From August 1, 2023, it has been decided that ``Ancient Sake 2007 Nakano Umeshu'' will be introduced at three Gozenbo restaurants, a high-end Chinese Yunnan restaurant located in Roppongi and Ginza.
Among them, a new course meal called the ``Beauty, Beautiful Skin, Beautiful Sake Course'' that comes with ``Ancient Beautiful Sake 2007 Nakano Umeshu'' is eye-catching.
Therefore, we spoke to Mr. Xu Yaohua , the representative director of the store that introduced the system. Mr. Xu places importance on enjoying seasonal ingredients and achieving health and beauty from within the body through food. We touched on the thoughts behind the special pairing experience of the ``Beauty Beautiful Skin Course'' and ``Ancient Beautiful Sake 2007 Nakano Umeshu'' that will be offered this time.
Q.1 Please tell us about the restaurant's concept and what you value when it comes to food.
The concept is ``Medicine and food are the same source'', ``Deliciousness is sought after'', ``Fujifushoku'', and ``Flower soul Japanese clothing''.
Based on the principle of ``medicine and food being the same source'' to maintain good health by eating ingredients that are suitable for your body, we pursue the 100 % deliciousness of the ingredients and enjoy seasonal produce. By combining the spirit of Chinese cuisine, which is to provide dishes using seasonal ingredients based on the 24 seasonal seasons, with Japanese style tableware and presentation, we are creating a true fusion, fusion, and achieving our ideal image, ``Hana''. We are realizing "soul Japanese clothing".
It looks like Japanese food, but when you taste it, you can enjoy a new experience of authentic Chinese food.
Q.2 What are your impressions of “Ancient Sake” and what made you decide to introduce it?
I was drawn to the idea of dealing with old sake, and became interested in the delicious sake of ancient times.
Originally, plum wine is often drunk in China, but I thought the idea of ``old plum wine'' was interesting. Among them, ` `2007 Nakano Plum Wine'' brings out the scent, sourness, and flavor of plums, and you can enjoy the richness and lingering finish of aged sake.
We introduced it because we felt it would be a perfect combination with the refreshing dishes of the ``Beauty and Beautiful Skin Course'' offered at the restaurant. In addition, with this vintage plum wine, even women who are not sensitive to alcohol will be able to fully enjoy the pairing in the ``Beauty, Beautiful Skin, and Beautiful Sake Course''.
Q.3 What kind of food would you recommend pairing "Ancient Sake 2007 Nakano Umeshu"?
You can pair it with any dish, but it pairs perfectly with the stir-fried lily bulb and tiger prawns. Please enjoy the crispy texture of lily bulbs, juicy shrimp, asparagus, and other colorful ingredients paired with the aromatic plum wine.
Q.4 Please introduce the “Beauty, Beautiful Skin, and Beautiful Sake Course.”
With the theme of bringing out beauty from within the body, we use ingredients that are effective for beauty and skin, such as lily root and aloe, which are also used in medicinal dishes and Chinese medicine.
In addition, ``Gozenbo'' is famous and popular for its mushroom hotpot, also known as edible beauty treatment.
In this course, we will introduce luxury and beauty products that you cannot usually taste, such as Yamabushi mushroom, which is one of the four major mushrooms in China, Kinukasa mushroom, which is called the queen of mushrooms, and Chicken mushroom, which is a special mushroom from Yunnan province. You can also enjoy good mushroom dishes.
We hope that our customers will have a blissful time with our ``Beauty, Beautiful Skin, and Beautiful Sake Course,'' which adds the special element of ``beautiful sake'' to dishes that bring out beauty from within.
Q.5 Are there any pairings with "good old sake" that you would like to try as a store in the future?
I want to try a variety of old sake, regardless of genre. When serving sake with a strong image of fresh taste, how much can aged sake impress customers? We hope to continue to find old sake that goes well with Yunnan cuisine and provide special experiences by pairing food and alcohol.
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Mr. Xu always values ``tasting seasonal foods'' and bringing out ``health'' and ``beauty'' from within through ``food.'' It was clear that they had put a lot of thought into how they could provide customers with the best atmosphere and impress them, with new Chinese cuisine that incorporates Japanese style and ways to bring out the best taste of the ingredients. This interview gave me hope that the pairing of Chinese food and "good old sake" will continue to create new and special experiences in the future.
<Menu details>
・Beauty Beautiful Skin Beautiful Sake Course 13,500 yen (tax and service charge included) with 1 glass of “Ancient Beautiful Sake 2007 Nakano Umeshu”
- Assorted seasonal appetizers
- Steamed Yamabushi mushroom soup
- Boiled shark fin with Kinukasa mushrooms
- Stir-fried lily bulb and tiger prawns
- Longan and shark cheek stew
- Steamed fresh fish and chicken mushrooms
- Stir-fried aloe and seasonal vegetables
- Mushroom mixed rice line
- white jellyfish dessert
・"Ancient Sake 2007 Nakano Plum Wine" Glass 1,600 yen (tax and service included)
・“Ancient Sake 2007 Nakano Umeshu” Bottle 14,000 yen (tax and service included)
<Store details>
Gozenbo Roppongi store ( 1F , 2nd Satsuki Building, 6-8-15 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032 )
Gozenbo Ginza store ( 11F , Ginza Treasure Building, 2-6-5 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061 )
Gozenbo Tokyu Plaza Ginza store (Tokyu Plaza Ginza 11-J, 5-2-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061 )
