The 65th edition: [Kushi Dining Yutakaya] x Haru Fuwari Junmai
January has flown by, and Niigata is covered in snow, with gloomy skies every day—that's how I would normally start writing about this time of year. However, Nagaoka seems to be experiencing a mild winter this year. While there are certainly days with freezing cold and stormy weather, we're also seeing glimpses of sunshine through the clouds, making for a calm snow season.
Although it's a mild winter, there are still cold spells during the winter months. In these harsh conditions, the brewers take turns working the night shift, producing delicious sake every day. In the crisp, cold air, the brewers silently confirm things with each other and work together in a way that is quite impressive. The brewers, who usually have gentle, endearing eyes, transform into determined and focused individuals when they turn to work, revealing their true craftsmanship. Each of them sharpens their five senses and engages in a dialogue with the rice as the sake-making process progresses, resulting in the creation of delicious sake.
This season's brewing process was particularly challenging due to the hard rice used as raw material, a result of last summer's unusual weather. However, we recently heard the reassuring words of our master brewer: "We will do our best to create a taste that is even better than usual, even under these circumstances. Seeing the brewers diligently and sincerely dedicating themselves to sake brewing, we are very much looking forward to seeing how this year's sake turns out. Yoshinogawa Agricultural Products, which grows the rice; the sake brewing division; the product bottling division; the management division providing support; and the sales division delivering the sake to you—each of them, sometimes exchanging tough opinions, works hard every day to deliver "delicious sake is Yoshinogawa" to as many people as possible. We hope you will enjoy Yoshinogawa, which inherits tradition while never forgetting to take on new challenges.
Now, in this "Tipsy OneDish" corner, we visit restaurants and bars in Niigata Prefecture and ask them to come up with snacks that pair well with Yoshinogawa sake. The restaurant that will be preparing the dishes for us this time is located in Tonomachi, Nagaoka City.「Kushi Dining Yutakaya」It's Mr. [Name]. This time it's "Haru Fuwari JunmaiThey prepared a dish that would go well with it!
The alcohol this time isHaru Fuwari JunmaiThis sake is brewed in January, when the cold brewing process is in full swing and it is said that the most delicious sake is produced.This is a newly brewed sake. Enjoy the exquisite balance of subtle sweetness and acidity, reminiscent of the arrival of spring. Please enjoy it lightly chilled.
And they will cook for you"Kushi Dining Yutakaya"」This restaurant is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. They are particular about using domestically produced meat and source it directly from butchers, so they do not use frozen products. Their signature dishes are grilled skewers and deep-fried skewers, with a wide selection of 86 items. The deep-fried skewers are carefully prepared one by one every day, and their large size is also appealing. The owners, Yutaka Hida and his wife Kazuko, have a slightly sweet atmosphere, much like the sake we had this time, and they run the restaurant with perfect teamwork. And one of the menu items that caught my eye is their sweet deep-fried skewers. It is said to be popular not only with women but also with men.
SuchKushi Dining YutakayaWe were fortunate enough to learn the recipe for the restaurant's secret sauce from Mrs. Kazuko, the owner's wife. While restaurant recipes are usually kept secret, this recipe, created by Mrs. Kazuko, who is also a housewife, can be easily adapted using ingredients readily available at home. We enjoyed this sauce with one of the restaurant's signature dishes, "kushiage" (deep-fried skewers)! This sauce requires only three ingredients and is incredibly easy to make—just mix them together! This versatile sauce can be used not only with kushiage, but also with dishes like okonomiyaki, yakisoba, and takoyaki. Please enjoy making it at home with your children.
Now, let's get straight to the recipe!
The recipe is here ↓
★Material★
Worcestershire sauce: 300cc
White dashi: 10cc
・Water: 100cc
Just mix them together!
Pour the sauce over the deep-fried skewers and enjoy.
From left to right: (Daifuku mochi, quail egg sausage, pickled ginger, pork cutlet, pork cutlet, chicken breast, avocado)
The golden batter of the deep-fried skewers is soaked in a slightly sweet sauce, creating a delightful blend of sourness and spiciness in your mouth."Haru Fuwari Junmai"The slightly sweet and refreshing taste of the sauce cleanses away the oiliness from the batter, further enhancing the deliciousness of the deep-fried skewers.
Deep-fried skewers「Kushi Dining Yutakaya」Mr. Miss.Please enjoy it! Of course, at the restaurant, please enjoy it with our original sauce. *No double-dipping!!
・Deep-fried skewers: 150 yen eachFrom yen (tax included)
And I also recommend their other signature dish, the grilled skewers.
・Grilled skewers: 150 yen each (tax included) and up
From left to right: (chicken meatballs, liver, chicken and green onion skewers, chicken hearts, chicken neck, plum and shiso leaf)
Our recommended chicken meatballs are made one by one by hand, kneaded like hamburger patties with plenty of ginger. Each one can be enjoyed with our special sauce or salt, and whichever you choose, it pairs perfectly with alcohol. Please be sure to try them!
「Kushi Dining YutakayaAt "[Restaurant Name]", they also offer Ginjo Gokujo Yoshinogawa, carefully selected dry sake, and carefully selected plum wine! Please enjoy this Yoshinogawa as well.
The details of this event will be broadcast on NST from 6 PM on Saturday, February 10th.
Channel: "I Love Niigata! Channel" ↓↓
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXScRoBNwPISEKWqBXeGiwQ
——————-☆The shop we requested this time☆——————-
「Kushi Dining Yutakaya」
【address】1F Goi Building, 3-4-1 Tonomachi, Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture
[Telephone] 0258-37-6140
[Opening Hours] 17:30 - 23:00 (Last Order 22:30)
[Regular closing day] Sunday
[Total number of seats] Approximately 25 seats