What comes to mind when you think of autumn? When it comes to Awaji Island, the season instantly evokes images of the island’s amazing foods every harvest season. The cuisine of the region is legendary throughout Japan, but autumn is considered one of the annual highlights for diehard foodies. Follow this Autumn Gourmet Guide for the best seasonal dishes Awaji Island has to offer this year.
Table of Contents
Auberge French Forest: Enjoy Luxury Amidst Autumn’s Splendor
Auberge French Forest, is a luxurious “destination-dining” resort inspired by rustic French country tradition. The restaurant offers elegant accommodations and deluxe meals reflecting 3 distinct culinary concepts. This year, try the “Autumn Gourmet Course,” showcasing an abundance of seasonal autumn ingredients.
La Rose: Indulge in the Premium Awaji Abalone and Beef
Autumn on Awaji Island includes a wealth of seasonal ingredients from red leaf snapper, conger eel, Awaji abalone, and Awaji beef, along with seasonal vegetables and fruits. French cooking techniques combine beautifully with Japanese elements in this curated menu:
- Amuse: Autumn Awaji Vegetable Feast
- Soup: Awaji Egg and Onion Royale
- Premier: Marinated Yellowtail with Kiwi Sauce
- Deuxiéme: Roasted Foie Gras with Figs and Spices
- Poisson: Ebisu Sea Bream Steamed with Winter Melon Paste
- Viande: Roasted Awaji Wagyu Beef with Burdock Red Wine Sauce
- Dessert: Almond Blancmange with Aloe and Grape Jelly
Prince Etoile: Luxurious Autumn Feast
Prince Etoile offers a unique dining experience that blends traditional Basque cuisine with contemporary French techniques. Like Awaji Island, the Basque region of Spain is the home of renowned cuisine. This season, both of these traditions merge in an inmissable seasonal course meal.
- Lunch Autumn Gourmet Course: ¥13,000
- Dinner Autumn Gourmet Course: ¥17,000
Course Contents:
- Amuse: Today’s Pinchos (small snack) and Iberian Ham
- Arroz: Awaji Chicken and Autumn Vegetables with Porcini Aroma Awaji Kinuhikari Rice
- Premier: Seared Autumn Sea Bream, Red Leg Shrimp, Marinated Mushroom Salad
- Deuxiéme: Pike Conger Beignets (deep friend pastry) with Truffle-Scented Balsamic Sauce
- Poisson: Pan-Fried Awaji Pomfret with Tapenade and Salsa Verde Sauce
- Viande: Grilled Awaji Kunugiza Beef Filet with Autumn Vegetables and Matsutake Mushroom Sauce
- Dessert: Chestnut Basque Cheesecake
- Mignardises: Assorted Sweets
Aonoya: Savor the Highly Prized Pike Conger This Autumn
While pike conger is typically associated with early summer, autumn conger eels, known as nagori-hamo, are prized for their rich, fatty flavor. This seasonal delicacy contrasts with the lighter taste of summer eels and is celebrated in Kyoto’s Gion Festival, often referred to as the “Pike Conger Festival.”
At SEIKAIHA Aonoya on Awaji Island, savor this autumn ingredient through special dishes available until October 30th. Enjoy the rich flavors of autumn with dishes featuring matsutake mushrooms and Awaji Island’s specialty, conger eel.
- Pike Conger and Matsutake Autumn Meal: ¥12,800 (tax included)
- Includes appetizers served in a cypress-wood box, conger eel sushi and sashimi, conger eel and matsutake mushroom tempura, and a conger eel and matsutake mushroom hotpot.
- Advance reservations only
- Earthenware Pot Dish: ¥3,200 (tax included)
- Features luxurious autumn flavors of fatty conger eel and fragrant matsutake mushrooms.
- Only for dinner
Uminoya: the Ultimate Autumn Course Lunch
Autumn is the prime season for red sea bream, as they finish spawning in spring and, after consuming red-pigmented foods like shrimp and crabs, their scales become more vibrant in fall.
At Uminoya, until November 30th, you can try the “Autumn Special Course” in a charming, retro setting. This luxurious autumn-only menu highlights seasonal Awaji Island ingredients, including Ebisu Sakura Bream, sweet potatoes, root vegetables, and figs. Enjoy the rich flavors of the season with this exclusive course crafted to celebrate autumn’s bounty.
CRAFT CIRCUS: Autumn Gourmet with Ocean Views
Craft Kitchen inside CRAFT CIRCUS offers a limited-time menu celebrating the best of autumn from September 15th to November 13th. The menu features seasonal ingredients that highlight the essence of fall, including rich mushrooms, healthy eggplant, and the autumnal favorite, Mont Blanc. Treat yourself to a variety of dishes and sweets that showcase the flavors of the season, perfect for a girls’ trip.
- Mushroom Salad: ¥1,680
A warm salad featuring four kinds of mushrooms, ideal for the chilly season. - Mushroom and Salmon Cream Pasta: ¥1,780
Creamy pasta with seasonal autumn salmon, Awaji onions, and rich Awaji milk. - Oven-Baked Eggplant: ¥1,580
Oven-baked eggplant topped with homemade Awaji beef Bolognese sauce and cheese. - Mont Blanc French Toast: ¥1,880
Homemade French toast infused with the flavors of fall, featuring Mont Blanc.
Café Scuola: Delicious Autumn Sweets
Awaji Island is highly known for its fruit figs, celebrated for their freshness and rich sweetness. This autumn, Café Scuola is featuring a seasonal chiffon sandwich generously filled with figs. Known as the “fruit of immortality” for its nutritional benefits.
Also, don’t miss the autumn classic: sweet potato brûlée. The combination of sweet potatoes with slightly bitter caramel creates a perfect balance. Enjoy it with cold vanilla ice cream for a truly indulgent treat.
Haru San San: Adorable Autumn Tart
This is a special menu by the restaurant Haru San San. The tart features a generous, whole ripe fig, lovingly grown on Awaji’s local farm. The flaky crust is also made onsite, baked to a perfect crisp on the outside while remaining fluffy on the inside. The figs are harvested in the morning at their peak ripeness and used fresh. Grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers, these fruits are so wholesome that you can eat the skin, a nutritious, nourishing treat.
Closing
This is the perfect season to visit the island, with pleasant weather and exceptional food. If you’re interested in experiencing Awaji Island’s culinary delights, this article will guide you to the best seasonal offerings. Enjoy your trip and savor the flavors of autumn on Awaji Island!
*Last updated 9 September 2024
