Where in Perpignan can you find cuisine that’s neither entirely Catalan nor entirely Japanese? At Manat, where Yuka Okugawa and Mark Meya craft their dishes with plenty of love – and shades of beige. After years traveling through Japan (with a notable stint at the wine bar Sans Déconner), it’s no surprise that their little spot has a Tokyoite soul, but with a beautiful Roussillon accent: noren curtains, carved local stone walls, sleek furniture, ceramic tableware…. On the plates as well, it’s Cooking in Translation: delicious prawn and Iberian pork dumplings in a clam bouillon; a plump bao bun stuffed with slow-roasted miso pork; umami-esque breaded veal sweetbreads topped with mushrooms and tosazu – a rice vinegar and dashi condiment; light cod glazed in asparagus velouté and sprinkled with fresh peas; before a delightful cross between panna cotta and caramel flan for dessert. // Nour Passages
FEELING THIRSTY? An extensive inventory of living wines: a Muscadet sec from the nearby L’Étranger winery (€5 a glass), an Aude Carignan from Les Gragnotes (same price), sparkling Japanese wine from Takeda Winery (€66 a bottle)…
PRICE: Tapas €8-16, desserts €6-18.
