EAT | A Culinary Journey Through Kyoto
EAT | Savor Kyoto's Diverse Flavors!
Embark on a Culinary Journey Through Kyoto – "Diners Club Kyoto Restaurant Winter Special 2014"
What comes to mind when you think of "Winter in Kyoto"? Snow-covered landscapes? Temples and shrines? Or perhaps geisha entertainment? This winter, we invite you to add "restaurant hopping" to that list. Every February, a gourmet festival called "Diners Club Kyoto Restaurant Winter Special 2014" is held, offering a diverse array of "Kyoto flavors," from traditional Japanese to French cuisine. Now in its fifth year, the event features a record 150 participating restaurants. Why not visit and experience Kyoto's world-renowned "food culture" and "hospitality" firsthand?
Text by JUNKO TANAKA (OPENERS)
From Esteemed Traditional Establishments to Cutting-Edge Young Chefs
Kyoto attracts tourists from around the world in spring for its cherry blossoms and in autumn for its fall foliage. But winter also brings its own seasonal bounty to this city: ingredients. From Kyoto vegetables like Mibuna, Kintoki carrots, and Kujo leeks, to seafood such as crab, pufferfish, and grunt (amadai), it is truly a season befitting the name "treasure trove of food."
Launched in 2010, the "Kyoto Restaurant Winter Special" was conceived as a gourmet festival to allow people to easily savor "authentic Kyoto cuisine" using these winter ingredients. In its fifth iteration, approximately 150 restaurants, ranging from long-established kaiseki establishments to restaurants run by innovative young chefs, are participating, each with its own unique style and genre.
Hyotei, a long-established ryotei founded in 1830
La Biographie, awarded one Michelin star
The garden at the ryokan "Yachiyo" is recommended for evening visits
IL GHIOTTONE Honten, an authentic Italian restaurant located right next to Yasaka Pagoda
The event runs from Saturday, February 1st to Friday, February 28th. You can enjoy special menus crafted by Kyoto's leading chefs at special prices (available at 2,500, 5,000, 7,500, 10,000, or 15,000 yen). Don't miss this opportunity.
The "Special Menu for February" served in Hyotei's tea house
A course meal at "La Biographie…"
Yachiyo's signature dish, "Suppon Nabe" (soft-shelled turtle hot pot)
While Kyoto's restaurants might sometimes seem intimidating, stepping inside reveals a warm "hospitality." After all, as an international city, a religious center, and a historic capital, Kyoto has long thrived on welcoming guests. Whether in a restaurant or elsewhere, the custom of this city is to be completely dedicated to the guest's enjoyment, from the initial greeting of "Oideyasu" (welcome) to the service, the seasonal dishes, and the room's arrangement (shitsurai).
You might choose to fully indulge in Washoku, the Japanese cuisine now gaining global attention after being registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Or perhaps immerse yourself in the Kyoto style of "hospitality." Why not explore "Kyoto's flavors" in your own way over the course of this month?
"Diners Club Kyoto Restaurant Winter Special 2014"
Dates | Saturday, February 1st – Friday, February 28th
Prices | (1) 2,500 yen (2) 5,000 yen (3) 7,500 yen (4) 10,000 yen (5) 15,000 yen (all prices include tax and service charge)
Reservation Period | From Thursday, January 23rd, 10:00 AM / Diners Club members have priority pre-booking from Thursday, January 16th, 9:00 AM
How to Reserve | Telephone reservation
* Please be sure to mention that you wish to order the special menu for "Diners Club Kyoto Restaurant Winter Special."
* Diners Club members can also book through the official website.
http://www.diners-krws.com