Kataori

The local Kanazawa ingredients in the pantry at Kataori make for a kaiseki meal that can’t be recreated elsewhere — one which is rooted in the locality and intimately connected to its natural environment. This restaurant on the banks of the Asano River is a veritable showcase of everything that’s great about the local area. Even the stone of the floor was mined from a local mountain, while the wood of the counter was cut from the prefecture’s official tree. There isn’t a corner of this restaurant which doesn’t showcase the rich culture of Kanazawa. As for the dishes themselves, minimalist cooking techniques allow the ingredients to breathe, expressing their natural flavors to the fullest. To make them, every day the owner makes a trip to the coast to buy fresh fish, collecting fresh spring water on the way home, and visiting local farmers who he knows personally to gather vegetables for the evening. He even picks his own wild mushrooms when the time of year is right! The final crowning touches to this local celebration are the dining ware, borrowed from the chef and his wife’s collection of local artisan antique; and the sake, which is sourced from local breweries and changes throughout the year.