“A café that has continued to be loved for 60 years”   In this entry to my café series, I visited the familiar Yurakucho, the center of modern Tokyo culture. This year, long-standing café Benisica turned 61-years-old. I stopped by to have my fill of their amazing pizza toast. The café is a 2-minute walk from Hibiya Station via Tokyo Metro lines, and 4-minutes on foot from Yurakucho Station via JR lines, making it an easy place to get to.   The café opened all those years ago in response to the large number of cinemas and theatres dotted around Yurakucho. They wanted to create place where people could relax on their way back from seeing a show.   Upon arrival, you can still observe stylish older ladies strolling into the café. The scene hasn’t changed one bit which I found to be wonderful.   Café Benisica is famous for being the birthplace of original pizza toast. They even have a sign at the entrance telling you that! Eye-catching!!!   Without further ado, let’s head on in♪   I take one step into the café, and... Huh? What’s this?!   That’s right. At Benisica, you can enjoy vacuum brewed coffee. This was the first time I had seen a vacuum coffee maker up close, so I gazed at them with a keen interest.   Inside, I gazed at the café décor and objects scattered around of Hibiya, a town which changes with the times. You can feel the weight of the times instore – all the wonderful items look stylish simply by being placed in there! The café interior is a collection of warm colours. It’s a place where you can relax and feel comfortable.   This is Benisica’s famous pizza toast, costing ￥950 (tax included). They have plenty of set menus, and drink menus are ￥1,350. The story behind the pizza toast was how if you didn’t go to an Italian restaurant back then, you couldn’t eat pizza. So, they took pizza and turned it into something you can eat casually – toast. Since then, it has continued to be a much-loved menu item with customers for almost half a century.     After hearing the story, I took no time at all ordering my own pizza toast! To drink, I chose a strawberry shake. Just so you know, the shake doesn’t come in set orders, so be careful.   Thick servings of cheese and put onto chunky slices of toast. “The soul of the pizza toast is in the cheese!” is what you’ll be saying at its presence on the toast. Its generous serving makes this pizza toast suitable not just as a light meal, but even a whole lunch. As well as the standard ingredients like salami, onion and bell peppers, I was happy that there were mushrooms too.   The bread’s texture is fluffy! I was hungry, so I made short work of it. Thank you for the meal.   This is the owner of Benisica, Setsuko Murakami, who told me the story of the café. She’s a very wonderful person who loves her husband very much. Not only did she tell me about the café – I got to hear about her husband’s way of living and thoughts too. The words of people that have walked the road of life longer than me are deep and enlightening.   I stored the owner’s story safely onto the shelves in my heart. The next time something happens, I’ll rely on those special words she graciously taught me and work hard.      

"Good service, a jolly owner and cute cats – this café is sure to heal you!"   I’m Ema Tanioku and today I’ll be introducing you to yet another café in Tokyo as the fourth edition of my series "The café that you want to visit to see someone". Today I’ll be reporting about my visit to Café Arles which can be found at Shinjuku-sanchome. Ever since hearing that there were cats at this café, I’ve been set on going 〜♪♪   The café is very easy to access. To get to there, you can take the Toei Shinjuku line to Shinjuku-sanchome. From here, you can get to the café within a five-minute walk. Walking around the Shinjuku Suehirote theatre, the café soon came into sight. Somehow, I could sense the presence of cats just from the atmosphere... There it was! The entrance to the café was decorated with many ornaments of cats and dogs. I don’ know why but I was filled with excitement before even having entered. As soon as I entered, I immediately spotted a cat. I was then greeted by the cat’s master who had a sweeping grin across his face and was wearing a hat with a cat broach. I could really feel his love for cats ♪♪ I took a sweeping glance over the café – cats, cats and more cats - there were so many cat-themed goods everywhere! Apart from cats goods, the master also collects clown goods and displayed everything all huddled together to decorate the café. Although this was my first time at Café Arles, I immediately felt right at home as a warm feeling grew within me. I asked the master what got him into the café business and I was surprised by his response. It all started when the master was working at a mahjong parlour, where a person they knew asked them to start up a café. The master then thought about the numerous paintings he had collected and how he was in search of a place to display them. The idea of choosing his own music, menu and decorating a café interior to his own taste really struck a chord with him. There are many paintings displayed in the café. Amongst these are some by modern artist Tomomi Kondo, who made the paintings “please your master” and “cool your thighs”, which feature the kaban neko (café cats) Ishimatsu and Jirocho, who are “working hard” by lazing around. Café Arles is fun and draws in even more fun. The atmosphere is filled with the love and enjoyment of the customers. That’s why I immediately felt so at home as soon as I entered. You can easily spend a long time here. I asked the master what he recommends from his menu. His response? “My recommendation is what you want to eat the most!” he said wisely. I felt like eating Napolitan spaghetti and so that is what I ordered! (Price: ￥720 including tax) It came with banana and giant corn ❤ – this excellent service made me so happy! The gentle flavour of this homemade dish was delicious and I could really taste the Showa-retro Napolitan flavour to it. The drink, soup and salad services available gives this meal a perfect score for portion size satisfaction! The master allowed me to take his café cat Jirocho-kun out for a walk. This was the first time I'd ever walked a cat – a new, fresh experience! Jirocho-kun is a very calm and obedient cat, so we had a lovely stroll together. Speaking of which, Jirocho-kun loves his owner so much that he runs to meet him whenever he hears his car pull up at the shop. This year marks the 40^th anniversary of the café. “I enjoyed every minute of it” explained the master happily. The master created a place where everyone can be happy and in return everyone supports him. Perhaps this cycle is the motivational force that has kept and will continue to push this café to live and thrive.   I’m glad I came to this café today and met such a special person. I want to come here again and have another chat with the master!          

Today, we’d like to introduce to you “Futsu ni Fruits,” a shop produced by a certain popular café in Omotesando that sells fruit sandwiches.

“Futsu ni Fruits” is produced by Omotesando’s popular café & bakery, “Bread, Espresso &,” and is the first place in Nakameguro area to specialize in fruit sandwiches. The shop’s name implies that we should enjoy eating fruits not just on special occasions – but on regular days too.

 

You can find it located near Yarigasaki Crossing and can be easily accessed from either Daikanyama and Nakameguro.

 

The shop is small and compact, part of its charm being that it’s a stand. The shop’s design is styled around a Showa fashion shop, maintaining a retro vibe while also having a pop feel to it. There are also benches installed so you can enjoy sitting down and eating whatever you order.

The shop counter is lined with different varieties of fruit sandwiches. They embrace seasonal fruits, so you can enjoy going as many times as you like. They offer standard and scrumptious fruit sandwiches as well as delicious original ones, such as one filled with fresh cream and topped with red bean paste!

Futsu ni Fruits (￥350 – tax incl.)

You will find the “Futsu ni Fruits” sandwich listed on the shop’s billboard menu. It’s filled with banana, pink grapefruit, orange and kiwi and stuffed with a light serving of fresh cream, giving it a refreshing taste.

Aki no Yonaga ni (￥400 – tax incl.)

This is the limited edition seasonal sandwich for this season. It has a rich, luxurious taste thanks to the Japanese persimmon and sweet bean paste. The bread used for the fruit sandwiches is delivered every morning. The fruits and bread taste perfect together, and their soft and fluffy texture make this a winning sandwich!

Fruit Milk (￥400 each – tax incl.)

What goes hand-in-hand when eating bread? Milk, of course! These cute bottles of milk are prepared on-site every morning. The milk comes in various flavours, including fruit mix and banana milk. They also serve coffee milk (￥350 – tax incl.) using Ogawa Coffee beans.

“Futsu ni Fruits” even sells little accessories such as badges and stickers. The cool pop-style logo is the same as the shop’s logo.

This colourful fruit sandwich shop might be small, but it’s definitely one photogenic café stand. Why not treat yourself to a sweet fruit sandwich during your shopping trip or city stroll?

 

 

“It’s a mysterious café vacuum sealed with an energy that feels like it’s the time of the Japanese economic miracle”   We’re at the third installment of this series where we take a stroll to old-fashioned cafes filled with a sense of nostalgia. I, Ema Tanioka, will be introducing to you another retro café that I am in love with. Today, we go to “Galant” in Ueno, a town where the Showa mood still lingers.   Galant has continued to be loved by many people since it opened its doors back in 1977. This year marks the 40^th anniversary of the popular café. “Galant” sounds a little space-y, don’t you think? It’s a little different from the norm. When I enquired to the staff about the origin of the café’s name, they told me that it comes from the Mitsubishi Galant as the owner is a fan of cars. To think that a car’s name became the name of a café! But it has a ring to it and is easy to remember, so it might actually be a huge success.   Anyway, without further ado, let’s make our way there! Galant is on the 2^nd floor of this building. As you head up the stairs, it no longer felt like I was in the real world. A completely different world opened before me. Because of the entrance’s chic brickwork, I was surprised by the dazzling lights floating inside. And here! Here too! There was so much sparkle. The first thing to peak my interest was the uniform the staff were wearing. So cute... You don’t see that red & yellow combination much these days. It helped amplify that retro mood of the café even more.   The male staff wore red & black! Black was the base colour and had that well defined, guy-like feel to it. Together with the checkered vests, it completed that retro look. It was wonderful. The café was also playing popular Showa era songs. I really felt like I had stepped back in time.       And then... and then! The menu arrived! The most popular item on the menu is the chocolate parfait (￥900 tax incl.). It was absolutely stuffed with cream all the way to the middle. For people who love sweet things this is an irresistible delight. By the way, I must ask, what do you do when it comes to the cherry on top of the parfait? The truth is, I absolutely love parfaits, but I’m really not into the cherry – I usually leave it until the end. Even though it looks so cute on the parfait... Another item is the cream soda (￥750 tax incl.). When going to a café, you just have to get a cream soda!! It’s because you don’t see them around much besides at cafes and family restaurants, so I’m the person that ends up ordering one unintentionally when if I see it on the menu. There’s a nice fat serving of ice cream in there. It’s a drink you can enjoy that has the aesthetic of a dessert. The melon soda is crystal clear like a precious gem. The best part about cream soda is how the ice cream slowly melts into the drink. It’s pretty fun to watch! Galant is the kind of café where the more you get to know it, the more you start to love it. Its fans have been supporting it for many years, and even when I become a grandma in the future, I reckon it’ll still be bustling all the same.  

In this article, the editors would like to introduce to you the truly beautiful bistro restaurant, “PATH.” Their Dutch pancakes are wonderful!

The owner of this restaurant started this bistro with the concept of making a local-connected shop where people can drop by for a meal even if they are solo. The owner wanted to make an “honest” restaurant where customers can enjoy breakfast menus and sweets that first-class patissiers have made. The local of this restaurant, Yoyogi　hachimangu, has a very settled feel and it is one of the owner’s favorite neiborhods.  The restaurant is very near Shibuya Station and Harajuku Station, so it is a very convenient spot to go to after touring this area of Tokyo.

 The name of the restaurant, PATH was chosen with the concept that all the staff, including the patissiers and chefs are all walking in the same direction along the same path.

The owner’s liking of interior design can be seen throughout the décor of the shop. The restaurant has the feel of a Western country home. It is modern but yet the abundant use of wood make for a very “at home” feel to the establishment. The soft lighting of the interior also helps to make for a very comforting atmosphere. The restaurant also has counter seats so even those who are solo can come for a meal without hesitation.

 The other point which the owner takes great care in is the BGM. The analog sound is played through a vacuum tube amplifier making for a nostalgic sound which many customers value highly. The owner’s pride are the vintage Altech speakers. The owner had saved these at his home hoping that one day he could use them in his own restaurant.

 After café time, this establishment turns into a bistro. They have a very good wine lineup and their inhouse wine comes with a very unique label – illustrations of persons faces. Something very interesting is the fact that the age of the illustrations correlates with the age of the face that is illustrated – the older the face, the older the wine. Even if you are not a wine connoisseur are will for sure find a wine to your liking.

The menu item that you must order if you visit this restaurant is the Dutch pancakes with raw ham and burrata (1500 yen). The pancakes are fried slowly – 30 minutes in the making and it is the dough that is so wonderful.  The texture of the pancakes is wonderful and although it looks like a hefty serving it is light and even a woman will be able to eat the plate clean. The pancakes are topped with ham made in Parma and burrata cheese. These toppings make a great match with the pancakes. It is recommended that you pour a generous serving of maple syrup on top before you eat. Please note that the cheese used in this restaurant comes from SHIBUYA CHEESE STAND（http://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/ja/38168） which we introduced before.

The inhouse wine of this restaurant is a weak forming Petty Ann wine with a label illustration depicting Keith Haring (9,600 yen, tax included). It is an organic wine, so it will not leave you with a hangover. Even those who do not drink much alcohol will enjoy this wine.

Take away service is also provided and it is also possible to purchase bread or sweets on your way to work. Just be careful that the items you want are not sold out. Their croissants are usually sold out by 10 and their baked goods are sold out by noon.

 
“PATH” is a “deep Shibuya” restaurant where you can eat a delicious and hearty meal. The author of this article being a wine lover purchased a bottle of wine to take home as a gift. Here is a bistro where you can wonder in on your own for a good meal at the counter as you watch the chefs cook or you can come here on your date. Enjoy the nice BGM, the wine and the scrumptious food.

 

Photo：Haruka Yamamoto
Edit：Namiko Azuma
Text：Ryoichi KOMABA

Source：She magazine

Today’s feature looks at GRAIN BREAD BREW - a café that sits snug nearby Hikawa Shrine in Shibuya. This special café brings warmth to your everyday and receives a perfect score when it comes to spaciousness.

The shop owner, who makes coffee apparatus and tumblers, is a big sandwich-lover. After travelling the world and trying out different sandwiches, the owner came up with delicious sandwich recipes and wanted many people to taste them. This is how the café was born. The café's name derives from special keywords. “Grain” is used to make the store’s “bread”. Coffee beans are carefully selected to “brew”. This makes the "GRAIN BREAD BREW" we know and love today.

The bright and spacious entrance creates a friendly atmosphere. The interior uses white as a colour theme base. Here, comfortable furniture has been gathered and arranged perfectly. The warm-coloured lighting brings the interior design into perspective, filling the room with a warm atmosphere.

The iconic and cute squirrel is the café's mascot character. It is inspired by the animals that gather outside Hikawa Shrine, which is located nearby. These squirrel mascots are everywhere inside the café - can you spot them  all?

The coffee beans used to brew the specialty coffee are carefully selected from across the world. In order for the full flavour to be extracted from the beans, a coffee press is used. Our team recommends a hot cup of fresh, sour, yet fruity Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Domeruso (￥450 + tax).

What makes the coffee press superior to a flannel drip and paper drip is the ability to press the natural oil of the coffee beans directly into the mug, making the perfect cup.  You can enjoy the true essence of coffee to your hearts content right here at this café.

The sandwiches are made using a variety of breads including ciabatta, toast, pita bread and much more. Each type of bread has been specially made to draw out maximum flavour. The monster-style sandwich is filled with a generous 100g of bacon and costs ￥1,000 (+ tax). The springy texture of the ciabatta bread is complimented by the flavour of olive oil. A thick slice of bacon, rich balsamic vinegar, and to top off the texture, a bit of sliced cucumber. At a glance, the dish looks quite filling, but it is surprisingly light. No need to share – those who get full quite easily can still finish it off on their own!

Our recommendation from the sweets menu is the fluffy French toast brûlée. This uses seasonal fruits and is accompanied with ice cream. (￥800 + tax). The texture of this lovable dessert is created by preparing the egg mix for 24 hours. This dish is plated up with apple compote and honey, and vanilla ice cream with a nut garnish. The three parts to the dessert exist in perfect harmony, ensuring that you do not tire of the taste. Every mouthful is something to look forward to.

The company also sells coffee-making equipment and a variety of goods that are easy for anyone to use. The Wallmug Demita (￥800 + tax) is a popular product designed as a result of a collaboration of many famous brands. You can purchase a tumbler and micro coffee dripper (￥700 + tax) to make a set. These are just a few items included in the lineup of easy-to-use goods!

If you are searching for a place where you can remove yourself from the bustling city, enjoy a relaxing atmosphere and soothe your senses, please visit GRAIN BREAD BREW. There is also a takeout menu, so you can enjoy nice coffee whilst watching the autumn leaves of the shrine forest.

 

 

Photos by：Kayo Sekiguchi
Editor：Namiko Azuma
Original text by：Ryoichi KOMABA

Translated by: Samantha Fernandes

Source：She magazine http://she-mag.jp/diary/81280?wid=54544