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Created by a Sea Urchin Fisherman! 3 Must-Try Uni Dishes at GVO Cafe & Bar in Shari
When you think of sea urchin dishes, gunkan-maki sushi or an uni-don rice bowl probably come to mind. But a sea urchin fisherman, who truly knows the deliciousness of uni, isn't satisfied with such conventional dishes. Wouldn't you like to try some unique sea urchin cuisine created by a real fisherman? If you're intrigued, head to the cafe & bar "GVO" in Shari Town!
Located along National Route 334 overlooking the sea, GVO is a place renowned for its exquisite sea urchin dishes at lunchtime. Before we explain more, let's take a look at some of their tempting menu items.
Sea Urchin Tomato Cream Pasta (1,350 yen, tax included). Sea urchin cream pasta is common, but with tomato cream? That's a rare find! The rich flavor of the uni and the acidity of the tomato match perfectly, making you feel like you've made a new discovery. It comes with soup, salad, and bread.
Salted Sea Urchin on Rice (1,500 yen, tax included). This dish uses only the most flavorful sea urchin harvested from June to July, combined with a light salt. In fact, uni and salt are a great match, as the salt draws out excess moisture and deepens its richness. It comes with soup and a salmon fry that is so delicious it could be a main dish itself.
Sea Urchin Ankake Donburi (1,550 yen, tax included). This menu was created to enjoy frozen sea urchin deliciously even in winter, as the season for fresh uni is short. You can clearly feel the texture of the uni within the thick "ankake" sauce, making this another surprisingly delightful dish. It comes with soup and a salmon fry.
Just looking at these pictures makes you want to try them, right? GVO is well-regarded for its original sea urchin dishes, but the location where you enjoy them is also fantastic.
Through the large windows, you can see the Sea of Okhotsk. During the day, you can gaze at the vast blue sea before you, and at night, you can watch the waves shimmer under the moonlight, making for a special time. In winter, drift ice is said to come very close to the shore. Furthermore, the charm doesn't stop with the food and the space...
Incredibly, the owners of GVO, the Aihara couple, are also super cool and wonderful! The husband, Shinichi Aihara, is the master of GVO, a sea urchin fisherman, and a guitarist. From April to August, when the sea urchin fishing season is open, he works as a fisherman. The rest of the year, from September to March, he works as the master and guitarist. That's right, GVO is a limited-season cafe & bar.
As a guitarist, he's quite accomplished, having provided music for the Shari Town-produced film "Adventure in Shiretoko" and released CDs. He sometimes holds live performances at GVO as well. Drawn in by the sea urchin dishes made by a fisherman, I discovered a wonderfully comfortable space and a fascinating couple.
When you're in the area, be sure to stop by.
＜GVO＞
Location: 91-5 Utoro Nishi, Shari-cho, Shari-gun, Hokkaido
Phone: 0152-24-3040
Located along National Route 334 overlooking the sea, GVO is a place renowned for its exquisite sea urchin dishes at lunchtime. Before we explain more, let's take a look at some of their tempting menu items.
Sea Urchin Tomato Cream Pasta (1,350 yen, tax included). Sea urchin cream pasta is common, but with tomato cream? That's a rare find! The rich flavor of the uni and the acidity of the tomato match perfectly, making you feel like you've made a new discovery. It comes with soup, salad, and bread.
Salted Sea Urchin on Rice (1,500 yen, tax included). This dish uses only the most flavorful sea urchin harvested from June to July, combined with a light salt. In fact, uni and salt are a great match, as the salt draws out excess moisture and deepens its richness. It comes with soup and a salmon fry that is so delicious it could be a main dish itself.
Sea Urchin Ankake Donburi (1,550 yen, tax included). This menu was created to enjoy frozen sea urchin deliciously even in winter, as the season for fresh uni is short. You can clearly feel the texture of the uni within the thick "ankake" sauce, making this another surprisingly delightful dish. It comes with soup and a salmon fry.
(Photo courtesy of GVO)
Just looking at these pictures makes you want to try them, right? GVO is well-regarded for its original sea urchin dishes, but the location where you enjoy them is also fantastic.
Through the large windows, you can see the Sea of Okhotsk. During the day, you can gaze at the vast blue sea before you, and at night, you can watch the waves shimmer under the moonlight, making for a special time. In winter, drift ice is said to come very close to the shore. Furthermore, the charm doesn't stop with the food and the space...
Incredibly, the owners of GVO, the Aihara couple, are also super cool and wonderful! The husband, Shinichi Aihara, is the master of GVO, a sea urchin fisherman, and a guitarist. From April to August, when the sea urchin fishing season is open, he works as a fisherman. The rest of the year, from September to March, he works as the master and guitarist. That's right, GVO is a limited-season cafe & bar.
As a guitarist, he's quite accomplished, having provided music for the Shari Town-produced film "Adventure in Shiretoko" and released CDs. He sometimes holds live performances at GVO as well. Drawn in by the sea urchin dishes made by a fisherman, I discovered a wonderfully comfortable space and a fascinating couple.
When you're in the area, be sure to stop by.
＜GVO＞
Location: 91-5 Utoro Nishi, Shari-cho, Shari-gun, Hokkaido
Phone: 0152-24-3040
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Hokkaido Tourism Camera-Writer
Team Buchineko
We are 'Team Buchineko,' with many connections to tourist spots and facilities in Hokkaido. Even things that seem ordinary to us living in Hokkaido are wonderful resources. We will continue to share the charm of this amazing prefecture.
