UPDATE: Sadly Foodelica closed permanently at the end of 2017. Not too long ago, after a visit to the Shugaku-in Imperial Villa, I was passing Cafe Foodelica and popped inside for a cappuccino and a scoop of ice cream. I don't visit Cafe Foodelica too often as I am based in Fushimi (south Kyoto) and it is situated up north by Shugakuin Station. However, it struck me … [Read more...]
FESTIVIN! Natural Wine Festival in Kyoto June 28th 2015
Since 2010, Festivin, Japan's largest natural wine festival, has been held in Tokyo, but this year for the first time it comes to Kyoto! What is Festivin? As the name FESTIVIN suggests (the coinage of the words “festival” and “vin” – vin meaning wine in French), it is not a professional tasting session (we do not have any spittoons at the venue), but an opportunity to … [Read more...]
All New Falafel Garden
A couple of weeks ago we went to check out the new location for Falafel Garden. A short walk north of Demachiyanagi on Kawabata, this new shop opened on April 28th. The old Falafel Garden was always a popular spot, but I think I like this new one even more. It's bigger, more comfortable, they have a nice big garden out the back and if you are lucky you can snag a balcony seat … [Read more...]
Kamo’s All You Can Eat Veggie Buffet
Now that Obanzai's organic buffet is closing, it is good to know that there are alternatives. Kamo serves up all organic locally grown vegetables in all kinds of tasty combinations. They take pride in the fact their vegetables are 都野菜 or "Miyako vegetables" which means they are truly local. Apparently the famed label 京野菜 - "Kyo yasai" does not always guarantee that the veggies … [Read more...]
Obanzai Buffet Restaurant to Close at the End of March 2014
Thanks to Gary Bloom and Barbara Stein for passing on the sad news that the organic buffet restaurant Obanzai is closing at the end of this month. Though not 100% vegetarian, this buffet was very veggie heavy, all natural and good value too. The owners of the building have decided to demolish it however, and so the restaurant, unwillingly, has to go too. I wonder if they will … [Read more...]
On Herbs, Serendipity & Fair Trade in Kyoto
Za'Atar is an Arabic spice mix "made from mixing dried za'atar leaves together with varying combinations of other spices such as sesame seeds, thyme, marjoram, sumac and more." We bought a jar at the IDRO Japan charity sale last year, and then found ourselves wondering what to do with it. I can't remember who donated it, but they suggested we mix it with olive oil and use it as … [Read more...]
Matsuontoko – Vegan Burger Cafe
Though there are quite a large number of vegetarian establishments in Kyoto, most of them are located in the north of the city, and the few there are in the city center tend to sell nothing that isn't healthy and nutritious. Good vegan junk food is pretty hard to come by. There used to be a branch of Speakeasy on Shijo that did a passable veggie burger, but that closed down … [Read more...]
Vege-Cafe Kanna
Vege-Cafe Kanna is not so much a vegetarian restaurant as a restaurant that puts a big emphasis on vegetables and other healthy natural food. They do have vegetarian options though if you ask for them. I asked for the vegetarian version of the "Kanna Lunch Set". It's important that you specify that you are vegetarian so that they don't use any dashi which contains fish … [Read more...]
Caffe dell’Orso
A few weeks ago Ted Taylor introduced me to Cafe dell'Orso a nice new Italian restaurant on Higashi Ichijo Dori. They do a good ￥1000 set lunch there; one pasta of your choosing + salad + focaccia with a home made pate and a wee slice of quiche. I decided to go back for dinner, and try some more dishes. In my pictures below you can see various appetisers and desserts but not … [Read more...]
Na no hana
Out for a stroll last night I stumbled across health and whole food shop 菜花 (na no hana). They have plenty of organic vegetables and fruit here, all kinds of natural cooking ingredients, vegan food supplies and earth-friendly cleaning products. 菜花 sits about halfway between Demachiyanagi and Hyakumanben. If that isn't convenient, they do deliveries. To find it, just walk east … [Read more...]
In Search of… Cafe Peace
I've noticed that a lot of people discover Deep Kyoto, when googling for Cafe Peace. Sadly, Kyoto's famous animal-loving emporium of vegan fake meats, Heartland beer and happy hippy clutter closed earlier this year. However, the ideals of Cafe Peace are continued each year at the annual and ever popular vegetarian festival, and as for eateries, in Kyoto, vegetarians are spoilt … [Read more...]
Woodnote
I had my supper at Woodnote last night; a big plate of sarnies and two bottles of Guinness. And they were tasty. I really like this place. There are a lot of bars and cafes in Kyoto that are dedicated to a particular kind of music; jazz, soul, rock or blues... and finding these places always gives me a real kick. But Woodnote is something else. It's a "99.9%" (says the owner) … [Read more...]
Online Supplies
Some time ago I wrote a short guide to Kyoto's import stores and also this piece on natural food suppliers, but on both occasions I neglected to add links to some of the online food suppliers available here in Japan. Silly me. Let's quickly rectify that now. First up is The Flying Pig. In their own words: Reasonable prices on imported groceries and general merchandise in … [Read more...]
Hale ~晴~
Hidden away in the heart of the bustling market on Nishiki Dori is a tiny little alleyway that leads to Hale. This is a fully organic and vegan restaurant, specialising in seasonal dishes, yuba tofu and Kyoto's famously distinctive vegetables. For lunch you can have a ￥1000 set or the "Special Lunch" for ￥1800. I settled for the ￥１０００ lunch which you can see amid the pictures … [Read more...]
