I am so sorry for the late post!
A few weeks ago, a friend, K, and I went up to Kamogawa (the Pacific side of the peninsula, about an hour's drive east through the mountains) to meet another friend, S, for dinner at an Italian restaurant called
Rosso Bianco. S, K, and another friend, L, have all been there multiple times and rave about how good it is. I was skeptical (because K likes Cocos and I think their food is awful), but still really excited to try this place out. I was pleasantly surprised! Quite surprised, actually. Now I feel like they were holding out on me all this time, lol. Check out the photos:
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| It was a cold rainy day, so coming inside to find an old-fashioned wood-burning stove washed warm and cozy feelings all over me. Plus, the cafe' is dark in a really relaxing way. |
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This is exactly what it looks like: fresh tomato, mozzarella, and ham. But really, it's SO much more. This is a combination that's been done OVER and OVER, but at Rosso they do it so well. The ham is a bit drier and more solid that most raw hams I've had in Japan, and the saltiness and texture balance perfectly with the sweetness of the tomatoes, the springy softness of the cheese, and the tang of the original sauce (yes, it's not just olive oil on top).
I ordered an extra plate of this. I honestly could've just lifted the plate up and poured it down my throat, I was so enamored with this dish. The owner thought it was weird for someone to get so excited about something so simple. |
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| This is the blue cheese pasta that S ordered IN ADDITION to his full set meal and the appetizers that we shared. Good grief this man can eat. I didn't get to taste it, but it smelled fantastic. I think I'll be ordering pasta on my next visit.... |
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| This was what I ordered: barbecue chicken. It is not the gooey red Kraft barbecue sauce I envisioned. It's spicy, sweet, savory, and really light. The chicken was a juicy and flavorful skinless cut. This was great with rice, but I think this would also be amazing on a salad. I'd love the recipe for this sauce, too. I think I could use this on poultry, meat, or fish easily. |
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This was what K and S ordered: the beef carpaccio. According to them, it's one of the greatest things that's ever hit their taste buds. I have an aversion to raw animal flesh, but this dish looked and smelled pretty good, and after the great success I'd had with the other dishes I am tempted to try a piece on my next visit.
By the way, the barbecued chicken set also comes with the miso soup, rice, pickles, and little dish of veggies (top left) like this one. |
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| a little food porn for you connoisseurs... |
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| Dessert plate! It was coffee jelly and a cheesecake? I don't know what it was, but it was set down before me and I ate every last crumb like it was my last meal on earth. I even eyed the dessert case and contemplated buying a cheesecake, but I know I would probably get that thing home, eat myself to sleep, and wake up next to an empty dessert pan with nothing left but regret. |
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| Check this out. Its some sort of kitty crispy who-knows-what decoration. So adorable. I love this place. |
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Look at the pretty leaves in the sauce river! I guess now you know how long ago I visited...
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So there we have it friends. I've extended my 'Boso dining guide outside of just Minamiboso City because there are SO MANY great places to eat here. Being in the countryside means that the food can go from the soil to your plate in the same day. We've got freshly caught fish, fresh picked veggies, fresh dairy, and freshly slaughtered meat. Being close to Tokyo and Yokohama means we have chefs who worked in places with some of the highest standards of food in the world, and they move out here to get away from the city. They're still close enough to Tokyo that they can go anytime, but they can enjoy the beautiful scenery, fresh air, and great produce out here. It's taken me 2.5 years, but I finally realize how lucky I am to be able to be here.
Poetic-waxing aside, Rosso Bianco might be going in my top 10. It's casual dining, in a dim, relaxing atmosphere, with a really interesting chef (you should definitely talk to him, he's hilarious). Plus, the drive from Minamiboso City to Kamogawa, whether through the mountains or along the beach, is absolutely beautiful. I can't wait to go again...
Love,
Liz
