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2023-02-12
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As Valentine's Day was fast approaching and I had to be at work, we decided to celebrate it a bit early by having dinner at Trattoria Kagawa by Mihara. A casual Italian restaurant run by a Japanese chef who uses ingredients from his hometown of Kagawa. We made a reservation and it was a good thing we did. It was busy and mostly full house.The space isn't very big but there is outdoor seating and a private room. They have a row of seats facing the large teppanyaki station where you can see the c
The space isn't very big but there is outdoor seating and a private room. They have a row of seats facing the large teppanyaki station where you can see the chef preparing your food. We weren't so lucky to get seated there. The backdrop is a gorgeous mural of Kagawa and the things that represent it.
Menu is in English and Japanese. Staff speak English only. The menu isn't very big and very concise. They do have a very extensive wine and sake list.
We decided to focus on starters because those items interested us the most.We started with Trippa Alla Kagawa ($88). Trippa is a popular dish found throughout Italy with each region calling it their own. But oddly, it's not a common dish outside Italy. Perhaps it's the use of beef tripe that makes it not so welcoming. But trust me. Tripe is one of the most underrated use of beef. Here they serve it with a rich tomato sauce complete with a plenty of Parmesan and a soft set Kagoshima egg where the yolk is still runny enough to create an extra layer of sauce. The thickly cut tripe itself was so soft, it literally melted in my mouth.
It was served with a soft fragrant slice of focaccia that mopped up the sauce perfectly.
The other starter was Fritto Misto ($78). Another popular Italian dish found in the southern coastal areas. Where a light batter is coated onto seafood and vegetables and deep fried. Here they useTokushima Squid and it was served with a umami rich Anchovy tartar sauce and a side of salt. The batter was light and thin. The squid was soft and not overcooked.
From the teppanyaki, we chose Hokkaido Scallop ($158). Served on a rustic ratatouille that possibly outshone the scallop. A simple slice of eggplant soaked up all the juices and was so sweet and tender.
We shared a main of Japanese Wagyu Beef Rossini ($378). Foie gras was served on top of beef tenderloin and a buttery soft mashed potato was the base with an acidicly sweet Madeira sauce. The foie gras was seared to a crisp exterior but a soft melt in your mouth center. The tenderloin was so soft, one didn't even need to chew. Crunchy garlic chips were on the side.
For dessert we shared a Biancomangiare ($78). Traditionally a Sicilian almond milk pudding that is much like the panna cotta but softer. Here they use matcha and cream instead of almond milk. It was topped with Japanese sweet potato cream and azuki bean paste. Making this a not too sweet but ultra rich dessert.
Service was attentative, with constant clearing of dishes and tidying up. The food was excellent and a very clever fusion of two different food cultures. Definitely a wonderful date night place.
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