This time, we will introduce "Kanazawa Curry," a local B-class gourmet dish from Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture.

Kanazawa City is the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture.

The area retains traces of the Edo period and is a very popular domestic travel destination as it allows visitors to experience Japanese history and culture.

This time, we will introduce the appeal of "Kanazawa Curry," a B-class gourmet dish from Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, as well as the tourist spots in the city!

What is Kanazawa curry?

Kanazawa curry is a type of curry that has different characteristics from other curries served in Ishikawa Prefecture, mainly in Kanazawa City.

Its distinctive feature is its thick, gooey roux. It comes with shredded cabbage as a garnish, so you won't get tired of the rich curry.

Another distinctive feature is that it is served on a stainless steel plate and eaten with a spork.

The cutlet on top of the roux is covered in a special sauce and can be enjoyed separately from the curry. In this way, Kanazawa curry is full of unique features and charms that are not found in other curries.

The history of Kanazawa curry

There are many different theories about the origins of Kanazawa curry, and it is unclear which is the truth.

The most popular theory is that it was created by "Restaurant New Kanazawa," which existed around 1955.

This is considered a strong possibility because five people who worked at Restaurant New Kanazawa were founders or associates of what would later become long-established Kanazawa curry restaurants.

Although the truth is unknown, there are currently countless Kanazawa curry restaurants across Ishikawa Prefecture, and it is clear that it has been loved by locals for a long time.

How to make Kanazawa curry

From here, I will introduce how to make Kanazawa curry.

First, shred the cabbage, peel the ginger and onion, finely chop the celery and garlic, and peel and grate the carrots.

Once you have prepared the ingredients, add salad oil to a pot and heat over medium heat, add the garlic, ginger, and halved (and seeded) red chili peppers, and stir fry until fragrant.

Then add the onion, carrot, celery and a pinch of salt, and when the pot starts to burn, add 1 tablespoon of water and cook, scraping, for about 20 minutes until the whole thing is light brown.

Add the apples and red wine and stir fry for a further 15 minutes, then add the pork and curry powder and stir fry for about 1 minute.

Then add water and bring to a boil, skim off the scum, reduce the heat slightly, and simmer for about an hour.

Once it has simmered well, turn off the heat, add 1/2 teaspoon of salt and the roux, mix well, and once the roux has dissolved, place on medium heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes, and the curry is done.

Next, I will explain how to make pork cutlet.

First, cut the tendons from the pork loin and sprinkle a little salt and pepper on it. Next, lightly coat the entire piece in flour, dip it in beaten egg, and then coat it in breadcrumbs.

Heat the frying oil to 170℃, set the heat to medium, add the pork loin and fry for 4 to 5 minutes, turning it over a few times, until golden brown. Remove to a plate, drain the oil, cut into bite-sized pieces, and you're done.

Finally, place rice in a bowl, pour curry over it, top with cabbage and pork cutlet, and drizzle with Worcestershire sauce to finish.

Things to do in Kanazawa

From here, I will introduce some tourist spots in Kanazawa City.

Kenrokuen Garden

Kenrokuen is one of the three most famous gardens in Japan, along with Kairakuen in Mito and Korakuen in Okayama. It is one of Japan's most famous gardens, and is visited by many tourists from both within Japan and overseas every year.

It is said to have originated as a clan garden constructed by the Kaga clan on the outskirts of Kanazawa Castle in the mid-1700s, and has been designated a Special Place of Scenic Beauty by the national government.

The vast grounds are decorated with ponds, artificial hills, and pavilions, which you can stop by and take your time to explore.

In 2009, it was awarded the highest rating of three stars in the Michelin Travel Guide, making it a popular tourist spot that you cannot miss if you come to Ishikawa Prefecture.

Higashi Chaya District

Higashi Chaya District is one of Kanazawa's most famous tourist spots.

The old townscape, which exudes a Japanese atmosphere, has been designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings by the national government, and is now popular with younger generations as a photogenic place.

In the area, you can rent a kimono and experience the atmosphere of old Japan, or enjoy shopping at Japanese-style cafes and souvenir shops unique to Kanazawa.

Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art

Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art is a famous museum that displays national treasures and opened in 1959.

The museum has a wide selection of Japanese and Western paintings, sculptures, and crafts, mainly by artists from Ishikawa Prefecture, and is visited by not only locals but also people with an interest in art from all over the country.

In addition to the exhibition, the cafe produced by pastry chef Tsujiguchi Hiroaki is also very popular.

Access to Kanazawa City

From here, we will introduce how to access Kanazawa City.

If you are coming from Tokyo, the easiest way is to take the Shinkansen, which takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes from Tokyo Station to Kanazawa Station.

If you are coming from Osaka, we recommend taking the express bus. It takes about 6 hours and 30 minutes from Osaka Station to Kanazawa Station by express bus.

If you're looking for a quicker route, we recommend the Shinkansen, which takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes to get from Shin-Osaka Station to Kanazawa Station.

Location of Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture

summary

This time, we introduced "Kanazawa Curry," a local B-class gourmet dish from Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture.

We learned that Kanazawa curry is different from ordinary curry in that it is topped with pork cutlet and has a thick, gooey curry sauce.

We also learned that Kanazawa City has a variety of tourist attractions. There are many buildings that give you a sense of Japanese history and culture, and it's a place that any Japanese person would want to visit at least once!

Using the information introduced here, the next time you visit Kanazawa City in Ishikawa Prefecture, try and experience something unique to the city!

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