A first visit in Musashikosugi: fish, garlic and mojitos
At a place she was visiting for the first time in Musashikosugi, the fish recommendations came before the first order. Kosugi beer, a few plates of seafood, garlic and a mojito she wanted again made it an enjoyable meal.
A personal food-and-drink visit preserved in Haruru’s record saved on 13 July 2023, edited with her existing permission.
A first visit and a glass of Kosugi beer
Haruru described the place as something like an Italian izakaya. The photographs show a counter lined with handwritten menu cards and the name NATURA on the shop’s printed material.
She was able to go straight in on this visit, which felt lucky to her. The first drink was Kosugi beer: fruity and easy to drink in her telling.
Fish dishes and anchovy edamame
On entering, she was told about the recommended fish. She ordered smoked gomasaba, a three-fish carpaccio and anchovy edamame.
The photographs show thin slices arranged around a plate beneath greens and red and yellow strips of vegetables, followed by edamame in their pods with a scattered topping. The first order already brought plenty to the table.
A recommendation brought to the table
More recommendations came to the seat, including scallops and a yellowtail collar. It felt a little like a sales pitch, Haruru joked, and she found herself asking for scallops.
Her photograph shows two scallops on their shells, with chopped spring onion and a green sauce. Seeing the next recommendation was part of the fun of choosing what to eat.
Bread and pancetta with garlic
The garlic focaccia was fluffy and tasted good to her. Her record also praises the pancetta for its garlic flavour: the meal had room for both fish and meat.
The saved photographs turn from the fish to browned pieces of meat with vegetables, and to two thick pieces of bread with toasted edges and scattered herbs. Garlic was one of the flavours she kept mentioning.
A mojito she wanted again
Her second drink was kiwi sangria, which she wrote that she had not photographed. The third was a mojito, and she liked it enough to order two more.
The mojito photograph shows ice and green leaves in a pale drink. With a full stomach and a light buzz, Haruru headed home by train.
Sources for this account
Edited with Haruru’s existing permission from her personal record and its saved photographs. Orders, drink sequence and taste impressions come from her account; NATURA is legible on the photographed shop material. The record is a past experience.