Yufuin French Restaurant "Mélanger" Welcomes Its First Summer, Offering a Limited-Time Course Featuring Oita's Seasonal Delicacies and Rare "Summer Venison" Hand-Selected by the Chef

French restaurant "Mélanger" in Yufuin Town, Yufu City, Oita Prefecture, is offering a course featuring rare "summer venison" delivered by Masato Shuto from Kuju Town, available until mid-July 2026.

Mélanger, which opened in October 2025, is a French restaurant that uses only ingredients from Oita Prefecture and aims to be a "destination that connects producers and customers through food."

Approximately six months since its opening, this is the restaurant's first summer. In spring, they feature wild mountain vegetables; in summer, ayu sweetfish and summer venison; in autumn, wild boar and mushrooms; and in winter, duck and pheasant. They elevate Oita's seasonal ingredients, which change with the seasons, into dishes, embodying the region's unique climate and seasons through their cuisine.

Rare Ingredient for Early Summer: "Summer Venison"

While venison is generally associated with autumn and winter, the male deer in early summer is a delicacy with unique charms for this season. Male deer in early summer, after their antlers shed and before they regrow, gain fat only during this period. Their moist, tender meat and clear flavor are reasons many chefs eagerly await this season.

The venison used at Mélanger is high-quality game sourced from Masato Shuto at the Raku Raku Gibier Meat Processing Facility in the neighboring town of Kuju. By deeply understanding the animals' behavior, hunting with sincerity for each individual animal, and performing swift and careful processing, they maximize the venison's natural umami.

"We want to enhance the value of gibier." This is a dish available only at this time of year, made possible by the shared passion of Mr. Shuto and the chef.

The Meaning Behind the Restaurant Name "Mélanger"

"Mélanger" means "to mix" in French. It signifies the creation of new value when the charms of things, people, places, and ingredients meet and blend in this location. They aspire to be a place that connects producers, chefs, customers, and the land of Yufuin.

A Space with Only 6 Counter Seats Overlooking Mount Yufu

For Chef Taku Tachikawa, Yufuin is the place of his childhood memories. "If I were to open a restaurant in Yufuin, it would be with a view of Mount Yufu." He held firm to this desire, spending about two years searching for the current location.

The plasterwork, tableware, and chairs that adorn the interior are all handcrafted by artists active in Oita Prefecture. By conveying his vision to the artists and entrusting the details to their individual sensibilities, a sophisticated yet warm space has been created that harmonizes with the scenery of Mount Yufu.

The conversation with the chef and the live atmosphere created by having only six counter seats are also unique charms of Mélanger.

Dishes Crafted Solely with Oita Prefecture Ingredients

Mélanger offers French courses composed exclusively of ingredients from Oita Prefecture. The chef personally visits various locations within the prefecture, engaging in dialogue with producers to procure only the freshest ingredients available each day.

- Gibier: High-quality game from Masato Shuto at the Raku Raku Gibier Meat Processing Facility in Kuju, a neighboring town. - Fresh Fish: The chef personally visits the market in Hiji Town, selects seasonal fish with a discerning eye, prepares them himself, and processes them optimally. - Vegetables and Wild Mountain Vegetables: Some are foraged by the chef from rivers and mountains in Yufuin, while others include asparagus grown by local farmers and organic strawberries cultivated using geothermal heat from hot springs. - Homemade Bread: Bread made with pesticide-free wheat from Yufu Kankyo Farm has already received high praise from many customers.

These gathered ingredients are elevated into dishes using French culinary techniques while respecting their individual characteristics. Tasting the food means experiencing the producers, the land, and the season. Mélanger aims to deliver the very essence of Oita's climate and seasons through its cuisine.

Pairing Course to Complement the Cuisine to Launch This Summer

Starting this summer, a pairing course designed to complement the dishes will be offered to groups of four or more. This will include Makichore wines selected by "Tamaruya," a sake shop in Sagaseka, Oita, as well as other wines associated with Oita, offering a dining experience that allows for a deeper appreciation of each dish's lingering flavors.

For those who do not drink alcohol, non-alcoholic beverages that harmonize with the food, such as pesticide-free tea from "Hotaru Tea Garden" in Yabakei, Oita, will also be available.

Catering Services for Villas and Vacation Homes Available

Yufuin, a popular summer resort, has many villas and vacation homes. In addition to dining at the restaurant, Mélanger also offers catering services for private homes, villas, and vacation homes. For family gatherings, celebrations, or private dinners, they offer hospitality with course meals featuring Oita's seasonal delicacies for your special time in Yufuin.

Chef Taku Tachikawa Profile

Born in Yufuin Town. After working at "Osteria e Bar Ricado" in Takeda City, he moved to France and honed his skills at "Au Fil du Zinc" in the Chablis region. Upon returning to Japan, he was involved in menu development at "Café La Rioche" in Yufuin and the establishment and overall operation of "Ogura Tōma" in Beppu City, gaining extensive experience not only in cooking but also in restaurant creation and service.

In October 2025, he opened his culminating French restaurant, "Mélanger," in his hometown of Yufuin.

With the desire to "create a destination that connects producers and customers through food," he continues to express the seasons of Oita through his cuisine, conveying the passion of producers and the charm of the region.

【Restaurant Overview】

Restaurant Name: Mélanger

Address: 242-1 Kawahokita, Yufuin-cho, Yufu City, Oita Prefecture

TEL: 070-8492-7814

Business Hours: Lunch starts at 12:00 PM (reservations required) / Dinner starts at 6:00 PM or 6:30 PM (reservations required)

Price: Course of 8-9 dishes ¥16,500 (tax included)

Access: 5 minutes by car from JR Yufuin Station

Seating: 6 counter seats

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yufuin_melanger2024/