Nishiwaga, Iwate (岩手県西和賀町) - 山人－yamado－ ryokan dinner 2025 Jul. 01

We had dinner during our stay at 山人－yamado－, a 12-room luxury ryokan in Nishiwaga, Iwate Prefecture, Japan (岩手県西和賀町). The dishes heavily featured the best that local ingredients have to offer, which was a highlight and a great educational experience. The menu and explanation were in Japanese, but I've tried my best to summarize everything in both languages here. They are: COURSE 1: Yamado Tokusei Kisetsu no Iwana Bagna Cauda (山人特製季節の岩魚バーニャカウダ - Yamado's Special Seasonal Bagna Cauda made from White-spotted Char) Paprika (パプリカ) Kohlrabi (コールラビ) Kyuri (胡瓜 - Cucumber)) Shiroi Omono Tomorokoshi (白いおおもの - Shiroi omono brand corn) Ninjin (人参 - Carrot)) Eschalet (エシャレット - Shallot) Wasabi-na (山葵菜 - The leaves of a Wasabi plant) Komatsuna (小松菜 - Japanese mustard spinach) Kale (ケール) Lettuce (レタス) SHOKUZENSHU (食前酒 - Apertif): Matatabi-shu (マタタビ酒 - Matatabi wine. Matatabi (Actinidia polygama) is a species of the kiwi family that grows in the mountains of East Asia) COURSE 2 - ZENSAI MORIAWASE (前菜盛り合わせ - Appetizers): Iwate Tankaku Gyu no Teion Chori (岩手短角牛の低温調理 - Iwate Shorthorn Beef cooked at low temperature) Kogomi to Iburi Gakko Tartare (コゴミといぶりがっこタルタル - Ostrich fern and smoked and pickled daikon radish tartare) Hachimantai Hiramasa (Salmon) no Marine (八幡平ヒラマサのマリネ - Marinated Hachimantai Yellowtail Amberjack) Nambu Kashiwa to Mizu (Uwabamisou/Mizuna) no Aemono (南部かしわとミズ (ウワバミソウ/水菜) のあえ物 - Nanbu Kashiwa chicken and Japanese mustard spinach-dressed salad) Yokote-san Fuki no Tamari Shoyu-ni (横手産フキのたまり醬油煮 - Butterbur from Yokote simmered in tamari soy sauce) Akita Ken-san Junsai to Ko-ebi no Cocktail (秋田県産ジュンサイと小海老のカウテル - Akita-grown Water Shield (aquatic plant) and small shrimp served cocktail style) Kikuna, Okra (菊菜、オクラ - Crown Daisy, Okra) COURSE 3: Nambu Kashiwa Ginsetsu Chicken Muneniku no Shabu Shabu (南部かしわ銀雪チキン胸肉のしゃぶしゃぶ - Yamado farm "Nambu Kashiwa Ginsetsu" chicken breast shabu shabu. Raised by Yamado's staff) Negi, Oka Wakame (葱、オカワカメ - Scallions, Madeira vine) COURSE 4: Nishiwaga Meisan Nishiwarabi no Ohitashi (西和賀名産 西わらびのお浸し - Nishiwaga town specialty "Nishiwarabi" (bracken) seasoned in cold dashi broth) COURSE 5: Hakkinton (Platinum) to Hokote-san Broccoli no Fusilli (白金豚と横手産ブロッコリーのフィジリ - Fusilli Pasta with Hakkinton (Platinum) Pork from Hanamaki, Iwate and Yokote Broccoli) Nishiwaga-san Gyoja Ninniku no Garlic Toast-zoe (西和賀産行者にんにくのガーリックトースト添え - Garlic toast with Siberian Onion from Nishiwaga) COURSE 6: FOR HER: Kichiji (Kinki), Suppon Soup (吉次(キンキ)、すっぽんスープ - Channel Rockfish with Soft-shelled turtle soup) FOR HIM: Tankaku Gyu Baraniku to Nishiwaga-san Aspara no Oven-yaki (短角牛バラ肉と西和賀産アスパラのオーブン焼き、横手産ニラ醤油と共に - Oven-roasted Shorthorn beef belly with Nishiwaga Asparagus and soy sauce-flavored garlic chive sauce) Tomato (トマト) Zucchini (ズッキーニ) Jikasei tofu puree (自家製豆腐ピューレ - Homemade tofu puree) Nira Joyu (ニラ醬油 - Garlic chives soy sauce) COURSE 7: FOR HIM: Hakkinton (Platinum) Kata Roast no Teion Chori, Nambu Tekki no Grill (白金豚肩ロースの低温調理、南部鉄器のグリル - Low temperature-grilled Hakkinton (Platinum) pork shoulder from Hanamaki, Iwate) Soramame, Cauliflower, Satsuma-imo (蚕豆、カリフラワー、薩摩芋 - Broad beans, cauliflower, Japanese sweet potato) Koji-iri Miso to Shiso no Sauce (麴入り味噌としそソース - Fermented miso and shiso sauce) FOR HER: Shisen-fu Tori (四川風ソース鶏 - Battered and deep-fried chicken with Sichuan-style sauce) COURSE 8: Nambu Kashiwa Ginsetsu to Koshiabura no Ginga no Shizuku Maze Gohan, Yamado-hu Hitsumabushi (南部かしわ銀雪とコシアブラの銀河のしずく混ぜご飯、山人風ひつまぶし - Yamado-style "Hitsumabushi" - "Ginga no Shizuku" Rice mixed with Nambu Kashiwa Ginsetsu chicken and Koshiabura. Koshiabura are edible wild mountain vegetables and are thin-stemmed buds with soft green leaves found in the Chengiopanax sciadophylloides tree) COURSE 9: Nishiwaga-san Shidoke no Baked Cheesecake, Soyakuan no Herb Tea Jule o Soete (西和賀産シドケのベイクトチーズケーキ、 薬庵のハーブティージュレを添えて - Baked Cheesecake with Shidoke from Nishiwaga, with herbal tea jelly from Soyaku-an. Shidoke is a wild plant of the Asteraceae family) Cranberries (クランベリー) Raspberries (ラズベリー)