Al-che-cciano is an Italian restaurant known for feast made with variety of local fresh ingredients, vegetable, pork, seafood and fruits in Shonai (庄内) area, Yamagata (山形) prefecture, Tohoku (東北) region. Of course it is one of restaurants I want to visit one day.
However just to enjoy a part of the restaurants' essence in Tokyo without traveling to Yamagata by taking journey for a few hours, its small unit opened inside of JR Tokyo Station! It is called "Yudero 191 from Al-Che-Cciano". "Yudero" sounds for us in Japanese, "ゆでろ/Let's boil! " , though I am not sure why the chef Mr. Masayuki Okuda named it so.
The restaurant situated in a commercial area inside of JR Tokyo station, Gransta Dining on the first floor. The interior of the restaurant implies countryside of Yamagata and fresh foods produced there.
The meals on the menu is Italian and for almost all dishes, fresh ingredients from Yamagata are used. The side dish salad is not an exception. Benihana (べに花, Sufflower), Zuiki potato chips, apple, radish, garlic chips are made up of a colorful salad plate.
Here alcohol drink to have is fresh Japanese Sake (日本酒), not Italian wine! I ordered the one by glass called "Mi-ciu-ran"(水酒蘭). The original brand produced by the restaurant Al-Che-Cciano sounds like "Michelin" and natural water taken at the restaurant site is used for the production. The taste is fresh and a bit sweet. It can be taken as alternative option of white wine.
The main dish plate includes pasta with gobo (ごぼう, burdock) sauce, ox tongue stew, Asatsuki leek sautee.
The concept, fresh ingredients from Yamagata, spreads to the dessert menu.
What I ordered is ice cream in "Tsuki no shizuku no shio"(月の雫の塩) flavor. "Tsuki no shizuku no shio" (meant "salt drops from the moon") is originally produced salt brand by the restaurant as well. The name itself fascinates dinner for romantic mood...
The small pot of salt "Tsuki no shizuku no shio" is on all tables with a message, which encourages guests to put some pieces on their plate, because the restaurant uses salt at minimum level on their cooking process. The plates are appreciated to wide range of people who like less-salty food or love rich taste. Up to you.
Of course the menu offered are changed season by season. It's worth trying different pasta plates time by time. Why don't you try Yamagata's famous specialty "inside" of JR Tokyo station ? just before you leave for Kyoto, Osaka or any other destination.
Restaurant name: Yudero 191 Al-Che-Cciano
Location: JR Tokyo Station 1st floor, Gransta Dining
Al-Che-Cciano website (Japanese only) - http://www.alchecciano.com/
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