A Brand New Hangout for Café Lovers
Published: March 12, 2018
More casual than a restaurant, but fancier than a coffee shop—there’s something irresistibly charming about cafés that makes people want to linger a little longer than necessary, even after they’ve put their napkins down. And here in Monzen-nakacho, a new café has just opened its doors, providing another welcoming spot for locals catching a break between their all-too-busy schedules.
SEED CAFÉ is the beloved brainchild of Mrs. Fujiko Hoshi, who finally realised her dream of owning her own shop in December of 2017. She had worked in various restaurants up to that point, but was determined to become self-employed in her later years so she could keep working while being a loving grandmother to her four grandchildren.
“My husband, who works in design, made it,” Mrs. Hoshi said of the café’s stylish logo. “The name, I suppose, is meant to invoke a feeling of growth and eventual blossoming. Though who can say when that will be,” she added with a small laugh. Mrs. Hoshi speaks humbly of the café and its future, but there’s no doubt that a lot of passion and effort was poured into the establishment.
Located in a quiet, residential area, the café actually used to be the first floor of a regular home. Bright, clean, and friendly, its simple wooden furniture and artistic touches like the Klimt painting on the wall create an inviting atmosphere.
Even the lamps on the walls are lovely, reminiscent of something from decades past.
The food menu is kept simple and extremely affordable. “Taco rice is the most popular item,” Mrs. Hoshi told me.“Taco rice” is a Japanese-style Western dish—a twist on traditional tacos—wherein the toppings are served on top of a bowl of rice rather than in a tortilla shell.
Mrs. Hoshi cooks behind the counter in her neat, orderly kitchen. “I have to do everything myself, so I can’t make anything terribly fancy,” she says as she busies herself. “I could serve more complicated menus, like hamburger steaks, if customers have time to wait. Otherwise, I keep it simple.”
Despite her disclaimers, the taco rice which arrived was quite a spread! The main dish consists of fluffy white rice buried under a mound of toppings: lettuce, avocado, green and red peppers, onions and tomatoes create a burst of colours on the plate, and the ground beef is cooked in a complex mix of spices, creating a depth of flavours. Topped with an egg, the dish is both healthy and well-balanced!
As if that wasn’t enough, the eat-in lunch set also comes with a soup and salad du jour, as well as coffee or tea after the meal.
“Make sure you mix it up well before eating!”
For those who can’t stay, SEED CAFÉ offers a takeout service. For just 600 yen (!), you can have your lunch to go.
“The spicy chicken curry is also a specialty of mine.”
Mrs. Hoshi simmers the curry in a spicy roux of her own recipe containing cumin, garam masala, turmeric and many other seasonings, and leaves the flavours to set overnight. Interested foodies should come out to Monzen-nakacho during the Oedo Fukagawa Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival), where SEED CAFÉ will be serving small portions of the curry for just 300 yen a plate on April 1st!
“I might make it a little milder than normal, so kids can enjoy them too,” contemplated the ever-considerate Mrs. Hoshi.
Although the café is currently operating during the daytime only, Mrs. Hoshi hopes to be able to open it up at night in the future. She already has a fine selection of alcohol in stock, and someday soon we might see SEED CAFÉ become a favourite pit-stop for many of the office workers in the area on their way home.
There’s also a back room which can be rented out for talks and events, perfect as a community space. Currently, an English Easter event for kids is already in the plans for March 25th, while other fun opportunities are also being discussed by Mrs. Hoshi, her family, and her friends.
No matter what your reason for seeking out the comforts of a café—whether it’s food, a cup of tea, a place to chat with friends, or peace to read a book quietly—SEED CAFÉ will no doubt become a sanctuary for many. Mrs. Hoshi is already looking ahead, thinking of the summer months and new additions to the menu. It will be a great pleasure to see how SEED CAFÉ grows and blossoms into an invaluable part of the neighbourhood in the future.
※The contents of this article reflects information available at the time of its writing in March, 2018
Story and Photos by Xianru Shen（Koto City Office Coordinator for International Relations）
