What comes to mind when you think of Sapporo's gourmet food scene?
Ramen? Sushi? Or maybe hairy crab?

I think most people probably have that kind of image.

However, this time I'd like to change things up a bit and introduce lunch at "orizzonte," an Italian restaurant located near Odori Park in the heart of Sapporo.

This restaurant is an Italian restaurant that has won the World Pizza Championship two years in a row! Isn't that exciting?

Incidentally, the shop's name apparently means "horizon" in Italian. When I think of the horizon, I think of the boundary between the sea and the sky... but that's the sea level, isn't it?

Now, enough with the long introduction... I'd like to take you, the reader, on a journey to Italy.
Please relax and unwind, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Lunch menu: pasta or pizza?

First, you can choose from two lunch menus: a pizza set or a pasta set.
The set includes an appetizer salad, a main dish (pizza or pasta), and a drink (you can choose whether to have it before or after the meal).

With six different types of pizza and pasta to choose from, it's hard to decide what to eat!
This time, I chose the classic "Margherita."

Actually, I really dislike tomatoes (laughs)... but I can eat the tomatoes from Horizonte.
The perfect balance of acidity and sweetness makes this a flavor I would recommend even to those who don't like tomatoes!

And this is the most popular pasta dish at Orizzonte, called "Taglioni with Hokkaido Sea Urchin Cream Sauce."

Don't you sometimes find creamy pasta dishes too rich and difficult to finish?
But you can eat this pasta to the very last bite without getting tired of it.

By the way, just like the pizza I mentioned earlier, this pasta is also a single serving.
What do you think? It's quite filling, isn't it?

This is the "Zucchini and Sausage Tomato Sauce Pizza" that I ate on a different day.

This is a dish I'd like even those who don't like zucchini to try; the sausage adds a nice touch, making it easy to eat.
To be honest, I'd say it's an addictive taste...

We also use fresh vegetables in our salads.

This is the salad that comes with the set.

The yellow vegetable in the picture is a turnip, but I imagine many people aren't very familiar with turnips.
Orizzonte's salads are specially designed to be easy to eat even for people like that!

The dressing has an addictive flavor that will get you hooked after just one bite, and I would recommend it even to people who don't like raw vegetables.

One day's salad consisted of eggs and thinly sliced, crisp carrots.
The dressing is also reliably delicious!

This is another dish that's easy to eat even for those who don't like raw vegetables.

For dessert, I highly recommend the Catalan cream; it's absolutely delicious!

The name of this dessert is "Catalana".
Would it make sense if I described "Catalana" as something like a chilled crème brûlée, or a chilled and solidified baked custard?

The caramelized topping has a sweet and slightly bitter taste, and a nice aroma. It's best to let it sit for a while before eating.
Otherwise, it's hard and difficult to eat.

When you eat it, you can enjoy the feeling of it melting in your mouth and the way the sweetness spreads.

This Catalan cream is truly exceptional, with a taste that no other shop can match. It could even be called a specialty of Orizzonte.

Please try it after your meal!

~Bonus Episode 1~ I also recommend this pasta

Now, out of the several pasta lunch options available, I chose the "Lobster Tomato Cream Sauce Pasta."

As you can see from the picture, there's a large lobster on top of the pasta.
I'd say it has a very strong presence.

It's not just the size that's impressive; there's also plenty of meat inside the lobster.
The plump, juicy flesh is packed in tightly, so you can enjoy it even on its own.

Enjoy it with the tomato cream sauce!

~Bonus Episode 2~ There are also desserts like this

Yes, it's raw chocolate! First of all, the presentation is so stylish, isn't it?
The chocolate sauce adds a nice touch.

Not only is it visually appealing, but the taste is also highly recommended.

Raw chocolate has a unique, strangely sweet taste, doesn't it?
However, this raw chocolate from "Orizzonte" doesn't have that.

Therefore, you can enjoy the original deliciousness of the cocoa and the refined sweetness of the raw chocolate right to the very last bite.

Drinks you can choose to have before or after your meal

Whether you order the pasta set or the pizza set, a drink is included.

For drinks, you can choose from hot or iced coffee, hot or iced tea, espresso, oolong tea, or orange juice.

The picture shows hot black tea. Add sugar and milk to your liking.
The tea itself is delicious, thanks to the quality of the tea leaves, which gives you a feeling of luxury.

Afterword

How was it?
The Italian restaurant "Orizzonte" that I visited this time opened in 1998. It's a place that even celebrities visit discreetly.

As you can see in the picture, the interior has the feel of an Italian bar, so anyone can enter without feeling intimidated or self-conscious.

If you ever visit Sapporo, why not check out the Italian restaurant "orizzonte"?

Italian restaurant Orizzonte
1F, Minami 2-jo Nishi 5, Chuo-ku, Sapporo City
TEL: 011-222-0021
■ Business hours
[Lunch] 11:30 - 15:00 (Last Order 14:30)
【dinner】
Monday to Thursday: 17:00 to 22:30 (LO 21:45)
Friday, Saturday, and the day before a public holiday: 17:00 - 23:00 (Last order 22:15)
Sundays and holidays: 17:00-22:00 (LO 21:15)

Author: Hozuki Amane

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