JPN: Mikasa Ryokan (三笠旅館) [Dinner]
Take your pick: beef or seafood?
Though the portion was small, I was so happy to see Nara's specialty of warabi mochi gracing the dessert selection. Paired with a dusting of kinako (Japanese soybean flour) that provided a nutty taste, the delicate, jelly-like treat made of bracken starch was nice to chew. That aside, there was nothing particularly special about the tiny orange slices and preserved pear cubes. Finally, I washed everything down with hot black tea that was fragrant enough.
After spending a night at Henn-na Hotel Nara, my family and I moved on to the slopes of Mount Wakakusa, finding solace and culinary delight at Mikasa Ryokan. Opting for a half-board plan, we had a memorable dinner where each dish was meticulously prepared and served with the grace of traditional Japanese hospitality.
Kaiseki Dinner
Taste: 8.5/10
First of all, I'm unable to provide the actual names of the dishes as I lost the photo of the paper menu, and neither did I bring it home, so I'm relying on my notes as usual to present this post. Prior to the stay, I received an e-mail to choose between seafood and beef for two dishes in the set dinner, which I shall indicate clearly as we go along. Pika's advice: Do look out for the message from them after making your booking, so that you can specify your preference, especially if you don't consume either one of them.
Assorted Stuff (Set Menu)
To commence our dinner, we embraced the refreshing notes of apple cider as an aperitif. Presented in an appetiser box were steamed seafood with chestnut and ginkgo nuts, marinated jellyfish, as well as a rather dense and creamy beancurd. After finishing those, I devoured the sashimi. Each slice of the raw fish was fresh. If you go for the seafood choice, you'll get slightly more sashimi.
Steamed Pumpkin & Clear Soup (Set Menu)
Capturing the essence of autumn was steamed pumpkin with a velvety texture that retained its natural sweetness. Complementing it was a bowl of clear soup that promised simplicity with the earthy goodness of mushrooms. Translucent and fragrant, the broth was truly comforting.
Seafood with Vinaigrette (Set Menu)
The lightly cooked salmon was flaky, while the scallop, plump and sweet, provided a nice contrast in texture. The accompanying vinaigrette was a citrusy blend that accentuated the sweetness of the seafood.
Beef Sukiyaki (Set Menu - Beef Course)
The beef option provided me with thinly sliced meat with a pretty good marbling simmered in a delectably sweet broth of soy sauce, mirin (a kind of Japanese sweet rice wine) and sugar. I'd love to have a bit more vegetables to go with the red meat though.
Grilled Beef and Vegetables (Set Menu - Beef Course)
The star of the beef option was the DIY grilled beef and vegetables, which were enhanced with a touch of pink salt and piquant yuzu (a species of aromatic Asiatic citron) pepper. The anticipation heightened as the sizzling grill embraced the marbled beef slices, releasing an aromatic melody that tantalised the senses.
Seafood Hot Pot (Set Menu - Seafood Course)
For the seafood option, one of the dishes served that evening was boil-it-yourself fish with a medley of vegetables. The first photo in this post offers a glimpse into the broth, which was clear and rather dark with subtle sweetness. The two pieces of the white meat were pretty thick and succulent.
Corn Potage (Set Menu - Seafood Course)
The seafood option also came with a DIY grilled counterpart, showcasing an array of fish, prawn, sea snail and vegetables. The distinctive touch that set this experience apart from the beef option was the butter that imparted a delectable richness to the whole affair.
Rice, Pickles & Miso Soup (Set Menu)
The short-grain rice was cooked well, complemented by colourful, tangy pickles and red miso (Japanese fermented rice, barley and/or soybean) soup.
Dessert & Tea (Set Menu)
Melon's Rating
Taste: 8.5/10
Ambience: 7.5/10
Service: 8.5/10
Overall: 8/10
I enjoyed the dinner pretty much from the first course to the last.
Mikasa Ryokan
(三笠旅館)
728-10 Kawakami-cho
Nara City, Nara
Japan
(Daily: 5.00pm, 5.30pm, 6.00pm, 6.30pm or 7.00pm)
*No separate price given as a la carte breakfast is included in the room price.
Have a nice meal,
Cliff(y)
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