中華粽がご自慢のギャラリーカフェ : Kafe Gyarari En

I had some business in Akitsu, which was a rare location. I finished my business in the morning and thought I'd have lunch before going home, so I went to a Western Cuisine restaurant I had my eye on, but it was closed due to COVID-19. The curry restaurant just before it was also closed due to COVID-19. A popular cake shop was limiting entry due to COVID-19, and closed the store after the morning session. Of course, the famous yakitori restaurant Nojima-san was not open during the Prohibition era. So I went to Coffee shops near the station, but there was also a "Closed Today" sign. The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting not only evening drinks, but also the lunches of ordinary people. Just as I was wondering what to do, I noticed a sign on the other side of the Seibu Line tracks that said "Cafe Open". I crossed the railroad crossing on the east side of the station and arrived at the store. The store is located right next to the tracks, so it is in a fairly visible location. In front of the store, there is a big sign that says "Gallery Cafe En", and at the entrance, there are signs saying "Asian Folk Crafts Store En Zakkaichi" and "Binchotan Roasted Coffee and Maurice Message Herbal Tea Store". Once inside, it's even more mysterious. There are counter seats separated by thick vinyl as a COVID-19 measure, and wooden chairs and tables separated by acrylic panels, so it seems like Coffee shops or a restaurant. However, inside the store, it's like a gallery, but also like a general store, and it has a somewhat chaotic atmosphere. There are photos taken by someone displayed together, ink paintings that look like paintings, tapestries, cups and other tableware, dolls, and other things placed in a cramped space, and it's hard to tell how many things are packed into this space. The background music is modern jazz. Is it the strange imbalance that makes the miscellaneous and chaotic atmosphere somehow calming? The store is run by an elderly woman. This sense of chaos may be the mother's worldview. Looking at the menu, a whole page was dedicated to "Maurice Messeghe's Herbal Tea." Maurice Messeghe is a famous French herbalist, and he offers herbal teas with various benefits. However, this time, rice is the main dish. Among the rice dishes, I found two Chinese rice dumplings with braised pork for 750 yen. Instead of black tea, I ordered another specialty, a blend of binchotan roasted coffee (550 yen). While waiting for my order to arrive, I never got bored of looking at the chaotic interior of the store. While I was looking, the Chinese rice dumplings arrived. They were a little small. I removed the string that tied them and peeled back the bamboo skin that wrapped them, and from inside came a rice dumpling with braised pork. It was hot and steaming. The flavor of the pork permeated the entire rice, and the flavor of the soy sauce-based sauce was also thoroughly soaked in. The rice dumplings had a stable taste without being eccentric. The owner said, "It's quite popular," so it seems to be a confident product. I wondered if the finely chopped bamboo shoots were in the cup, and when I asked, I was told, "I don't really know, I don't make them." I wonder if someone else cooks the food? The coffee seems to be pre-made. Still, it had a clear taste with a well-balanced bitterness and slight acidity. You can get a refill of this coffee for 250 yen. So I ordered another cup and decided to have some cake for dessert. I chose the apple and peach cake (500 yen). It was a cake with chopped apples and peaches in syrup placed in jelly. The sweet and sour taste was soothing. It was a somewhat mysterious space, but strangely relaxing. Because the restaurant I had planned to go to was closed, I was able to discover an interesting restaurant.