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ごきげんよう、諸君。
春霞ゆらぐある夜、私は東北新幹線の窓際に座し、胃袋の希望とともに宇都宮へと旅立った。目的はただ一つ、駅から徒歩わずか3分の肉の楽園、「焼肉ゆとり」。餃子の町に隠された、もうひとつの聖地である。
暖簾をくぐると、黒を基調とした落ち着いた空間が広がっていた。外観は控えめながら、内に秘める情熱は火山級。椅子に腰かけた瞬間、ふわりと肉の香が鼻をくすぐり、胃袋が前奏曲を奏で始めた。
この夜の宴は、まさに“焼肉の万葉集”と呼ぶにふさわしき内容。
幕開けは「ハチノススープ」。胃に優しく、まるで牛がそっと肩を抱いてくれるようなぬくもり。次なる「和牛肉寿司」は、舌の上でとろける短編小説。噛んだ瞬間、口の中に“和牛の第一章”が開かれた。
「キムチ・ナムル盛合せ」は、脇役にして名優。主役の肉たちの引き立て役を完璧に務めあげる、実力派キャストだ。
「エリンギ揚げ 和牛タルタル添え」は、まさに異色のペア。サクサクの茸に濃厚タルタル、まるで森で出会った貴族と庶民のラブロマンス。思わず「これが現代のロミオとジュリエットか…」とひとりごちた。
さあ、ここからが“本編”である。
「タン塩食べ比べ」では、歯応えとジューシーさが共演し、「和牛赤身食べ比べ」では、脂と旨味の微細な違いに陶然とする。そして「和牛カルビ食べ比べ」――江田牛、もてぎ放牧牛、短黒牛という、肉界の三大巨星がここに集うとは。柔らかさは、もはや布団。脂の甘さは、まるで母のぬくもり。だが重くはない、まるで雲を噛んでいるようだ。
そして、「すき焼き風和牛」。生卵にくぐらせて口に入れると、時空がゆがんだ。私は誰?ここはどこ?答えはただひとつ、「うまい」。
「牛そぼろ丼」でさえ妥協なし。丼界のラスボスである。最後に「パイナップルと苺」が登場し、肉の記憶を優しくなだめてくれた。
店主は朴訥な方だったが、「この短黒牛は地元でも希少でして…」と語る表情には、まるで子牛を見る牧場主のような愛情がにじんでいた。あの目に見つめられたら、野菜すらも肉になりたいと願うであろう。
ここでひとつ、私の美食名言を捧げよう。
「料理は時間と情熱の結晶体。」
諸君、宇都宮の地に、“ゆとり”という名の肉の楽園があることを、どうか忘れないでほしい。新幹線に乗ってでも行く価値はある。いや、行かねばならぬ。胃袋に、旅をさせよ。
さあ、諸君。
わが書斎で共に美食の物語を紡ごうではないか?