PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIAA lifelong passion for the cuisine of his native country and the desire to share his knowledge of Japanese cuisine was all the inspiration Naoki Nishimoto needed to open Emon Japanese Restaurant Café. The name Emon is derived from a Japanese proverb meaning “Fortune comes in by a merry gate” and dining at Emon can leave you feeling very fortunate indeed to have discovered such a little gem. Dominated by an open plan kitchen, the restaurant is simply furnished, with Japanese touches here and there. A bookcase weighed down with books on Japanese cooking and culture acts as a library for Emon’s regular clientele and tea light candles scattered throughout the room add a cosy feel.
The clean and simple look of the restaurant is a reflection of the menu. One of the principles of Japanese cooking is to enhance the natural flavours of a dish through special culinary techniques, such as slicing fish in a particular way, which allows the flavour of the ingredients to shine through. Emon adheres to this principle using only the best quality produce and taking no short cuts to create authentic and healthy dishes. The lunch specials at Emon are a popular choice but when the sun goes down, prepare to settle in for an evening of fresh Japanese cuisine. Begin with tofu and edamame beans deep fried with fish before moving onto the spectacular Emon Special Bakudan, a rainbow of assorted sliced Sashimi served on a bed of rice with onsen-tamago (half cooked egg). For dessert, the home made Matcha cheesecake made with green tea, is an interesting fusion of east meets west. Emon is unlicensed, but you’re more than welcome to bring along your own bottle of wine or sake.
Amy Looker, September 2007