Muji Cafe * Soholm Cafe

The fennel bulbs have always been partial to Muji, a big Japanese lifestyle brand known worldwide for its simplicity of style. It sells everything we need from day to day from clothes to furniture, food, and yes, condoms even. The largest store in Tokyo is located in Yurakucho (有楽町), right in the centre of Tokyo. 

Muji has several cafes all throughout Tokyo including one in Shinjuku, and another one in more laid-back Aoyama. The cafe in Yurakucho is rather in the style of a canteen. Surprisingly, noise levels are not at all debilitating and the atmosphere is calm and relaxed enough for one to have a quiet brunch while reading a good book. 

For a light evening meal to end a bit of shopping around, a set of 4 deli dishes was ordered. From top left clockwise: quiche, chicken tandoori, eggplant with cheese and tomatoes, and squash salad (Y1150). Everything was definitely beyond satisfactory.

On another autumn afternoon, after a nice stroll in Shinjuku Gyoen, the fennel bulbs had some cake at Soholm Cafe, a nice cafe serving Scandinavian-inspired snacks. As it was autumn, pumpkin was a very timely ingredient, and they had pumpkin cheesecake. A set with black tea costs around Y700. The cheesecake blended very well with the drizzling of maple syrup. 

*Yurakucho (i有楽町) is a short walk from Ginza. Yurakucho station can be easily reached through the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho line, and through the JR Keihin-Tohoku and Yamanote lines. 

Healthy Dining

There are a lot of neighborhood restaurants in Tokyo that serve surprisingly ingenious cuisine. One neighborhood in Setagaya-ku that has a rich eccentric vibe to it, apart from being one of the centers for youth culture in Tokyo, is Shimokitazawa (下北沢). This neighborhood has a lot of specialty boutiques, including ones selling cheaper pre-owned designer goods, bars, cafes, and the usual Pachinko slots. 

One restaurant that serves delightful French food with organic and anti-aging ingredients/formulations is BioMaison. Located in a quieter section of Shimokitazawa, BioMaison is a quaint place that looks more like a nice kitchen nook. It serves French-inspired cuisine with the aim of promoting well-being. Healthy food is definitely on the menu. 

A downside is that the menu is entirely in Japanese, and one would need a dictionary to understand which items to order. For this visit, the fennel bulbs ordered some dishes with more or less familiar ingredients, and all fortunately turned out to be truly memorable. 

For starters, a trio of diminutive hors d'oeuvre was presented (Y330). This is not ordered, but given rather mandatorily. It would be quite rude to refuse as the taste and the presentation are both worth more than its price. From left to right, a succulent sun-dried tomato, parsley, and cheese ball; followed by shaved herbs and cheese over a slice of ham and some greens; and lastly a slice of bread with a vegetable spread. 

Next in line is a shrimp and avocado salad (~Y880). The flavours are delicate and very well balanced. The proportion of avocado, dressing, and shrimps are just enough such that there is a unison of flavour that is unique. And the cherry tomatoes are so sweet!

For the main course, a superb dish of fish cooked in the Corsican style (which uses tomatoes), is served with some freshly-grown vegetables - a slice of squash, peppers, cauliflower, and purple carrots (~Y1880). On the side is bread baked with organic yeast (Y330), supposedly to promote good digestion. Also, the menu says that a lot of B vitamins essential for the health of the nervous system and general well-being are abundant in these ingredients. 

The servings are a bit on the small side though, and more authentic French cuisine can be had elsewhere. But, BioMaison is a homely experience for those who want to experience healthy (and anti-aging, as it claims to be) cuisine. 

*Shimokitazawa (下北沢) can be reached easily (in 10 minutes or so) either from Shibuya through the Keio Inokashira Line or from Shinjuku through the Odakyu Line.