Shiga/Lake Biwa Birthday Trip⑥ "Breakfast at SOWER, the restaurant attached to Hotel du Lac Vol.3"

Located in the northern part of Shiga Prefecture, the auberge "L'Hôtel Du Lac / L'Hôtel Du LacA refreshing morning begins with "[...]."

Notice Regarding the Operating Hours of Hotel du Lac and Restaurant SOWER

The restaurant SOWER inside Hotel du Lac isThe hotel will be closed for the time being, starting with the last stay on Monday, January 27, 2025.Regarding future business operations, please see the following:

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[Regarding stays from January 10th (Fri) to January 27th (Mon)]

During this period, head chef Coleman will be absent, and SOWER's cuisine will be handled by the second chef. Shogo Yoshida [Name] will continue to be in charge. We primarily accept reservations for weekend hours.

• Lunch serviceWeekend service only.
• Dinner servicePriority will be given to hotel guests. Reservations for non-guests are also possible if there are vacancies.

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[Regarding business operations from January 28th (Tuesday) onwards]

SOWER will be closed from January 28th until a new system is in place. During this time, we plan to implement the following measures.

• One-night stay with breakfast includedJapanese-style bento box meals will be served in your room.
• Plans including one night's stay with two meals and outpatient appointments (lunch and dinner)Closed until business resumes.

When will the breakfast-included plan become available for purchase?
Sales are scheduled to begin soon, and reservations are possible until March 19, 2025. Reservations for spring (cherry blossom season, Golden Week, etc.) will resume once the new system is in place.

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Details regarding the reopening of our business and the new organizational structure will be announced as soon as they are decided, so please check our website for further information.

The sun begins to rise over Lake Biwa, which stretches out before you, creating a beautiful autumn sky with a gradient of colors.

The light blue of the lake surface and the pale orange of the sunrise create a magical atmosphere during this time of day.

Hotel du Lac Main Building

The mountains, bathed in the morning sun, glow with a golden light, enveloped in refreshing air.

The rising sun over Lake Biwa in the northern part of the lake.

The shimmering of the waterway flowing through the grounds and the chirping of birds announcing the awakening of the day.

A symphony of tiny sprouting lives and fallen leaves.

The garden, bathed in morning dew, radiates vibrant colors.

The cottage is bathed in sunlight and dyed bright red.

Savor the sound of the falling leaves.

It's the start of a beautiful autumn day.

After taking a morning shower and getting ready, I headed to the attached restaurant where breakfast was served.Restaurant SOWER」fart.

Breakfast is available by reservation from 8:00 AM.

The hotel has a relaxed check-out time of 11:00 AM, allowing you to unwind and enjoy your time after breakfast without feeling rushed.

Go to the restaurant on the first floor of the main building.

We requested breakfast on the restaurant terrace so that we could bring our dog with us.

A small herb garden where herbs used in the restaurant are grown.

While we did see some guests having breakfast inside the restaurant, on such a warm and sunny autumn day, it was inevitable that we would choose a terrace seat, where we could enjoy the lake view and the abundant nature of the vast grounds.

Breakfast used to be served as an order-buffet style, but now it's a set course menu, and they serve it sequentially even to guests sitting on the terrace.

Sparkling mineral water.

The breakfast menu is prepared by the restaurant's head chef.Coleman GriffinThe breakfast is prepared under the supervision of local producers and features seasonal ingredients delivered from local sources.

"Today's Juice"

Today's juice is "Bancha Kombucha." It's kombucha made from fermented bancha tea, and its fermented acidity makes it a refreshing and delightful drink to wake you up in the morning.

Pumpkin soup

A pumpkin soup made with locally grown butternut squash. The rich sweetness of the low-fiber butternut squash is brought out, and a small amount of milk is added to create a smooth and gentle flavor.

The staff provided excellent and attentive service, including explaining each dish.

Enjoy a blissful moment with chocolate during breakfast on the terrace, where you can savor the tranquil atmosphere unique to a lake view.

SOWER BREAKFAST

When you arrange them on the table, you can sense the deliciousness of this well-balanced breakfast that your body will appreciate, even before you take a bite.

"Shakshuka"
"Homemade bread and butter"

Shakshuka is a traditional dish found mainly in the Middle East and North Africa. This dish consists of eggs dropped into a tomato sauce and simmered with various spices. The rich and flavorful sauce is based on tomatoes, paprika, and onions, and while it seems that lamb is commonly used in the region, here it contains sausages made from various cuts of venison. The homemade bread made with spelt wheat for breakfast is adorably shaped like a mushroom. Lightly toasted, the chewy texture of the grains enhances the aroma, making it impossible to stop eating. It pairs perfectly with the shakshuka sauce, but the homemade butter kneaded with honey from Shiga Prefecture is so creamy and delicious that I couldn't help but ask for seconds of the bread!

"Glablax"

Gravlax is a Scandinavian fish dish and a traditional food that has been passed down in Northern Europe for centuries. The name Gravlax means "salmon buried in the ground (grav)" and "lax," and it is made by marinating salmon with salt, sugar, herbs, and a small amount of aquavit, without cooking it. While salmon is commonly used in this dish, this version uses local rainbow trout. The aged rainbow trout has a deeper flavor than raw trout, so it would be good served with a salad or on bread.

"salad"

The marinated tomatoes and green salad are tossed in a refreshing white wine vinegar-based dressing, allowing the deliciousness of the vegetables to really shine through!

"Yogurt Citrus Jam"

Homemade yogurt served with homemade jam. This time, I'm enjoying it with hassaku orange jam, which has a refreshing tartness and a slightly bitter taste that's addictive.

"coffee"

With a warm cup of coffee brewed for me after the meal, I took a deep breath, fully inhaling the crisp air. Enjoying a highly satisfying breakfast in nature, I felt a sense of liberation and refreshed both physically and mentally! When I uploaded this to my Instagram story, the service manager commented...Kathy JeonI received a message from [Name] saying, "Nice you ate outside! Good choice." I completely agree. Whether you have a dog or not, I would definitely recommend having breakfast on the terrace during the best seasons of spring and autumn!

With a leash on, Chocolat can roam freely around the grounds, making it an almost too vast playground for her. She seems to be enjoying it as if it were her own backyard, walking a little, then being picked up, then walking a little more, and so on (lol).

Let's take a stroll to Lake Biwa, which stretches out before us, as a little exercise after our meal!

L'Hôtel Du Lac / L'Hôtel Du Lac
Address: 2064 Oura, Nishi-Asai-cho, Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture
TEL: 0749-89-1888
https://www.lhotel-du-lac.com/