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| Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion |
People in Bacolod have come to love Japanese food for its simplicity and freshness, highlighted by the neatness of its presentation. They look forward to the subtle flavors of each dish, the textures and the quality of its ingredients.
Recently, we attended the soft opening of the new Japanese restaurant – Nippon Ichi – at the second floor of Villa Angela Hi Strip at Circumferential Road in Bacolod. As soon as we stepped in the cool and elegant surroundings, we were warmly welcomed by the owners, Dr. Yutaka Ichikawa and his lovely Filipina wife, Nonita Gurio Sugiyami.
Soon, guests filled up the dining room bedazzled by its zen-like ambiance. We were particularly impressed by the top-of-the-line comfort room with its ultra modern fixtures – a toilet bowl that automatically opens when the user comes near (look Ma, no hands!).
I asked Yutaka why they decided to open a Japanese resto here and he said they love eating out with his family but they wanted an authentic Japanese restaurant to cater to their needs. Hence, they decided to open Nippon Ichi that features Kazumi Kimura, a celebrity chef for 35 years from the Ginza District in Japan. Incidentally, chef Kimura is still single (!)
As soon as we were settled at our table, we sampled the fantastic menu. For foodies like us, it was a most enjoyable evening, indeed.*
