Koto Lab in Prato
Friends of Prato, saturday night Captain Papilla went to the preview of the Koto Lab in Prato, Valentini street 102, a new ramen bar born from the Koto Ramen.
The restaurant, which will open to the public in early April, shares with his older brother the same international team (the florentines Mattias, Matia e Antonia, the japanese chef Shoji Minamihara and the “hurricane” Dinah, japanese-american daughter of restaurateurs of Los Angeles ) and most of all the same love for Japan!
The menu
The menu of the Koto Lab is a celebration of Japanese culture and its most intimate and traditional culinary expression: his majesty the Ramen.
For those who don’t know, the Ramen is a dish made of noodles in broth, meat or fish flavored with soy sauce/miso with condiments very various ranging from’boiled egg with truffle!
A seemingly simple dish to make, but that actually requires a respect for raw materials and a focus on very long preparation times that transcends simple kitchen and gets to tap almost Zen philosophy.
We tried two different ramen: the first one with meat broth seasoned with soya, guinea fowl, fresh peas and spinach (yummy); the second one with miso soup, ginger and roast pork (for those who love strong tastes).
The menu also consists of some Japanese-Tapas (we recommend the edamame and the pork Gyoza), of some interesting desserts (especially panna cotta with basil) and many varieties of sake (one is a hot infusion of clams, very strange but unexpectedly good).
The bill?
Taking one or two tapas, a beer or a sake and a bowl of Ramen, you will not spend more than 30 euro.
Really good value for money!
Captain’s opinion:
- The restaurant is quite small (only 40 seats) but it has a huge kitchen of 300 square meters! An impressive size equipped with outstanding cooking facilities. This space, oversized for the needs of two current locals, suggests the opening of other ramen bars around Florence.
- Unlike the Koto Ramen, the Koto Lab should accept reservations. A great news considering the small size of the place!
I greet you with the cover of norwegian singer Ane Brun of the famous “Big in Japan” by Alphaville.
Capitan Papilla
Useful information
Address
Via Valentini 102, Prato
