So, where should I eat lunch? I leave my seat without deciding what to eat. Maybe that's why I often find myself wandering around even 20 minutes after leaving the office. Thanks to that, I know of a restaurant far away that most people would never go to.
Today, I started walking without making any decision. When I got out onto the street, I thought of Lalibela. It was an eight-minute walk from Monosas, and three minutes from Yoyogi Station. Lalibela, an Italian restaurant, is located on a quiet street just off the main road. This area is a residential area, so there aren't many shops, but it's close to the station.
The brick-colored apartment building is the landmark. We climbed the stairs lined with wine bottles.
Seasonal vegetables are great to eat as the seasons change.
The reason I like this restaurant is probably mostly because of the vegetables. The vegetables they use are rare and of course delicious. The first time I came here, it was summer, and the corn potage was amazing.
The vegetables are actually "Kamakura vegetables." Lalibela has been using Kamakura vegetables since long before they started appearing on TV and in magazines in recent years. You can enjoy the taste of Kamakura vegetables even in the most convenient A course.
Kamakura vegetable salad, featuring a variety of root vegetables that you don't usually see.
The first salad was a simple one with thinly sliced root vegetables such as leaf lettuce, various colored carrots, red radish, and turnip. It had a strong earthy aroma and strong vegetable smell and flavor, which surprised me when I tried it for the first time. (Although it may not be of interest to people who don't like the smell of carrots.) I love carrots so I was happy and munched away.
A potage that will make you want seconds. The vegetables used are seasonal.
Next is soup. Today it's a white turnip potage. When I came the week before, it was carrot potage, so this probably changes depending on what's in stock at the time. It's thick and creamy and seems good for the stomach. I always finish eating it with a feeling of wanting a bit more. (I casually wrote "finish eating", but it's a soup that really feels like you're eating it.)
Kamakura vegetables sourced from "Renbai."
Then the main dish of pasta is served. There are three types of pasta, which are decided by the ingredients purchased that day. The chef, who lives in Kamakura, purchases vegetables at the "Renbai" (※) in Kamakura and freshly caught fish at Sajima Fishing Port every morning. He carries the ingredients he has purchased in a treasure bag and travels all the way by train.
The eggs for the carbonara are from a chicken farm on the Miura Peninsula.
Today I decided on the "Carbonara with homemade pancetta and 'Atom-kun' eggs." The 'Atom-kun' eggs are apparently from a chicken farm on the Miura Peninsula, and have a strong egg flavor. The salty pancetta adds a nice accent to the dish, and I could eat it forever. I couldn't stop swirling my fork around. I finished it all, ordered a coffee, and took a breather.
I feel like I want to just go home... but I have to get back to the office soon. Anyway, I was able to enjoy a delicious lunch today without any problems.
Lunch course introduction
You can choose from three courses: A, B, and C.
Course A (the course we are introducing this time) is the basic course and includes Kamakura vegetable salad, Kamakura vegetable soup, homemade bread, and today's pasta (choose from three types) for 900 yen. If you order coffee separately, it will cost 1050 yen. Course B includes course A plus an appetizer platter and coffee for 1600 yen. Course C also includes a main dish, dessert, and coffee for 3250 yen. It seemed that two groups of customers had ordered course C that day, and they were enjoying themselves leisurely with red and white wine by the glass. It was an enviable sight for me, as I had filled up on course A.
La libera
Tel: 03-3375-6422
Daisan Mizuho Building 1F, 1-23-7 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
http://www.lalibera-km.com
Business hours Monday to Friday: Lunch. 11:30-14:30 / Dinner. 18:00-24:00 (LO 22:00)
Saturday: Lunch.12:00-15:00 / Dinner.18:00-24:00 (LO 21:30)
FURIHATA Yukari