CANAVON, a natural wine spot near Jingu-Marutamachi in Kyoto. A small bistro. After everything, the dish that stayed with me the most was the fries. Sometimes it is the classics over the curveballs, is it not? Today was wonderful, as always.
What kind of place is CANAVON?
A counter-focused bistro just off the Marutamachi-Kawaramachi intersection, facing the street. A lovely place with natural wine plus carefully made dishes that really shine.
The chef is probably shy. Does not say much. It might even come across as a little… shy? Maybe. But thanks to that, you can relax without feeling like you have to make conversation. A nice sense of distance when you are on your own.
A Tabletop Journey: CANAVON
From the first glass of wine to the finishing cheese. A dish-by-dish record at CANAVON near Jingu-Marutamachi in Kyoto.
8 items
The First Glass of Natural Wine
The evening begins with the CANAVON glass plus the bottle on the counter. That first glass sets the mood right away.
Ham with Watercress
Thin slices of ham with a generous pile of watercress. Simple, yet it goes so well with wine.
Pâté de Campagne
Rustic pâté with carrot rapé plus grain mustard. A dense, full flavor; the kind that keeps the red wine going.
Eggplant with Scallop Tartare
Scallop tartare paired with eggplant. The green sauce looked beautiful, cool, refreshing.
Fries★Star of the Day
Crisply fried potato with cheese. Do not underestimate a humble potato; this was the one that landed hardest, shape included.
Potato Gratin
A gratin baked in an oval dish. Potato, I think. That golden, crispy top really gets the appetite going.
On to the Second Glass
Another glass of red. Two glasses of natural wine, taken slowly.
Cheese to Finish★The Finish
Cheese instead of dessert. I wanted something sweet too, but with the wine, this was a good finish.
Wrapping up
In the end, it was the fries plus the pâté that left me the most satisfied. The curveballs were good, but oh, the strength of a classic. Then again, was that a curveball after all? The food, plus that perfectly judged distance with the chef, made it just the right place to sit with wine at your own pace.
