Editor-in-Chief Ishii's ``A Splendid Life of Extraneous Thoughts''

I want to do that, I want to do this. I want to enjoy life even more! Based on such greedy thoughts, we will deliver the daily life of editor-in-chief Ishii, who enjoys life full of distractions. This time, we will be talking about the ``Five Elements, Japanese and Chinese Menu,'' which is considered the ``ultimate dietary regimen.'' I visited ``Hei Fung Terrace'' in ``The Peninsula Tokyo'', which is one of the best Chinese restaurants in Japan and often appears in LEON. The perfect dish to take care of your mind and body during the intense heat!

Honzokaku, a long-established pharmacy with a history of 190 years in Nagoya. The ``Five Elements Japanese and Chinese Menu'' was born in collaboration with Akane Akiyama, a pharmacist who is the ninth generation of the company. "Wakan" is the so-called Chinese medicine, which is based on Chinese medicine and has developed uniquely to suit Japan's climate and natural features. Under the supervision of Mr. Akiyama, a specialist in this field, the menu is based on Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, and incorporates medicinal ingredients not only based on what humans have innately, but also based on their daily lifestyle habits. The first item on the menu is ``Cold soup with Junsai and purslane from Akita Prefecture, scented with Longjing tea.'' It has a bitter taste similar to traditional Chinese medicine, but it seems to have a cooling effect on the body. My mouth and stomach felt strangely refreshed as I enjoyed the jiggly juicy meat going down my throat. My appetite has increased.

The second menu items are: Live abalone and seaweed, marinated lotus germ tomato, Beef tongue and white bitter melon cooked in light bean sprouts, Char siu and aloe dressed with honey, gold and silver, Sour dates, Mulberries, Agu pork, Pumpkin, Steamed Domyoji powder, Pure white from Saku and Ariake tiger prawns and herbal carrot xiao long bao.” Phew (lol). The platter of 5 appetizers had a well-balanced combination of ingredients that both cooled down and warmed up the body, and each had a strong umami yet gentle taste.

This is what I liked most about this menu. ``Steamed winter melon soup with duck meat, king crab, shrimp, dried oysters, pigeon barley, roe, light bamboo leaves, mokka, and soy sauce.'' A large winter melon is hollowed out and the hot soup is served in it, but when it comes to serving it on a plate, the soft steamed flesh of the winter melon is scraped off. It's so delicious that you can't help but get another helping! I wanted to scream. It was a pervasive sensation as it traveled from the mouth to the esophagus and stomach.

I wrote that it's a big winter melon, but as you can see, it's really big! It seems that the chef takes about two hours to carve this pattern by hand, and it is extremely detailed. When you try this menu, be sure to take a commemorative photo. There is no doubt that it will look good.

Do you know what kind of fish this is? The correct answer is carp. Enjoy carp, which has the strongest vitality among fish and is said to be able to survive in any environment, and instill that strength into your body. Generally speaking, this fish is often thought of as having a muddy smell, but of course that's not true, and the sauce is also delicious! I bit into the melting meat. “Saku carp, ancient cucumber, salted lemon, and red adzuki bean stew with herbal medicine.”

The final dish was ``Miyazaki Prefecture local chicken dokudami, 37 carrots, spring turmeric soup and dragon beard noodles.'' The Jitō chicken dipping sauce, which gives you a feeling of primitive power, is the best, and it soaks into your mind and body.

At the end, we had sweets and medicinal tea, and I felt that even though I ate so much, I didn't feel sluggish and that it was good for my body. A Japanese and Chinese menu that frees your mind and body. It is also recommended as a secret strategy to survive the intense heat!

2023 Summer “Five Elements Japanese and Chinese Menu”
Period: Until Sunday, August 31, 2023 Price: 30,000 yen per person With original Japanese and Chinese cocktail pairing: 34,500 yen With original Japanese and Chinese non-alcoholic pairing: 33,800 yen