Visited 16.10.2015 (Fri)
Go French. Experienced French cuisine at a restaurant for the very first time in Japan. As many foreign missionaries came to Hirosaki during the Meiji period, it led to construction of numerous western style buildings in this city and influenced the eating culture then. Apart from apple pies, I found out that French is a popular cuisine here as there are quite a few French restaurants to choose from in the city. Wanted to patronise a mid range restaurant and found Chez Moi シェ.モア. Established in 1987, the owner named the restaurant Chez Moi, which means home in French, because he hoped that diners can feel like that they are returning home when dining in his restaurant. In fact, the interior of the restaurant takes on a homely, country style design; tables which were laid with floral tablecloth were separated by ample distance to ensure diners could have their own private space as much as possible. What caught me by surprise was the waiter was even donned in the classic black and white type of uniform; which made me really felt like I was dinning in an atas French restaurant.
Menu. Diners can choose the course based on their budget and appetite. Lunch course ranges from 1,650 to 3,650 yen, while dinner course ranges from 2,200 to 4,200 yen (all before tax). There is an omakase course in which the chef focuses on utilising seasonal ingredients to create the dishes. Being one of top producer of apples in Aomori Prefecture, Chez moi also has a "Apple Full Course りんごフルコース" whereby the fruit is creatively incorporated into all the dishes; from soup, mains to dessert (do note that this course requires prior reservation for a minimum of two diners). F
Cooking style. All of us ordered dinner course A (was 2,000 yen previously and now 2,200 yen) which came with appetiser, soup, bread, main dish, dessert and drinks (either espresso or black tea). or the mains included in the conventional set lunch and dinner, diners can choose either seafood such as fish of the day and scallops or meat such as beef, pork, duck and venison; some requiring additional top up of money. After much contemplation, I had the poêlé cooked Aomori produced kurobuta pork loin with honey and vanilla beans (青森産黒豚ロース肉ポワレ蜂蜜とバニラビーンズ風味), while my parents had the breaded Aomori produced kurobuta pork loin with mushroom cream sauce (青森産黒豚ロース肉のパン粉焼き茸のクリームソース), and Hakkoda produced barbarie duck loin poêlé cooked and served with apple (八甲田産バルバリー鴨ロース肉ポワレりんご添え). I am definitely not a connoisseur of French cuisine; had to google what poêlé actually meant. Found out that it is a French technique of cooking which means pot roasting of food with butter.
While waiting for our dinner to be served, I spotted a magazine article placed on a side table and it was a write up about Chez moi. Read that the chef was determined to create French cuisine using the freshest ingredients sourced locally and even started cultivating his own vegetables to realise the farm-to-table concept in his restaurant - kudos to him! Our dinner course started off with petit hors d'oeuvre (small appertiser) - a slice of bread with savory spread served with dry cured ham and olive, creamy potato soup served with croutons, and slices of bread to go with the soup.
For my main (Aomori produced kurobuta pork loin with honey and vanilla beans), visually it looked very appealing and I could not wait to slice my knife through the meat right away. The pork loin was cooked perfectly - right texture and doneness, nice searing and caramelisation on the meat and right amount of seasoning. All of us were very satisfied with our mains - the duck loin which my mother had was also cooked beautifully; meat slightly pink on the inside and crispy skin with fat layer still intact on the outside. The dinner ended with a delectable french apple cake topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and black tea served in delicate porcelain ware. Spent some time here reminiscing our trip so far (since it was our last night in Japan) while sipping our drinks and left the restaurant with a very satisfied palate.
It was due this extraordinary experience in Chez moi that I started to keep a look out for western fare whenever I am in Japan; and so far I have not been disappointed by their yoshoku (western food).
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French Shokudo Chez moi フランス食堂 シェ.モア
〒036-8001 青森県弘前市代官町53-2
Operating hours: 1100 - 1400 hrs, 1700 - 2100 hrs; Closed on Monday’s
http://chezmoihirosaki.com/
How to get there?
7 minutes walk from Hirosaki JR Station Chuo Exit 弘前駅中央口.
Go French. Experienced French cuisine at a restaurant for the very first time in Japan. As many foreign missionaries came to Hirosaki during the Meiji period, it led to construction of numerous western style buildings in this city and influenced the eating culture then. Apart from apple pies, I found out that French is a popular cuisine here as there are quite a few French restaurants to choose from in the city. Wanted to patronise a mid range restaurant and found Chez Moi シェ.モア. Established in 1987, the owner named the restaurant Chez Moi, which means home in French, because he hoped that diners can feel like that they are returning home when dining in his restaurant. In fact, the interior of the restaurant takes on a homely, country style design; tables which were laid with floral tablecloth were separated by ample distance to ensure diners could have their own private space as much as possible. What caught me by surprise was the waiter was even donned in the classic black and white type of uniform; which made me really felt like I was dinning in an atas French restaurant.
Menu. Diners can choose the course based on their budget and appetite. Lunch course ranges from 1,650 to 3,650 yen, while dinner course ranges from 2,200 to 4,200 yen (all before tax). There is an omakase course in which the chef focuses on utilising seasonal ingredients to create the dishes. Being one of top producer of apples in Aomori Prefecture, Chez moi also has a "Apple Full Course りんごフルコース" whereby the fruit is creatively incorporated into all the dishes; from soup, mains to dessert (do note that this course requires prior reservation for a minimum of two diners). F
Cooking style. All of us ordered dinner course A (was 2,000 yen previously and now 2,200 yen) which came with appetiser, soup, bread, main dish, dessert and drinks (either espresso or black tea). or the mains included in the conventional set lunch and dinner, diners can choose either seafood such as fish of the day and scallops or meat such as beef, pork, duck and venison; some requiring additional top up of money. After much contemplation, I had the poêlé cooked Aomori produced kurobuta pork loin with honey and vanilla beans (青森産黒豚ロース肉ポワレ蜂蜜とバニラビーンズ風味), while my parents had the breaded Aomori produced kurobuta pork loin with mushroom cream sauce (青森産黒豚ロース肉のパン粉焼き茸のクリームソース), and Hakkoda produced barbarie duck loin poêlé cooked and served with apple (八甲田産バルバリー鴨ロース肉ポワレりんご添え). I am definitely not a connoisseur of French cuisine; had to google what poêlé actually meant. Found out that it is a French technique of cooking which means pot roasting of food with butter.
While waiting for our dinner to be served, I spotted a magazine article placed on a side table and it was a write up about Chez moi. Read that the chef was determined to create French cuisine using the freshest ingredients sourced locally and even started cultivating his own vegetables to realise the farm-to-table concept in his restaurant - kudos to him! Our dinner course started off with petit hors d'oeuvre (small appertiser) - a slice of bread with savory spread served with dry cured ham and olive, creamy potato soup served with croutons, and slices of bread to go with the soup.
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| Aomori produced kurobuta pork loin with honey and vanilla beans |
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| Hakkoda produced barbarie duck loin poêlé cooked and served with apple |
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| Breaded Aomori produced kurobuta pork loin with mushroom cream sauce |
It was due this extraordinary experience in Chez moi that I started to keep a look out for western fare whenever I am in Japan; and so far I have not been disappointed by their yoshoku (western food).
=====
French Shokudo Chez moi フランス食堂 シェ.モア
〒036-8001 青森県弘前市代官町53-2
Operating hours: 1100 - 1400 hrs, 1700 - 2100 hrs; Closed on Monday’s
http://chezmoihirosaki.com/
How to get there?
7 minutes walk from Hirosaki JR Station Chuo Exit 弘前駅中央口.
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