The spread of the novel coronavirus has greatly changed our lives.
Our interactions with others and ways of working have changed, and spending more time at home has even led to the creation of the term "home time."
To prevent the spread of infection, the food and beverage industry has avoided large gatherings, and there were times when the provision of alcohol and even operations themselves were not possible.
The food and beverage industry has suffered significant damage due to the novel coronavirus, but there are companies that have turned a crisis into an opportunity.
Something Four Co., Ltd. is one of them.
We will introduce the new product announcement and tasting experience of the new food service "Gochi-Fure Kurashiki," which was born during the pandemic.
About Something Four
Something Four Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Something Four) is a company that operates wedding businesses and restaurants, with an office located in Kurashiki City.
It has two wedding venues, The Kamon and EYOHAKU, located in Kurashiki City.
On days when weddings are not held, both venues serve lunch as restaurants.
There are also occasions when dinner is provided for events.
In addition to those considering a wedding at Something Four, general customers can also use the facilities casually.
About The Kamon
The Kamon is a wedding venue located in the Bikan Historical Area, renovated from a 230-year-old traditional house.
Upon entering, you can see the impressive beams and a beautiful courtyard, which convey the history of the building.
While retaining a Japanese atmosphere, it incorporates modern design, resembling the fusion of Japanese and Western cultures found in the streets of Kurashiki.
At The Kamon, dishes are served using seasonal local vegetables selected by the chef.
Enjoy meals in a space where Japanese and Western styles merge.
About EYOHAKU
EYOHAKU, located about 3 minutes by car from the Bikan Historical Area in the Hashima region, is a building characterized by its impressive curves and straight lines.
The white walls stand out against the blue sky.
Inside, sunlight pours in, and outside, there is a lush green garden.
In contrast to the outside, the interior is decorated in calm grayish colors, creating a moody space.
Lunch is based on French cuisine.
Similar to The Kamon, colorful dishes using seasonal ingredients are served.
Something Four's New Challenge
The Kamon and EYOHAKU have been operating weddings and lunch services, but due to the impact of the spread of the novel coronavirus, many weddings have been postponed and people have been refraining from dining out, resulting in significant damage.
In this difficult situation, the idea of "Gochi-Fure Kurashiki - Gourmet French Delivered to Your Home" (hereinafter referred to as Gochi-Fure Kurashiki) was born, aiming to see what could be done as a wedding venue through food.
This service delivers authentic dishes from the chef to your home, frozen.
I attended the new product announcement and tasting experience for Gochi-Fure Kurashiki.
Overview of the New Product Announcement and Tasting Experience
Here is an overview of the new product announcement and tasting experience for Gochi-Fure Kurashiki.
During the tasting experience, actual products were served.
Tasting Gochi-Fure Kurashiki
The menu for Gochi-Fure Kurashiki consists of French-based dishes made by the grand chefs of The Kamon and EYOHAKU, which have been rapidly frozen.
By rapidly freezing, the deliciousness can be preserved as is.
Gochi-Fure Kurashiki can be purchased at the online shop.
At the new product announcement and tasting experience, the frozen menu was reheated and served.
First, the person in charge of development started with an explanation of Gochi-Fure Kurashiki.
After the explanation, we went to the counter to pick up the dishes.
All the dishes on the plate are those sold by Gochi-Fure Kurashiki.
They are colorful and have not lost their shape.
They look as if they have just been cooked, and to think that they were once rapidly frozen!
I could feel the effort of the development team even before tasting.
The plate was so fulfilling that I couldn't decide where to start.
I was particularly impressed by the terrine.
It was hard to believe it had been frozen; both the taste and texture felt as if it had just been made.
▼ It was a terrine with concentrated umami and deep flavor.
▼ The product name "Melt-in-your-mouth Braised Wagyu Cheek in Red Wine" is just as it sounds. The meat is so tender that it melts in your mouth.
I thought, "It's something I could never make myself, but it's nice to relax and enjoy it at home," while savoring the elaborate dishes.
While I need to prepare fresh vegetables myself, the fact that the taste of a restaurant can be easily enjoyed at home is appealing.
Experience Cooking Gochi-Fure Kurashiki
During the tasting, there was an experience of cooking Gochi-Fure Kurashiki.
It was a simple task of taking the ingredients out of the bag and skewering them.
This seems like something even those who are not good at cooking or children could enjoy!
Making it together increases both the deliciousness and the fun.
It seems like you can have a fulfilling time at home.
▼ In the cooking experience session, there was guidance from a chef, but the actual Gochi-fure Kurashiki products come with instructions, so you can feel at ease.
On the day of the new product announcement and tasting event, a press conference was also held.
At the press conference, three representatives spoke about the background and thoughts behind the creation of Gochi-fure Kurashiki, so I will introduce the content from that time.
The rapid freezing cooking method is completely different from the usual process.
It was necessary to change the way of thinking and cooking methods to create menus that are not intended for freezing.