Kyoto's Michelin Star Adventure

While planning for our Japan trip, Julie and I decided we wanted to try a Michelin rated restaurant while we were there.

On our last trip we'd tried a Bib Gourmand rated spot, but this time we wanted to go with a star.

We landed on cenci in Kyoto - a restaurant that "exults in expressing Italian cuisine through the bounty of Japanese produce":

Putting kombu kelp, bonito stock and fermented ingredients like malted rice miso and sake lees to effective use is how he preaches the gospel of Japanese cuisine. Cured hams and cheeses arrive from producers who share the chef’s passion. Nonstandard vegetables are used in fermented form; pruned citrus fruits garnish lend a sour piquancy as garnish. Food that brings people together in every sense. 

But first (always)... caffeine.

Then the food began.

After our meal, we headed out to explore the surrounding area. The restaurant was nestled in a quiet but beautiful neighborhood.

We knocked out some shopping, and I ended up finding a watch that I really liked (Julie got a matching one).

We wrapped up the night with some pizza from Kyoto station (it was overpriced and kind of a let down unfortunately), but got to see the stairs of Kyoto station lit up! We also went up to the very top of Kyoto station and saw more cool LEDs on a walkway.