NATURAL dining TORAMARU
Peeking in secretly to the long, earthy interior of Natural Dining Toramaru whilst no customers were there, made me feel like I was about to step into an ancient machiya-style place sacred in downtown Kyoto.
The restaurant stretches all the way back, like many cafes on Kyomachi Bori street, to reach a greenery so vivid I almost want to call it MA-midori like masshiro {pure WHITE} and makkuro {BLACKEST black}, but know that's just another one of my imaginary made up words of Japlish. The blast of Mother Nature's greenest from the double glass doors tall at the back, was overwhelmingly beautiful.
Having cycled about the city all morning under perfect summer sun, I was over the top hungry. By 11:45, I had found my perfect seat of ambience, selected a lunch set mood, and ordered from the young, fast-talking waitress with the enviable blue sushi-chef style half apron worn in well. What was more surprising than the almost immediate delivery of my anticipated lunch, was the precise arrival of customers constant from 12:01.
The “Nan-mei-sama desu ka?” (How many in your party today?) greetings flowed on and on, and the restaurant quickly filled up. For a Tuesday lunch, it was very impressive, although my waitress mentioned it as one of the slow days.
The joy of going early to a place you have never been, is that you get to see it transform into another identity. I've always liked that. I remember a 24 shot, hour-by-hour photo compilation story I once saw on Cafe Continuous (a groovy 24-hour cafe over in Horie which I promise to write about soon), and the dramatic way a place can be altered with the energy of customer personalities and aura. When I was waitressing a million years ago now, I remember that same sense of change. I felt it again today at Toramaru.
Another great thing about eating out in Japan, is that it is so very easy to indulge yourself to a lunch outing. It is so cheap, so fun, and so invigorating to get out of your daily routine, and possibly make a new 'Deai' (meeting) with something or someone.
The 4 lunch set variety of today, ranging from 650 to 1000 yen with a free drink service of something hot or cold, is extremely good value don't you think?
It delights me always.
I had the TAIYO (sun) set, with a main fish dish (grilled codfish) with a tri-coloured vegetable topping, miso soup, flavoured tofu, rice (second helpings are allowed) and 100% OJ. Perfect!
In the same way of my translation-ing of the word 'Deai', is the music that I notice immediately when I walk into a newly found place stunning. Do you do the same? Do you believe you can learn about the intentions of a place by its CD collection? Just like how we sometimes choose a book by its cover design (which I do often).
Today's soundtrack involved Verve remixed. Jazztronik. Phyllis Dillon. Beck. Otis Redding. Cookin' with Blue Note. Indigo Jam Unit & Flexible. Fantastic Plastic Machine. Spinna B-ill & the Cavemans and Equina de Minnas. This is what I 'met' today.
Who or What will you meet when you visit?
NATURAL dining TORAMARU is open 11:30 – 17:30 for LUNCH
and 18:00 – 24:00 for DINNER.
OPEN everyday.
Here is another visually alluring website (in Japanese).
QUICK and EASY access
Walk 5 minutes from Exit 7 of Higobashi station (Subway Yotsubashi line) down Kyomachi Bori street. Natural Dining Toramaru is on the left side.
If you need something sweet after lunch, why not try the Japanese Cafe Sui next door-ish. All sorts of sugary delights to tempt you!
It is also another great space to breathe in the area's green charm.
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the problem with your blog is that while everything is accurate about Japan - and Osaka, the city I am in love with - nothing is unique to Osaka, nor is it something I can't find in the guide books. I lived in Osaka for several years and loved every minute of it. I also know that by reading your blog I don't the experience of enjoying it all again. perhaps try writing from a tourist point of view - not an eager resident. Look objectively, rather than passionately, and you will hopefully see the difference. Can I, if I were a tourist, find, and understand, every single post you write? Not that I have read so far. As a resident who ate and went everywhere(!!) I still think you are short-changing the city, which is already hard done by the rubbish guide books.
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to write to me. To honor the Osaka I know, I must write in my most authentic voice; one that will always treasure daily passion and enthusiasm over objectivity. This is how I experience my world. This is who I am.
Thank you for your comments.