edge
With my wifeRestaurant Ichigen CoCoLo Niigata branchAfter eating ramen at Niigata Station, I walked around Niigata Station and headed toward Bandai, the center of Niigata City.
I decided to have a light drink, so I went to ``'' on the way from the station to Bandai.edge”.
The store name is pronounced Enishi.
It's actually January 2nd, but I never expected it to be open. .
I visited around 14:00, and the restaurant was almost full.
Everyone has the same idea that they get tired of eating during the New Year's holidays and head out into the city. .
jim beam highball
Usually we start with beer, but this restaurant specializes in highballs, so...jim beam highball' We will start with.
Jim Beam is a whiskey produced in the United States—in other words, bourbon.
The Jim Beam Distillery itself, which produces it, is now owned by Suntory (Suntory Global Spirits), so you can often find it in Japanese supermarkets and restaurants.
You can often find Jim Beam Highballs at restaurants that are fully immersed in Suntory's business, but you should be careful because the taste is unique.
Generally, highballs at restaurants are often Suntory's Kakubin (Kaku Highball).
Kaku Highball was also on the menu at this restaurant, but this time I chose Jim Beam.
First of all, the difference in raw materials is that Kakubin is a Japanese blended whisky, which is a blend of malt (barley) and grain (cereals).
Jim Beam is a bourbon and a grain whisky.
As for the taste, Kakubin has a sweetness but is crisply dry and has a smooth taste, so I don't think there are many people who don't like it.
On the other hand, Jim Beam has the sweetness of grain and the woodiness of barrels, and at best it has a strong flavor, and at worst it has a strong taste, so I think it's a matter of taste whether you like it or not.
『I always drink kakubin, but sometimes I'll try something different.” and ordered a Jim Beam Highball, but it was so addictive that I couldn't drink it. . Anything can happen. .
Personally, I've always disliked bourbons such as Jim Beam, but lately I've become addicted to bourbons.
If you can drink it, I think Jim Beam Highball would go well with richly flavored meals such as fried foods.
Even a square bottle goes well and is delicious.
Learning about the drink itself can take everyday enjoyment up a level, so it is interesting to research ingredients and production methods, not only for whiskey.
Otoshi (Appetizer)
The appetizer was oden.
There are two types of ingredients: chikuwa and egg.
I'm usually in Tokyo, so Niigata feels even colder in winter, so I'm thankful for that.
The chikuwa and egg were delicious and soaked up the soup stock well.
Black pork minced meat cutlet
Another highlight of this restaurant is the minced meat cutlet.
It goes without saying that fried foods go well with highballs, not just minced meat cutlets.
I ended up breaking it with my chopsticks to share. .
The meat juices will come out quite a bit.
The batter was so thick that I think it was used to trap the meat juices. .
I think the correct way to eat it was to bite into it with the intention of getting burned. .
It was a delicious minced meat cutlet with a strong meaty taste, and the batter added a nice texture.
Kurobuta pork cheese minced meat cutlet
『Kurobuta pork cheese minced meat cutlet' was also on the menu, so I had no choice but to order this.
Even the regular minced meat cutlet was delicious, so adding cheese to it makes it even better.
Ume chicken wings
Continuing on from the restaurant's recommended menu, ``Ume chicken wings”.
It is fried chicken wings.
You can order in units of 3, and the seasoning is ``Sweet sauce black pepper, garlic salt, curry consommé, lemon salt, Korean flavor, chopped wasabiYou can choose one flavor in units of 3 out of the 6 types.
This time I ordered 3 bottles, so I could choose one flavor, but...garlic salt” was selected.
The garlic flavor and saltiness were added to the fat and flavor of the chicken wings themselves, so it was delicious.
Kwai chips
For snacks.Kwai chips” I also ordered.
It has a taro-like texture with a sweet and slightly bitter taste.
I don't think children will like the taste, but it's a nice snack for adults.
Impressions
The total bill was approximately 4,500 yen, including 2 highballs, a glass of lemon sour ordered by my wife, 4 snacks, and an appetizer.
Starting with fried minced meat cutlet and chicken wings, there was no way that fried foods and highballs wouldn't go well together.
It's open from noon, so I think it's a good place to grab a quick drink.
The only concern is that smoking is allowed inside the store.
Paper cigarettes were also allowed, so for smokers these days it seems like a paradise, but for non-smokers it's a cause for concern.
Menchikatsu and fried chicken wings are not Niigata's specialty, so I can't recommend them to people who are sightseeing, and I don't think anyone will visit them. .
I think this restaurant is recommended for smokers who want to have a quick drink during the day.
