New Light/ニューライト

—Shinsaibashi, Osaka. In a corner of this neon-lit city, there stands a Western-style eatery that has preserved the atmosphere of the Showa era. Its name—New Light.

—Stepping inside, the place feels like an old-school café, radiating a nostalgic charm. Scanning the menu on the wall, I spot the words Ceylon Rice. It’s not curry rice, not hashed beef rice… What is this? There’s only one way to find out—I have to order it.

—Before long, the dish arrives. A generous serving of sauce drapes over a bed of rice. It looks like curry, yet the aroma is distinctly different. I scoop up a spoonful and take a bite.

—Oh… this is something special. It has the richness of curry, yet the balance of acidity and sweetness is extraordinary. Is it based on demi-glace sauce? Or is it a unique blend of spices? Once I take a bite, I can’t stop. One more… and another.

—Inside the sauce, tender pieces of beef emerge. Slowly simmered to perfection, they melt in my mouth. Eating them with the rice, the sweetness, acidity, and depth of flavor all blend together into one perfect bite. So this is Ceylon Rice. A one-of-a-kind taste.

—Before I know it, my plate is empty. This… this is what they call an addictive flavor.

"Gochisousama deshita."

—A taste of history, deeply engraved in my memory

📍Hosen Building, 2-16-13 Nishishinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 542-0086, Japan