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Ishikawa prefectureAbout gourmet food

Ishikawa Prefecture is a place where beautiful nature and rich culture combine, and it is a region where you can enjoy many delicious foods. Kanazawa City in particular is known as a gourmet spot where you can enjoy local cuisine while feeling history and tradition. In this article, we will introduce three carefully selected gourmet dishes from Ishikawa Prefecture: “Jibuni”, “Noto Beef”, and “Kanazawa Oden”.

We will introduce the charm and history of each dish in detail, as well as recommend restaurants. When you visit Ishikawa Prefecture, be sure to enjoy these exquisite gourmet foods.

3 carefully selected gourmet foods in Ishikawa Prefecture

1. Jibuni

● The charm of Jibuni

Jibuni is a representative local dish of Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, and is especially known as Kaga cuisine. This dish is made with duck meat, chicken, seasonal vegetables, and the special Sudare-fu, all simmered in a sweet and salty soup stock. It is said that the name comes from the sound of the ingredients being boiled.

A distinctive feature of this dish is that by coating the meat with flour or potato starch before simmering it, the soup stock thickens and the flavor of the ingredients is locked in. This thickness has the effect of warming the body, especially in the cold season. Also, by adding wasabi as a condiment, the softness of the duck meat and the refreshing spiciness of the wasabi perfectly match.

● Jibunihistory of

Jibuni is a representative local dish of Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, and its origins date back to the Edo period. There are various theories about the origin of the name; some say it comes from the “jibujibu” sound that is made when cooking, and others say it is an abbreviation of “jukubu”, which means duck meat.

It developed as a samurai cuisine of the Kaga clan, and has been eaten especially as a gozen dish for the Kaga clan since around the 17th century. This dish was refined by the chefs who served the Maeda family, the lords of the Kaga domain at the time. According to literature, the book “Ryori no Shiori” written in the early 18th century includes a dish called “Mugidori,” which is similar to today’s Jibuni.

There is also a theory that the dish originated from a dish brought back from Korea by Okabe Jibuemon, Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s food magistrate. According to this theory, the dish brought back by Okabe Jibuemon was adapted in the Kaga domain and became established as Jibu-ni.

● If you want to eat Jibuni, this is the place! !

• Store name:Shirozantei
  
• charm:
  “Shirozantei” is a restaurant where you can casually enjoy Kaga cuisine while enjoying the historical atmosphere of Kanazawa Castle. In particular, the most popular dish, “Jibuni,” is a must-try dish if you visit Kanazawa. In addition to the charm of Jibuni itself, we have a wide variety of menu items.
  
  For example, you can enjoy creative dishes that combine jibu-ni with noodles, such as “jibu-ni udon,” “jibu-ni soba,” and “jibu-ni ramen.” In addition, there are unique arrangements such as “Jibunidon” and “Jibuni with sweet shrimp”, all of which are exquisite.
  
• Access: Approximately 10 minutes by taxi from Kanazawa Station
• Address: 1-13 Kenrokucho, Kanazawa City
  
• Google Map:https://maps.app.goo.gl/aHz8Rsp29dmeKGks8
  

3. Kanazawa Oden

● Kanazawa Odencharm of

Kanazawa Oden is a local dish representing Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, and is loved by locals and tourists alike as a heartwarming dish that soothes the winter cold. The main feature of this oden is the elegant flavor of the dashi stock and the variety of ingredients. First of all, Kanazawa Oden’s soup stock is characterized by a clear soup based on kelp and bonito flakes, and has a deeper flavor than Kansai-style oden. Local Ohno soy sauce is often used, and this soy sauce gives the soup stock its unique flavor.

Many of the ingredients are local specialties. For example, “Kanimen”, which is a winter tradition, is a luxurious dish made by stuffing the shell of the Kobako crab with crab meat and miso, and is known as a typical topping for Kanazawa oden. In addition, local seafood such as oyster shellfish, fukashi (ground white fish), kurumafu, and Gensuke daikon radish are also standard ingredients for Kanazawa oden. These ingredients harmonize perfectly with the soup stock, creating a rich flavor.

● Kanazawa Odenhistory of

The history of Kanazawa Oden dates back to the end of the Meiji period. Oden, which was popular in Tokyo at the time, was brought to Kanazawa, and by merging with the local food culture, it developed into its current form. It is said that oden was first served in Kanazawa during a celebratory event. This led to oden becoming deeply rooted in Kanazawa’s food culture.

In the Taisho period, Kansai-style light oden began to be served in Kanazawa, and it became even more popular. Kanazawa-style oden, which was served at soup kitchens after the Great Kanto Earthquake, spread throughout the country, and Kanazawa was also influenced by it. In 1923, the first shops with oden signs appeared, and Kanazawa experienced a major oden boom.

In 2009, Kanazawa Oden became famous nationwide when it was introduced on an NHK program as having “the largest number of oden stores in Japan compared to artificial ones.” Since then, it has been featured in various media and has become a popular gourmet dish among tourists visiting Kanazawa.

● If you want to eat Kanazawa Oden, this is the place! !

• Store name:Oden Izakaya Sanko
  
• charm:
  Sanko, located on a back street in Kanazawa, is a popular restaurant that is filled with discerning customers every night. Despite its location on a back street, it’s always crowded because of its high-quality food and pleasant liveliness.

  One of the charms of Sanko is its elegant soup stock, which is made from chicken bones. This dashi also has bonito and dried sardines added to it, giving it a unique and robust flavor. The oden, which is thoroughly soaked in dashi, is made from carefully selected ingredients, and you can be sure of its deliciousness with just one bite. Furthermore, there is a wide selection of a la carte dishes such as the famous “Miyukiage” and “Tororo Teppanyaki”, which also attract many fans.

• Access: 917m from Nomachi Station
• Address: 1-10-3 Katamachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
  
• Google Map:https://maps.app.goo.gl/kLKt78788SecPNP68