Obanzai
is Kyoto homestyle cooking; everyday dishes cooked using ingredients native to
the area. According to Wikipedia, at least half of the ingredients used must be
produced and processed in Kyoto. Seasonal produce coupled with a ‘waste not,
want not’ philosophy means food is partaken at its prime. Emphasis is given to natural
flavours and aromas with minimal seasoning. Another distinct trait is sweet
white miso paste is favoured instead of the normal miso.
Our
recent sojourn to this charming city was an opportunity to sample and
experience first-hand Kyoto’s obanzai (おばんざい) cuisine at Mukadeya Honten, a 160-year-old
traditional machiya – a tall and
narrow Kyoto townhouse reputedly was the city’s first to be restored and turned
into a business. (source: http://www.travelmindset.com/story/kyoto-restaurant)
Mukadeya(百足屋, literally
meaning centipede house) is a 5 minute-walk away from Karasuma station. Apparently,
the abode formerly belonged to a kimono trader before its transformation into a
rustic restaurant. Its discreet façade with slatted screen barely hinted of
what to expect inside.
We
had a glowing impression of Mukadeya thanks to the warm mellow lighting within.
Upon entering the narrow entrance, we found ourselves in a little space decked
with whimsical trinkets. A sliding door led into a small dining square with display
shelves adorned with miniature replicas of ancient stoves, larders and kitchen
paraphernalia.
Slightly
further in, the premise opens up slightly to accommodate a long sushi counter
and a tatami room that looks out to a small Japanese garden. More seating is
tucked away at the back, adjacent to the garden. (source: http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2009/09/machiya-restaur.html)
Our meal commenced with two
dainty bowls of appetisers: the first comprised a piece of sesame seed-speckled yam with a wedge of persimmon and boiled Japanese spinach while the second offering was a bite-size chunk of roe-filled sardine with kuromame (boiled black beans in syrup) and carrot chunks in sweetish shoyu.
The appetisers paved the way for a lidded lacquer bowl containing savoury white miso broth. Arranged artfully in the soulful soup were a delicious crab meatball, a piece of fried beancurd and a floret of flowering spinach, a pleasing montage of delicate textures that raised our anticipation for the next course.
We were thrilled by the whimsical lacquer box which resembled a jewellery box. Upon lifting up the flap, we discovered it actually featured a stack of three compartments proffering a treasure trove of delicious morsels.
Just when we thought the meal had drawn to an end, the restaurant's signature dish - steamed glutinous
rice studded with black beans (a symbol of good health) was served. Paired with tsukemono: locally pickled hakusai (Chinese cabbage), daikon (radish) and
umeboshi (salted Japanese apricot) accompanied by a cup of briny red miso soup, it left us replete.
A cute bamboo cup of black sesame pudding with a dollop of cream brought our meal to a satisfyingly sublime conclusion. We felt well-fed minus the dreaded heaviness from a multi-course meal.
Expect to pay about RM220-RM250 per person for dinner but the overall experience and food quality make it worthwhile.
For reservations at Mukadeya, seek the assistance of JTB Office at Isetan Kuala Lumpur, Lot 10 Shopping Centre, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. Mukadeya, 381 Mukadeya-machi,
Nishiki-koji Agaru, Shinmachi tori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto
