Yamaoka pizza is in the mountains! we are already going up the incline
this looks like something out of an "Alice in wonderland" trail here
perfect
if you're going to go out to a more remote place like this
it does take sometimes
those extra couple of trains
because we are going deep into the countryside of Nara
to Icoma
but this time we actually got to go on one of these express trains where you're paying a toll
but it means that you get the kind of luxurious experience
in eight years in japan i've never ever actually sat in a room like this before
where you got downstairs into these luxurious chairs
it's pretty cool
all right we made our way now to ikoma station
so it's one of these out of the way places
this is in Nara prefecture
and it's beautiful it's mountainous it's actually where we filmed the Yoga retreat video in our last one
but definitely off the beaten path has this beautiful hosanji
temple and one of these places that you must explore in japan if you want to find like we have
one of these cool places that is a little more off the main trail that you'd usually find
we're about to hop in a cab now because that is actually the only way that you get to this pizza place
if you don't have a car
and it's a place that we want to take you for that specific reason
it's a little more off the beaten path
and you would be a local or you're hanging around here and you're hooked up with wheels if you're going to get to it
but for us it's going to be a taxi
all right we've grabbed our cab from the station now
because yamaoka pizza is in the mountains
we are already going up the incline and it takes about 20 minutes to get there
remote
and the cost of the taxi ride if you're going to do this is about 2200 yen
so you gotta want that pizza
and we really really do
we're making the effort today
even if it's gonna take us up a mountain to get it
here we are at the entrance to yamaoka pizza
and before i came in from the other side
so this is a little different but
as you can see when you come up onto the mountain you get everything it has the offer
it's so beautiful and lush
this looks like something out of an alice in wonderland trail here
of course it doesn't hurt that we have the rainy day as well so that
rain is adding extra life to all the foliage here as it gets wet
it's very cool
well our reservation is in the next six minutes so we should get going
it has rained a lot here so we have to watch our step
or our feet are going to get absolutely soaked
this is absolutely gorgeous guys
so this way we get a beautiful view of nara
up here you can see
look at what they've done with it it looks so rustic
but once we get inside they've really made great efforts to maintain the place
and make it beautiful
to not only just look at from the outside but from the inside as well
what an unbelievable spot this is
yeah once you get inside you get this wonderful view out all across the whole way
and then there's the restaurant but there's also a kind of cafe section
so we're gonna check it all out
really explore the space
here we go
beautiful
oh Konnchiwa!
Nice to meet you again
Can I come in? -Yes, please!
This is Oto from the Cafe side
Our neighbor
Oh ok! Separate store?
Yes, separate store. Her name is Oto, and she is running the cafe
I'm Dave -I'm Mariko. Nice to meet you
Thank you
so beautiful
okay please come in
so they were just making the uh the point there that
and this is something i did not know
was we have the cafe here
but there's also the pizza place and they're separate
so they're working together
but i didn't know they were totally different companies
so separate but together
that kind of idea
we've ordered the nepolatina
i may not be saying that right pizza
it's got some anchovies it's got tomato mozzarella garlic anchovy and oregano
sounds delicious
we as well ordered the organic salad
and when asked what is the one thing that we absolutely must try
we were recommended the oven baked onions
and that's because it's actually from
a local organic farm in IKOMA
that they source this from
and they say it's like nothing else you've ever tasted before
i'm excited
Yamaoka pizza is special
the views are amazing from it
the food is great
it is so peaceful when you are there
the heart and soul of course is the food coming out of the kitchen
and at yamaoka pizza they have a special way to prepare it
each pizza is baked with love inside a large stone oven
the shape and design of a stove oven make sure that the top and bottom of the pizza cook evenly
giving you a totally delicious and beautiful to look at result
some of the food is here we are still waiting for the pizza
but so far we've got the mushroom ajillo
and the oven roasted onion
and the thing about the onion it's organic and it's grown in the mountains of IKOMA
and it just looks looks sublime
it comes with a chili sauce and the mushrooms you've got different types of mushrooms
we've got i can see shitake and enoki and shimeji and stuff
and just it came in sizzling
and oil and just the smell of the spices and the mushrooms and the
everything is just mind-boggling
so um yes let's dig in
let's let's get into it
let's give it a try
guys you have to smell it
oh okay here it goes
organic mushrooms
nice oregano
great seasoning
just
this is
this is ridiculous
food in this place is sublime
it's amazing
oh just guys
take my word for it
or... don't
just just come here and eat it
just try it
all right i would be remiss to not try myself
it's getting a slice into these locally grown organic onions
here we are
what stands out immediately
very very simple
straightforward
minimal number of ingredients
but the amount a variety of flavors that you get from this
it's delicious
it's buttery
it's sweet
it's a little bit spicy
herbaceous
top shelf
they've knocked it out of the park with this one
the first orders of food were so tasty
but of course the star of the show is the pizza
it was hard to wait for it
but when at last it did arrive we were not disappointed
the colors were rich and the dough looked so light and fluffy
that it might float away if we didn't eat it soon
all right
doing the honors now
talk about incredible presentation that they have here
it's so good
lots of care with the ingredients
perfect
the oregano
you don't have so many ingredients that they clash with each other
the oregano with the garlic
perfect
buttery
mmm
and the sauce
the sauce is killer
we have that as well with the onions
and we predicted it would be this good
so a little tip for you
if you've ordered the ajillo
and now you don't know what to do with your crusts although they're delicious
it's a little dip in the ajillo oil from before
and then you've got
incredible combination
these guys are pros
after having the amazing starters and incredibly savory pizza
there's not much that could possibly be better
that is of course other than more pizza
and yamaoka has the perfect follow-up option
dessert pizza
we ordered what is called in japanese ichijiku or in english, " fig"
it was drenched in chocolate sauce
and served with vanilla ice cream
if you listened carefully you could hear
Michal and i growing fatter just looking at it
the chocolate
oh my goodness and the ice cream is...
okay all right all right
just calm down Michal!
you got this
wow
let's get a quick taste
with the fig,
i love it
so let's try it
I'm going home
try it
like just just do it
sorry
oh my god
great
a place is good because of the people
therefore it was a high priority for me to speak with both the owners
i wanted to know how anyone ever finds themselves in a place like this
high on a mountain hidden away from most people
what was it about this place that drew them to it
and why did they do what they do?
this is why i love living in japan so much
finding these hidden away spots is just so much fun
people often say you never know what you're going to find if you take the road less traveled
i think that's only half true
you might not know exactly
but in my experience if you take that road in japan
it always leads to amazing people
and great food
thanks so much for tuning in to catch this video guys
i really really appreciate it
if you had to make a choice
which would you go for
which pizza in the video
the savory
or the sweet
i find myself leaning towards the savory
in any event thank you again
that's all for this one
i hope to catch you in the next
take care out there
bye for now