast early in the morning, she woke up with a calm expression and seemed refreshed, saying, "I slept really well for the first time in a while."
A Japanese breakfast featuring nine small dishes.
From front to back: • Green beans with sesame dressing • Wakame, mozuku seaweed, and cucumber salad with vinegar dressing • Sweet and sour pickled new onions and mekabu seaweed • Blanched spinach and sweet and sour pickled myoga ginger • Boiled whitebait with grated daikon radish • Rolled omelet • Brown rice onigiri (salmon) • Assorted pickles (yuzu radish, burdock root, eggplant, okra) • Yogurt (strawberry and manuka honey)
"Miso soup with lots of ingredients"
For breakfast, I start with a protein smoothie made with strawberries, bananas, pineapple, and black vinegar, preparing a meal that naturally helps to regulate the body. I even get a happy request for "another glass!" (laughs)
After enjoying breakfast, take a shower to freshen up and feel refreshed.
For those of us who usually live at a leisurely pace, we can't help but be amazed by the speed at which Ms. Kimura moves, aggressively on a minute-by-minute basis.
To help you relax, even for a short while, we invite you to our lush, green terrace where a pleasant breeze blows.
Let's enjoy a leisurely coffee break for as long as time allows.
As Kimura slumped back onto the terrace sofa, her expression softened, seemingly stepping away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Her profile was striking.
"Mameya Cafe Golden Mandheling," "Crispy Sea Salt Brownie"
The usualMameya CafeI paired the Golden Mandheling coffee with a gluten-free coconut brownie, which I've been really into lately.
"It's really nice. It's so relaxing," she said, enjoying her time at home.
My dog Chocolat has become completely attached to me, and she even snuggles up to me with her rear end as a sign of trust.
The terrace's open space is filled with the fresh leaves of zelkova trees. As spring transitions to early summer, the vibrant leaves that have sprouted grow lush and green, covering the sky and casting soft dappled sunlight. The leaves rustle gently with every breeze, and there is a不思議な calmness in spending time on the terrace, surrounded by greenery, that soothes the soul.
The time spent chatting slowly while enjoying delicious food—such simple moments may be the greatest luxury of all, as they nourish both mind and body. I would be happy if my home could be a place like a perch where you can rest your wings amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
