I went for a pasta lunch at Kitchen Luce, an Italian cafe located in Isaji-cho, Nishi-ku, Hamamatsu City, surrounded by peaceful fields!
This Italian restaurant, which opened three years ago on May 18, 2019, is currently operating on reduced hours due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and is only open for lunch from 11:00 to 15:00 (last order at 14:00)!
Just like the exterior, the interior is based on a white color scheme, and the bright, soft sunlight that streams in creates a comfortable atmosphere, while the warm wood grain adds to the inviting ambiance!
The restaurant has 2 counter seats and 5 tables for 2 people each, totaling 10 seats, but currently they are operating with reduced seating capacity and maintaining social distancing!
The private rooms with raised seating areas offer two private spaces that can seat 4-5 people each, and by removing the partition between the rooms, it can accommodate up to 10 people for the entire restaurant!
Owner-chef Yumiko Murakami (nicknamed "Yume-chan") trained for about six years in Prato, a city in northwestern Tuscany, Italy, about 10 years ago. After returning to Japan, she worked at casual Italian restaurants in Tokyo and Osaka before returning to her hometown of Hamamatsu. She chose the site of her family's farm as her next base and opened "Kitchen Luce." She welcomed Sachiko Yasuike (nicknamed "Sacchan") as a server, and the two women opened a restaurant with a warm atmosphere!
Based on the concept of "a place where everyone can gather," the restaurant aims to be a space where everyone, from small children to adults, can enjoy delicious and fun meals!
For lunch that day, you can choose between Course A (salad, mini soup, choice of pasta, drink) from 1,320 yen and the limited-quantity Plate Course B (focaccia, mini soup, drink) from 1,520 yen, and you can add dessert to either for an additional 330 yen! This time we selected the pasta lunch from Course A, ordered gnocchi and spaghetti, and added dessert!
"Salad and mini soup"
This sweet chilled butternut squash soup, paired with a tangy dressing made with red onion and red wine vinegar, is perfect for the hot summer weather and will stimulate your appetite! The salad also includes raw butternut squash (the same ingredient used in the soup) and pickled masisi, a Brazilian vegetable from the gourd family that is rare in Japan and has a cute, spiky appearance, making for a beautifully colorful salad with red, yellow, green, and purple hues!
"Spaghetti with Trapanese pesto and swordfish"
Trapanese is a traditional dish from the Sicilian town of Trapani, made with a paste containing tomatoes, almonds, basil, and garlic! Adding nuts like almonds to the pasta adds richness, but it's also packed with beneficial ingredients like high-quality omega-3 fatty acids (essential for dieting), antioxidant vitamin E, and minerals! The acidity of the tomatoes and the flavor of the basil add to the overall balance, resulting in a perfectly cooked and delicious pasta dish! The swordfish is cooked to perfection, making this a truly tasty pasta dish!
"Gnocchi with Gorgonzola and Walnut Cream Sauce" +110 yen
A dish that pairs perfectly with wine, featuring a rich Gorgonzola cream sauce, chewy and smooth gnocchi, and accented with the texture of walnuts!
Baked cheesecake +330 yen
As you can see from the cross-section, it has a moist and rich texture! The sweetness is just right, and it pairs perfectly with the iced coffee that comes with the set!
The walls and floors are adorned with charming and tasteful paintings that perfectly suit the store, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of an atelier nestled in the Italian countryside—a truly wonderful feature!
I had a chat with the two of them after the meal when they had some free time!
Prato, where owner-chef Yume-chan trained, is a place we also stayed in about seven years ago when we visited Florence, so we couldn't help but have a lively conversation about Italy!
I happened to meet Sacchan, one of the hall staff, who also owns the same breed of long-haired Chihuahua (Ham-kun: male), and since his is the same color as my Chocolat, chocolate tan, we bonded over our Chihuahuas, acting like doting parents. We agreed to go for a walk together at Lake Sanaru sometime, and I'm so happy that we'll be becoming neighbors and Chihuahua buddies!
Kitchen Luce is a cozy Italian cafe where you can find delicious Italian food that's just like the real thing in Italy, and be enveloped in the warm aura of the two owners! It's only a few minutes' drive from my house, so I think I'll be going there often!
Yume-chan, Sacchan, I'll come again!
Kitchen Luce
Address: 2528-1 Isaji-cho, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture
TEL: 053-570-2520
Opening hours: 11:00 - 17:00
Closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays
Parking: 6 spaces available in front of the store
https://www.instagram.com/kitchen_luce/
