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...]
Cafe Proverbs [15:17]
Better a dish of herbs where love is, than a fatted ox and hatred with it. [Proverbs, Chapter 15: Verse 17] It's spring in Kyoto and time for something fresh. Though Kyoto's best-known vegan restaurant and purveyor of fake meats Cafe Peace did not survive the winter, new management has stepped into the breach and established a strong new vegan presence on Hyakumanben: Cafe … [Read more...]
Mole
On Gokomachi Dori, just a little north of Oike Dori and just removed from the hubbub of the city, is a little corner of peace-of-mind: the ambient cafe Mole. The entrance is wreathed in greenery and looks for all the world like a flower shop. Enter and be greeted by the sound of chimes. Everything here; the plants, the decor, the music and the softly spoken staff, all are … [Read more...]
In Search of… Natural Food
Here is a short list of locations where you can get hold of natural food supplies and other earth friendly products while in Kyoto. It is far from exhaustive I’m sure, so if you know of any other places you think should be up here, write and tell me in the comments box below, or send me a mail at luain37@yahoo.co.jp. Donguri is a small shop on Kitaoji that is packed full … [Read more...]
Earth Kitchen Company
Earth Kitchen Company on Marutamachi offers Japanese “Obento” lunch-boxes that are completely natural, chemical-free and super-nutritious. They have a variety of lunch-boxes on offer; meat-based, fish-based and tofu-based and all are priced at ￥735. In addition to the tofu lunchboxes, vegetarians can also enjoy the veggie salad croquettes, soybean croquettes and deep fried … [Read more...]
