[First in Japan] What is new spice cuisine?
Japan's food culture is blessed with fresh ingredients and high-quality water.
Powdered spices were introduced to Japan from Britain during the Meiji period and became a national dish in the form of curry, but their other possibilities have not been explored much.
Japan has always had a deep-rooted food culture of fermenting, drying, and salting fish, and because the ingredients are fresh, there is no need for large amounts of spices to remove odors or sterilize food.
Japanese cuisine and spices
Japanese spices such as shichimi pepper, wasabi, ginger, and sansho pepper are often served as condiments.
In fact, in addition to these major spices, there are many other spices that grow wild in Japan.
Kuromoji, Aomoji, juniper berries, etc.
Overseas, it is used in Chinese cuisine and the distilled alcoholic beverage gin, but it has not yet become popular in Japanese cuisine.
Being shunned for having a strong personality
In the delicate world of Japanese cuisine, spices with strong aromas or bitter flavors can be a nuisance.
Fresh spices can be difficult to use, and mixed spices and curry roux make everything taste like curry, for better or worse.
From a Japanese perspective, it seems very difficult to incorporate spices into cooking.
Izon is neither curry nor Japanese.
Izon in Kyoto is a restaurant that creates dishes inspired by the history and culture of the world.
When researching the country that is the subject of your research, you will begin to see many things, such as why that ethnic group exists in that country, why that food is eaten in that country, and why that event happened in that country.
Spices and herbs are essential when expressing this realization through cooking.
Spices were once considered treasures, and European powers competed for them to colonize the world, so they are deeply connected to the formation of the world today.
New spice cuisine that makes the most of Kyoto
As times change, cities change, but Kyoto has a "Kyoto-ness" that never changes.
Ingredients including Kyoto vegetables, well water passed down through the ages, and wonderful people.
"Spicy cuisine that is one of a kind and can only be found in Kyoto"
izon is challenging that possibility.
There is also a blog explaining the lunch course , so please take a look.
Google Maps
If you're not good with maps, it's easy to get there by taxi.
"Marutamachi, Gokomachi" - just remember that and you'll be fine.
We look forward to your visit.
izon: 557-1 Bishamoncho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
telephone number: 080-3111-6697
Opening hours: 11:30 - 15:00 / 19:00 - 22:00
Closed: Monday and Tuesday
