The Kyoto “Kobe Beef Experience”

If you visit Kyoto, don’t miss the “Kobe beef experience.” I say experience because you’re not just paying $125 for  a meal, you’re paying for an extravaganza.

There are several restaurants that serve Kobe beef. We went to a small one in Gion, Kyoto’s  famous Geisha district. We arrived at the restaurant at about eight p.m. Our dining area consisted of four long tables set in a square around a large central food presentation space. Several other diners sat around the tables. There was one other American couple and the rest were Japanese. However, language was no barrier as we all partied together.

One non-English speaking Japanese family was celebrating a birthday. We spent time toasting them. Everyone took turns buying drinks for one another. I learned to like sake. By the time we’d eaten and drank our way through several courses consisting of salad, grilled shrimp, and fried potatoes, all around the table were feeling pretty jovial.

After we finished the melt-in-your-mouth Kobe beef, the chef appeared. As he entered the presentation area we all applauded him then gave him a drink. He danced about and sang a little Japanese tune. We thought he might keep a little nip next to his cook stove in the kitchen. We found out later that traditionally, every time a group finishes a meal, the chef comes out and joins them in a little liquid refreshment. Since we were the last group of the evening, the chef had already had a few drinks. He frolicked with us until closing time. Before leaving, we shook his hand and praised his expert culinary skills.

That was our Kyoto “Kobe Beef Experience.”

Photo: Kobe.com

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