In a residential area near JR Fukuchiyama Station (Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture), I found a round signboard about 30 centimeters in diameter with a cute illustration of a rice ball on it.
"Rice and salt are our life." The owner, Kumi Adachi (52 years old), smiled as she brought us a "rice ball set'' (680 yen) that included two fist-sized rice balls, miso soup, dashi rolls, and pickled vegetables.
She retired from a beverage sales company after 24 years and opened her own store in March 2022. Her two daughters, whom she raised single-handedly, encouraged her by telling her, "You worked hard at work for us, so go do whatever you want.'' She aimed to create a restaurant that would convey the deliciousness of Koshihikari rice made in Ayabe by her acquaintances, and she was particular about the rice balls.
She molded the freshly cooked rice into a triangular mold and squeezed it in her hand five times. She tries to make it so hard that it crumbles when you put it in your mouth. She tried salt from both Japan and abroad, and chose salt from Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, which has a slightly sweet taste. The small amount of rice on the tip of her finger and middle finger brings out the flavor of the rice.
In addition to our signature salt musubi, you can choose one of five types of set: plum, mentaiko, chirimen, salmon, and kelp.
She has never studied cooking professionally. She used the seasonings of her mother's cooking as a reference for the main dishes such as chicken stew with tomatoes, beef stew, sweet and sour pork, and oden that she serves for the daily lunch (1,250 yen). The lunch menu comes with a soft drink, and there is also a fried chicken lunch (1,000 yen). She said, "It's refreshing to meet different customers every day.I want them to enjoy a slightly more luxurious home-cooked meal.''
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KANOA CLIP 217-5 Ekimae-cho, Fukuchiyama-shi, Kyoto. Business hours are Mondays, Thursdays, and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays, the third month of the month, and Sundays. 070 (9015) 5781.
