The Nakanoshima area is considered a symbolic location of the water metropolis of Osaka. Located between the Dojima River and the Tosabori River, this area has been an economic and cultural center since ancient times thanks to its use of water transportation.

Sendan-no-kibashi Bridge, which leads to the Osaka Central Public Hall, which was built in 1918, was built in the early Edo period to allow access to the storehouses that once stood in Nakanoshima.

At the foot of the bridge you can see "Ristorante IL PRINCIPE." The restaurant's chef is Hiroshi Nakagawa, who has around eight years of experience in Italy.

What is the culinary philosophy he learned from his master at a famous Italian restaurant?

A photo of him and his teacher on display in the store

After gaining experience in Italian restaurants and traditional Japanese restaurants in Japan, Chef Nakagawa moved to Italy in 2005. There he met IL Principe d'Asburgo Lorena, the owner of the famous Florentine restaurant "La GIOSTRA." He was a descendant of the House of Habsburg and a lover of food and wine. Chef Nakagawa said, "I learned his attitude and philosophy towards cooking from him."

"There are three main approaches I learned from him over those eight years: combining existing styles to create original dishes, being particular about cooking that brings out the flavor of the ingredients, and cultivating the ability to discern good ingredients."

Chef Nakagawa continues, "The policy we upheld in our Italian restaurant, 'in food we trust,' is something we also cherish at Ristorante IL PRINCIPE."

Unique dishes using seasonal ingredients

The ingredients used in the course are lined up on a cart.

Chef Nakagawa's experience in Italy has led him to focus on cooking that makes the most of the ingredients. The course menu changes every month. When planning the menu, he actually looks at and touches the ingredients before deciding how to cook them. The menu is based on the theme of "cooking true to the flavor."

"The best thing is to find good ingredients and cook them in the best way possible. If you get caught up in prioritizing elaborate cooking methods or the rarity of ingredients, you'll end up putting the cart before the horse. If the ingredients are good, sometimes it's better not to add too much to them."

At Ristorante IL PRINCIPE, before the food is served, the staff will carefully explain each of the ingredients lined up on the cart. Each of these ingredients is a carefully selected ingredient by Chef Nakagawa.

"For example, we use Japanese black beef, such as Satsuma Kurogyu beef, duck meat from Kamoju, which is produced in the foot of Mt. Katsuragi in Nara, and chicken meat from T Farm, which is also produced in the foot of Mt. Katsuragi, and we order Yamato Meat Chicken that is slaughtered that morning. Wild boar and deer are sourced from the Japanese Wild Boar Farm in Tottori Prefecture. We also go to the fish market ourselves to purchase wild fish caught that day. We focus on seasonal and fresh vegetables, focusing on Yamato vegetables from Nara. In particular, Farm K56 in Tenri, Nara grows Italian vegetables such as Puntarella, Erbastella, and Stridoro, which are not commonly available."

In early spring, Chef Nakagawa himself sometimes goes out to pick wild vegetables and bamboo shoots.

A menu that goes beyond the bounds of Italian cuisine

Chef Nakagawa says, "I think it would be difficult to simply describe what we serve at Ristorante IL PRINCIPE as Italian food."

Chef Nakagawa has experience working in a traditional Japanese restaurant. The dishes he creates are unconventional and unique to him, making use of his many years of experience.

"I don't have any intention of forcing a mix between Italian and Japanese cuisine. I just mobilized all the knowledge I have and naturally arrived at the cuisine I have now. It feels like I'm cooking high-quality Japanese ingredients using the cooking methods I learned in Italy."

Chef Nakagawa has created unique dishes by breaking down the stereotype of "this ingredient is not used in Italian cuisine" and focusing on providing high-quality ingredients in the most optimal cooking method. Many customers come to the restaurant looking forward to the courses that change every month.

We want to be a store that is needed in Nakanoshima, Osaka.

The Nakanoshima area is considered one of the most competitive areas in Osaka, with many famous restaurants. Chef Nakagawa says, "I want to be a restaurant that is needed in such an area."

"We want Ristorante IL PRINCIPE to be a place that is needed by our customers, a place where they can enjoy food that can only be eaten at Ristorante IL PRINCIPE and a special atmosphere."

When you're busy, a year passes by in the blink of an eye. At Ristorante IL PRINCIPE, you can enjoy special meals that allow you to taste the changing of the seasons through the flavors of the seasons.

Ristorante IL PRINCIPE
電話：06-6233-3366
​​住所：大阪府大阪市中央区北浜2-1-26 松岡ビルB1F
アクセス：地下鉄長堀緑橋線
HP：http://ristorante-ilprincipe.jp/
SNS：https://www.instagram.com/ristorante_il_principe/
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