Kyoto

This month (July), we’re turning our attention to Kyoto, known as the cultural heart of Japan.
Once the country’s imperial capital, Kyoto has certainly got its fair share of historic and iconic monuments and buildings. From the gold leaf adorned Kinkaku-ji – a Zen Buddhist temple, to the historic wooded Nijō Castle, and the impressive Fushimi Inari Taisha, a mountainside Shinto shrine that leads up to Mount Inari through thousands of red ‘torii’ gates.

It’s also got its own unique and interesting regional cuisine, born from both the grandeur of its historical past, and its geographically landlocked location. Being so far from the sea has had a huge influence on some of the most popular dishes in Kyoto, where you’ll find mackerel (saba) and freshwater eel (unagi) on many a menu.

To keep the inhabitants of Kyoto fuelled on their favourite mackerel 13 centuries ago, the famous “saba kaido” or mackerel road was created. Fished in the Sea of Japan, fresh mackerel was first salted and then transported from the bustling port of Obama to Japan’s then-capital city. Whilst only 45 miles away, the route took in many mountains and valleys, and back then would have taken days to complete. By the time the cargo arrived in Kyoto, the mackerel was perfectly cured and ready for use in a variety of dishes, the most famous being, saba zushi, or pickled mackerel sushi.

Eel (unagi), on the other hand, has long thrived in Kyoto’s rivers and ponds, and has been a prized dish for many generations. Unagi’s popularity can be seen throughout Japan, with an estimated 56k tonnes of freshwater eel consumed each year.

On top of these delicacies, Kyoto is also hugely famous for its matcha and green tea. Cultivated in Uji just south of Kyoto, matcha tea and traditional matcha tea ceremonies can be enjoyed throughout the city, along with a range of other matcha-inspired sweets, pastries, ice creams, and even savoury dishes.

Kyoto also boasts a really vibrant drinking culture, with a huge choice of izakayas (traditional Japanese pubs) to visit, perfect for unwinding after a long day.

So, for this months special cocktail, we’re paying homage to the cultural roots of Kyoto and the city’s modern bar scene, with a cocktail named the DIPLOMAT’S SON. Why you ask? Well, in 1860 a guy called Jerry Thomas in New York City created a cocktail for the first Japanese diplomats when they visited the US from Kyoto (when it was still Japan’s capital city). We’ve made our own version of this cocktail using Roku gin combined with a mist of American whisky.

Kanpai!

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Kyoto food specials

Chefs at each of our restaurants have developed their own range of specials to convey what each region means to them. As we arrive in Kyoto, here are just a few of the dishes you can expect to find.

Famed for its mackerel (saba) and mackerel road (“saba kaido”) – an ancient network of mountain roads that took freshly caught mackerel from the Sea of Japan to Kyoto, whilst curing it at the same time – you’ll find heaps of Kyoto-inspired saba dishes on the menu this month. From our take on traditional Saba Zushi in Battersea and Clifton – a marinated, pressed mackerel roll served with shiso, spring onion and ginger, to a rich Saba Soba in Cambridge, with pan-fried mackerel served on a bed of soba noodles with spring onion in a bonito broth. You can also enjoy traditional Shime Saba in Cambridge too, made by marinating mackerel fillets in a mixture of rice vinegar, mirin, salt and sugar, and served alongside freshwater eel as part of their Shime Saba & Unagi Oshizushi.

Freshwater eel or unagi is another favourite delicacy in Kyoto, influenced by the abundance of freshwater lakes and streams that surround the city. Solihull are serving a Kyoto-inspired mixed sushi platter that pays homage to these two important fish of the region, and includes saba and unagi nigiri, alongside ikura gunkan and ebi uramaki. Whilst Cheltenham has created their version of a popular Unadon, featuring grilled kabayaki eel on a bed seasoned rice with unagi sauce, and Clifton further adds shredded omelette on top to create a traditional Kinshi-don.

Another hugely popular dish found right across Kyoto is the Gyukatsu – a panko-crumbed and fried beef cutlet. Enjoy Cheltenham’s version of this dish featuring tender beef sirloin, served with steamed rice and veg with sesame miso and tsuyu dipping sauces. Whilst Battersea serve their crispy breaded beef with a shimeji mushrooms and a mustard miso sauce, and Clifton offer a more traditional Tonkatsu sauce.

With its close proximity to Uji, Japan’s main green tea and matcha producer, Kyoto is also famed for its traditional matcha tea ceremonies and matcha-inspired dishes. Our chefs certainly didn’t disappoint when it comes to the array of sweet treats they’ve put on the menu this month. Dive into a delicious Matcha Basque Cheesecake in Cheltenham, with its signature burnt top and creamy interior, or a divinely layered Matcha Cake in Solihull, featuring 3 different layers of matcha, vanilla and white chocolate sponge.

Just a few of the dishes that you’ll find as specials in our restaurant this month – just look out for the Passport to Japan stamp, or ask a member of the team.

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Win a Feast of Japan for you and 5 friends worth up to £300!

Pick up your Passport to Japan in the restaurant, and get it stamped each time you visit us for a chance to win a Japanese feast for you and up to 5 friends worth up to £300.

To Enter: Simply ask a member of the team to stamp a physical passport (you’ll find them on each table), or connect to our free WiFi when you’re in the restaurant to claim your digital passport stamp.

Please note, you must be in the restaurant to gain a passport stamp.

For more info and details of terms & conditions, please click the link below.

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Check our our mini YouTube Vlog of our Sous Chef Fon’s and Senior Head Chef Jay’s recent visit to Kyoto… where they visited, what they saw, and of course, what they enjoyed eating!