新潟駅前の隠れ家的な日本酒バー「SAKE恋JAPAN」で、思わず二度見してしまうような珍しい日本酒と、話題沸騰中のチーズケーキを堪能してきました！実は、このお店には「当店はケーキ屋ではありません」という謎の張り紙が...。一体どういうことなのか？そして、カルピスそっくりな日本酒の正体とは？新潟の夜の魅力を存分に楽しめるSAKE恋JAPANをご紹介します！
こんにちは、バズタイムズディレクターのナナミンこと大塚七海です！今回は、新潟駅前にある日本酒バー「SAKE恋JAPAN」に潜入してきました。実は、このお店、SNSで話題沸騰中のチーズケーキが人気なんです。でも、入り口には「当店はケーキ屋ではありません」という張り紙が...。一体どういうことなのか？気になりますよね。
店内に入ると、カジュアルでおしゃれな雰囲気が広がっています。日本酒をメインに扱うお店なのに、従来の居酒屋のイメージとは一線を画す空間。店長の大塚さん（なんと私と同じ苗字！）にお話を伺うと、「日本酒の堅いイメージを払拭したくて、カジュアルな雰囲気にしました」とのこと。
さて、まずは料理から。こちらのお店のおすすめは「痛風鍋」。あんこう、牡蠣、マダラの白子が入った、なんとも贅沢な鍋です。通風に良くないものばかりですが、これが絶品なんです！自家製の味噌で作ったスープは、牡蠣の出汁と相まって深い味わい。具材の一つ一つが濃厚で、思わず「うまい！」と声が出てしまいます。
お酒も忘れちゃいけません。まずは柏崎の阿部酒造の新酒「あべ」をいただきました。最初は甘みが広がり、後味はスッキリ。日本酒が苦手な人でも飲みやすい一本です。
そして、驚きの日本酒が登場！「讃岐くらうでぃ」という、見た目も味わいもカルピスそっくりな日本酒なんです。アルコール度数も6%と低めで、日本酒のイメージを覆す一杯。これは危険なほど飲みやすい！
さて、いわくつきのチーズケーキの登場です。今回いただいたのは、さつまいものバスクチーズケーキ。新潟県産のシルクスイートという芋を使用し、芋本来の甘みを生かすため砂糖を控えめにしているそう。とろとろの食感と芋の自然な甘みが絶妙です。ここで、チーズケーキにまつわる秘話が。実は、このチーズケーキがあまりにも人気で、「ケーキ屋さんなの？」と勘違いされることが多かったそう。そのため、入り口の張り紙が生まれたんですね。店長の大塚さんは「料理も含めて全部楽しんでもらいたい」と話します。確かに、鍋やお酒も絶品でしたからね。
お店を出た後は、新潟駅周辺を少し散策。最近リニューアルされた駅周辺は、「東京っぽい」と話題になっているんです。実際に歩いてみると、確かに都会的な雰囲気。でも、そこは紛れもなく新潟。外国人観光客の方々とも少し交流ができ、国際色豊かな新潟の一面も垣間見ることができました。SAKE恋JAPANは、新潟の食材と日本酒の魅力を存分に味わえる素敵なお店でした。チーズケーキだけでなく、お料理やお酒も絶品。新潟駅前に来たら、ぜひ立ち寄ってみてください。でも、くれぐれも「ケーキ屋さんですか？」とは聞かないでくださいね（笑）。新潟の夜は、まだまだ魅力がいっぱい。次は一体どんな発見があるでしょうか？これからも、新潟の隠れた名店や楽しみ方をどんどん紹介していきますので、お楽しみに！
#日本酒 #あべ #チーズケーキ #新潟 #あんこう #駅前 #通風鍋 #バスクチーズケーキ #隠れ家 #白子 #牡蠣
“SAKE Koi Japan” is a hideaway sake bar in front of Niigata Station, where we enjoyed rare sake that made us do a double-take and the cheesecake that has been the talk of the town! Actually, the store has a mysterious sign saying “We are not a cake shop...”. What on earth does it mean? And what is the identity of the sake that looks just like calpis? Let us introduce you to SAKE Koi Japan, where you can enjoy Niigata's nightlife at its best!
Hello, I am Nanami Otsuka, aka Nanamin, director of Buzz Times! This time, I have sneaked into “SAKE Love JAPAN,” a sake bar located in front of Niigata Station. Actually, this store is popular for its cheesecake, which is a hot topic on SNS. However, there is a sign at the entrance that says, “We are not a cake shop. What does it mean? It makes you wonder, doesn't it?
Once inside the store, you will find a casual and stylish atmosphere. Although it mainly sells sake, it is a space that is distinctly different from the conventional image of an izakaya (Japanese style bar). When I spoke with the manager, Mr. Otsuka (who shares the same surname as mine!) He told me, “We wanted to dispel the rigid image of sake, so we created a casual atmosphere.
Let's start with the food. The restaurant's recommendation is the “Tsufu Nabe. It is a very luxurious nabe that includes anglerfish, oysters, and cod roe. All things that are not good for the gout, but this is a superb dish! The soup, made with homemade miso, has a deep flavor combined with the broth from the oysters. Each ingredient is so rich that you can't help but exclaim, “Yum! I couldn't help but exclaim, “Yum!
And don't forget the sake. First, we were served “Abe,” a new sake from the Abe Sake Brewery in Kashiwazaki. The sweetness spreads at first and the aftertaste is refreshing. Even those who do not like sake can easily drink this one.
Now for the cheesecake that is so famous. This time, we were served sweet potato basque cheesecake. The cheesecake is made from Silk Sweet sweet potatoes produced in Niigata Prefecture and is low in sugar to bring out the sweetness of the original sweet potato. The smooth texture and the natural sweetness of the sweet potato are exquisite. Here is a secret story about the cheesecake. In fact, the cheesecake was so popular that many people mistakenly thought, “Is this a cake shop?” The cheesecake was so popular that many people mistakenly thought it was a cake shop. That is why the sign at the entrance was created. The manager, Mr. Otsuka, says, “I want people to enjoy everything, including the food. Certainly, the nabe and sake were excellent, too.
After leaving the restaurant, we took a short walk around Niigata Station. The area around the recently renovated station is getting a lot of attention for being “Tokyo-like. When I actually walked around the area, I found that it does indeed have an urban atmosphere. But it is unmistakably Niigata. SAKE Koi Japan is a wonderful place where you can fully enjoy the charm of Niigata's ingredients and sake. Not only the cheesecake, but also the food and sake are superb. If you are ever in Niigata Station, be sure to stop by. But please do not ask, “Is this a cake shop? (laugh). Niigata's nightlife is still full of charm. What will you discover next? We will continue to introduce you to Niigata's hidden gems and ways to enjoy them, so please look forward to it!
#Sake #Abe #Cheesecake #Niigata #Ankou #Ekimae #Tongfu Nabe #Basque Cheesecake #Hideaway #Milfoil #Oysters