日常の喧騒から逃れて、「大人の隠れ家」へ : HIDE OUT

One autumn night, the footsteps of winter were drawing closer day by day. I was invited to hold a small birthday party, so I visited this restaurant. Located a little outside the area around Shimane University, the restaurant is like a hideaway, as the name suggests. The lights visible from the store window warmly illuminate the autumn night after dark. I felt invited in. On the other side of the nearby river is the so-called "Gakuen-dori" street. Looking at the lively signs of Tomaoni and supermarkets, and the car lights passing by in the distance, it feels like this side is a different world. The lighting is calm, and the interior is stylish but not stuffy, and has a playful feel. Tonight, I went up to the only kotatsu seat in the restaurant. A corner of about 2 tatami mats surrounded by white walls is a semi-private room, and a kotatsu is placed there. It looks like a small photo booth. There are also large tables, a bar counter, and sofas with a view of the river, and every seat has a relaxing atmosphere. The menu here has a wide variety of drinks and food. I had heard that there were several Cheese Dishes that used a lot of raclette cheese. I had been looking forward to it even before coming, so I ordered fondue, classic Cheese Dishes. First, we had a toast to "Happy Birthday." At my age, it feels a little embarrassing (lol). Those who can drink can have draft beer, and those who can't drink can have a non-alcoholic cocktail. ●Saratoga Cooler A non-alcoholic cocktail made with ginger ale and a hint of lime. The ginger ale used is, of course, Wilkinson. I love this dry taste. ●Raclette Cheese Fondue This is enough for one or two people. A small red ceramic pot is served with plenty of melted cheese and a plate of various ingredients. There are no long, thin forks for fondue, so each person uses chopsticks to mix the ingredients into the cheese. The hot raclette cheese pulls out a string from the small fondue pot. It's also fun to roll up the string and bring it to your mouth. The soft texture of the cheese and the rich aroma are irresistible for cheese lovers! The ingredients are the standard bread, sausage, potato, asparagus, and broccoli. I was a little surprised that the Takoyaki was unglazed, but it was surprisingly a good match for the salty cheese. However, as I slowly savored the taste, the temperature of the cheese gradually dropped and it hardened. Therefore, in the latter half of the meal, I ate it in a hurry, moving the cheese with my chopsticks. There was a small flame burning under the fondue pot, like the one-person pots you see on the dining table at Ryokan, but when I looked later, I saw that it was not solid fuel for the pot, but a small candle for aroma. The cheese must have cooled down because the heat was not enough. It seems better to eat it quickly when it comes out. Still, it was a dish that I liked so much that I would definitely order it again next time. ● Ajillo Ajillo served in a cast iron skillet with oil still simmering in it. Skillets, which have become commonplace recently, keep food from getting cold, and they are cute because they remind me of a small frying pan for playing house. It is filled with soft and tender chicken skirt steak and mushrooms, and the colorful red peppers whet your appetite. ●Fresh spring rolls (half) Fresh spring rolls with sunny lettuce and small shrimp wrapped in a thin skin made of rice flour. I thought they would be cut into bite-sized pieces, but they came out boldly in a thick roll, which surprised me. I opened my mouth wide and took a bite, just like a ehomaki roll. There was no separate sauce, and the inside was already seasoned with dressing. Personally, I would have liked it with sweet chili sauce. ●Chodeka Hand-kneaded Hamburg (single item) A big, meaty hamburger! This was also served piping hot in a cast iron skillet, just like Ajillo. It's quite filling, even if you share it. Another nice point is that it comes with a lot of demi-glace sauce. The seasoning is not bad either. ●Peperoncino fried rice This is fried rice, with rice fried in garlic and chili oil, just like peperoncino pasta. I saw this on the menu and ordered it as a final dish, but it was an unexpected hit. I wonder if I can recreate this at home using a store-bought pasta sauce? I definitely want to try it. When I was eating the fried rice, I changed my drink to oolong tea. By the way, the person drinking the beer praised it, saying, "It's a beer with fine bubbles and is really delicious." There are also a wide variety of cocktails, alcoholic drinks, and soft drinks, so it's fun to have a variety of drinks to choose from, whether you can drink alcohol or not. There are also other food menu items such as taco rice and keema curry, so it seems like it would be a good place to have a leisurely dinner by yourself. Some of Sweets, such as Crepes suzette, also looked delicious. They seem to be particular about their coffee, so it was a nice shop that would be convenient as a late-night cafe. ...What if the number of customers increases and it becomes popular as a result of writing a review recommending it... It would be a problem if it becomes too lively and no longer a "hideaway" (wry smile). It's getting to be a pain to count my age now, but I'm still happy to be celebrated. I had a great time sitting comfortably in the kotatsu, enjoying delicious food and fun conversation.