Hello everyone, nice to meet you.
This is Morino from the Suo-Oshima office.
I usually work as a coder, creating websites.
I have a few hobbies, but eating and cooking are my favorites.
I love taking photos of food and spending relaxing time eating and drinking at cafes and coffee shops.
Not only do I love the atmosphere of cafes, but during my student days I even worked part-time in a cafe and a restaurant.
From that experience I realized that I liked customer service, that I enjoyed the work, and that it suited me. I also found the opportunities to come up with new menu items and create signs to be very enjoyable and rewarding. Because of these things, I wanted to try opening a restaurant that I had designed from scratch, rather than just working part-time.
So, with the desire to open my own cafe at the market in Suo-Oshima, the town where I live now, I went on a tour of cafes and coffee shops in neighboring Hiroshima prefecture to study the possibility.
In addition to visiting cafes, I am also thinking about obtaining qualifications and visiting cafes, so I would be grateful if you would support this project until the end.
A taste that even Napolitan lovers will be pleased with... "Zwei G-sen"
departure!
It takes about two hours from my house to Hiroshima city.
We arrived just around noon.
I went into Zwei G-sen, a coffee shop I had been researching for a while.
The inside of the shop is warmly lit, and there is a counter in front of the kitchen with a row of coffee siphons.
There are many customers, and the inside of the shop is quiet and relaxing.
It felt very lively and energetic.
Coffee siphon
counter
...And best of all, it smells good.
Attracted by the smell, I ordered the coffee shop classic, Neapolitan.
Neapolitan
Nori in Neapolitan...?
I was so impressed by how delicious it was.
I call myself a coffee shop lover, so I've tried comparing the Neapolitan pasta from many different coffee shops.
But how can pasta have such a big difference in taste?
There was a large bottle on the counter, probably containing ketchup.
I'm sure it's a Neapolitan that has been made with great care.
By adding a unique twist to the dish, even standard menu items can make you want to come back again and again.
I want to come up with a menu with a twist too!
Of course, I couldn't ask for the recipe, so I was so excited that I decided to interview the intimidating chef.
Morino: "What's on the menu?"
Chef: "Hmm, maybe Neapolitan, okonomiyaki-style spaghetti, and blended coffee."
I definitely recommend this Neapolitan!
Next time I come, I'd like to try the remaining two recommended dishes.
Thank you for the meal.
A truly hidden cafe! "Smoking & No Smoking"
Then we went to the second bar.
I want to eat something sweet!
We also went to a hidden cafe that we had researched.
Is there really a cafe in a place like this?
I was a bit worried, but I followed the map and there it was.
We headed to "Smoking & No Smoking," tucked away at the very back of the building.
No smoking
smoking
The interior is a little unusual, with smoking and non-smoking rooms separated and only the kitchen connected.
The non-smoking section was full so we went in the smoking section.
When you enter the store, it's pitch black!
It's almost impossible to see anything until your eyes adjust.
In-store counter
...I can't smell cooking? Is it because I'm smoking?
Rather, it has a soothing smell like incense.
The waiter brought me some water and a towel.
The towels were very stylish and had aromatic scents, which showed that they had put a lot of care into the service.
I thought most stores didn't have scents like perfume, incense, or aromas, but this one is nice in its own way.
The inside of the store feels like another world, making you want to stay for a long time, and the dim lighting really makes you feel relaxed. It seems that it is important to have all the concepts matched.
So I ordered the dessert set.
Dessert Set
Ice cream, raw chocolate, and butter cake.
They're all delicious! They're not too sweet and have a refined taste!
The smell, lighting, and miscellaneous goods all match the atmosphere of the store perfectly.
Thank you for the meal.
I would definitely visit this place again, but it was also a hidden cafe that I would really like to keep a secret.
A cafe in the basement? "Korita Cafe"
Next, we went to Korita Cafe in the basement.
Wow, it's really underground...
Basement Stairs
The restaurant is so popular that it is always fully booked!
After waiting a little while, we finally entered the store.
counter
So cute... lol Lots of miniature items! The pictures on the menu are also cute and hand-drawn...
While waiting, I looked at the menu and ordered a pumpkin and roasted green tea cheesecake that had caught my eye.
The set also includes a drink, so we also had some lemon squash with it.
Cake set
The cake part of this cheesecake is rich and has a strong roasted green tea flavor and a delicious sweetness from the pumpkin.
The slightly salty tart part at the bottom adds an accent and keeps you from getting bored.
I can go on and on...
A bright store with lively miscellaneous goods and music.
The atmosphere is different from the previous shop and it's relaxing.
The average age of the staff is younger than the staff at my previous store, and there are more of them.
It matches the atmosphere of the restaurant.
I realized how important it is to match the store staff with the atmosphere of the store.
Also, even though the restaurant was full, the food was served quickly and it was easy to see why there were so many customers.
There is a corner selling baked goods at the entrance of the store.
Each one was carefully wrapped and lined up with other miscellaneous goods, and I couldn't help but stare at them. I then bought a baked good. Let's go home.
Thank you for the meal.
This "Korita Cafe" has a sister store in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture.
I would love to visit that place as well.
The owner is wonderful... "Cafe Monk"
Finally we go to the last shop.
My stomach is already full...
Let's calm down and have a coffee before heading home.
So we headed to "Cafe Monk".
Let's go inside!
Inside the store
Wow. It's pitch black with only the lamps lighting.
And the smell of coffee and cool music.
There is an oil painting on the wall and a crucifix on the desk.
I felt kind of nervous.
Paintings and ornaments really create a nice atmosphere.
I also decorate with pictures I have drawn, and make designs and stick them on cups and plates.
I'm sure I'll come up with a lot of different ideas here.
When I sat down, the waiter, who looked like he came from an anime or manga, brought me a menu from the back.
I opened the menu and was surprised at how many items there were.
It's like a book now...
I ordered Dominica from the many menu items.
Dominica
...Easy to drink.
It tasted very different from any coffee I knew.
It's hard to put into words, but it was a coffee that wasn't like coffee.
There is a sign on the wall of the shop announcing its 42nd anniversary.
Business hours are until 1am.
I felt like I finally understood why it has been loved for so long.
Thank you for the meal.
lastly
This concludes our cafe and coffee shop tour.
Each shop had its own unique charm, which was great.
The atmosphere and individuality of the restaurant, the menu and price range...
There was a lot to learn and it was a great day.
I would like to use today's experience as a foundation to move on to the next step.