From July 25 to August 28, four Afternoon Tea shops will be collaborating with the French picture book Gaspard and Lisa to celebrate the book's 20th anniversary. The collaboration will only be running at the following branches: AEON Lake Town kaze, Koshigaya, LaLaport Yokohama, Terrace Mall Shonan and Nagoya LACHIC.

Tomboy Lisa Katsu Curry Plate (Drink included): ￥1,491 (after tax)  

Lisa's Tomato Chicken Curry (Kids Drink included) : ￥1,005 (after tax) 

The Tomboy Lisa Katsu Curry Plate consists of a European-style curry with a crispy chicken cutlet and carrot marinade. There is also a sweet apple and honey tomato chicken curry which is limited to kids only.

Peach Peach Clown Parfait Straight Out of the Picture Book: ￥1,404 (after tax)

Lisa and Gaspard Strawberry/ Melon Sundae Sodas: ￥864 (after tax)

The menu also includes desserts and drinks from the picture book. For example, the peach peach clown parfait and two flavours of Lisa and Gaspard Sundae Soda. Make sure you order one of these drinks to go with one of the five delicious collaboration meals.    During the collaboration period, the tea shop will be decorated with a special Lisa and Gaspard theme. There will be photo spots and even a book corner with 20 Lisa and Gaspard books (limited to Nagoya LACHIC only).   This is the perfect place to enjoy a special summer meal with your family so please check it out!     ©2019 Anne Gutman & Georg Hallensleben / Hachette Livre

Rinko Murata loves all types of curry. In this edition of Tokyo Dinner, she invites the person she wants to meet up with the most to eat the curry she’s been wanting to eat the most.   This month’s notable restaurant she stopped by was HEIJITSU HIRU DAKE in Kōenji, Tokyo. Their curry portions are generous and are good for the stomach and satiety center. They serve a curry flavoured with Japanese dashi, or ‘stock.’   How do you spend your early afternoons when you have time off? Lounging around at home with quality time to yourself sounds like a good plan. Definitely appealing.   But this is a rare opportunity. How about going on a little adventure to try something you can get a kick out of because it’s midday and a weekday?   I know the perfect curry house for your hungry selves. HEIJITSU HIRU DAKE.   As the Japanese name suggests, it’s a curry that can only be eaten at lunchtime, a mysterious dish that doesn’t appear on regular days off.   I land in Kōenji, a place I love the most. Even though iKōenji is Kōenji, the closest station to the restaurant is Higashi-Kōenji Station. My vision is filled with all kinds of sights. It’s like being lost in a treasure chest. This place is actually normally a café and goes by the name Schwarze Katze. It’s open mainly on Friday night, weekends and holidays. “HEIJITSU HIRU DAKE” runs in a rented room in the café and and is open when the café is. It’s kind of luxurious to have the chance to eat my favourite food (curry!) in a place like this. My heart desires the Wadashi Soboro Curry (¥980) that I mentioned earlier. It also comes with self-service coffee for after your meal. For toppings you can choose whatever you like. Since I was there and didn’t want to get lost on what to pick, I went for all the toppings (¥300). The water I ordered comes in a plastic bottle. The tables have antique displays. Everything on them was wonderful. The air was clad in that rich, familiar scent of curry, a special one that I would never get to eat had I not come here. The instant I hold the curry in my mouth the delicious flavour of the dashi sparks in my mouth like fireworks. The broth has a slight thickness to it and a strong, deep flavour that fades into a soft aftertaste on the tip of your tongue. It’s not at all spicy, and the goodness of the dashi is luxurious like being escorted by a gentleman. And I can’t forget the smell. My taste buds throb at this new sensation. Like its name suggests, this is a dish where the Japanese dashi stands out above the ingredient crowd. The restaurant owner has gathered much experience in the kitchen from traditional Japanese cuisine to sushi, ramen, yakiniku, izakaya style and so on. He encountered this place by chance, and with one look he said to himself, “I want to try doing curry.” The Wadashi Soboro Curry came about through his gained culinary experience combined with the aesthetics of the café. To bring out the full flavour of the dashi so it isn’t drowned out by the curry spices, the owner uses two types of skipjack tuna, kombu, dark sleeper, and dried sea slug, as well as a type of soy sauce called Kaeshi. 15 more ingredients are blended together to create the spices, creating deep and delicate flavours. Now it’s time for a session with the mountain of ingredients I greedily asked for. It’s enshrined with classics like meat soboro, beefsteak, agedama, bonito flakes, and dried plum in addition to pickled daikon radish, crushed natto, Japanese ginger, and okra. The spinach and onsen tamago egg sit at the foot of the mountain and create a new culinary sight. The base of the dashi is mobilized with a force of Japanese ingredients with a smell and flavour and that comes together harmoniously in your mouth. I’m spellbound by the flavours that stand out coupled with the pleasant textures of the agedama, daikon and ginger. Hey, I must have hit every ingredient in there. All correct.   I added a sprinkle of pepper that was on the table and create yet another refreshing aromatic veil. The compatibility of the pepper with the dish works so well precisely because it uses a Japanese dashi. Wadashi, or Japanese broth, is a staple of Japanese cuisine. The curry and Japanese soul carved into this dish resonates with me. It’s my first time eating it, yet I’m still filled with a sort of nostalgia―a warm embrace. I also understand why when the shop opens, the customers in the café stand up and change with the next line of customers. The owner has a wonderful sensitivity, and has worked out a way to put his own matchless warmth into each and every bowl. I caught sight of his gentle smile as he was cooking in the kitchen. It left an impression on me. What a delicious curry to enjoy in such a wonderful place. All five of my senses have reached peak happiness. I grab my post-meal coffee and head onto the streets of Kōenji. What a wonderful weekday afternoon.   Text:Rinko Murata Photo:Kayo Sekiguchi Edit:Miiki Sugita Translator: Joshua Kitosi-Isanga

The Mount Fuji Lava Cafe, located in the Fujisan World Heritage Center in Yamanashi Prefecture, released a new Red Mount Fuji Curry on January 12 inspired by the woodblock print Fine Wind, Clear Morning from Hokusai's Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji series of landscape prints.

Red Mount Fuji Curry: ¥1,500 (Tax Included)

This red hot lava curry gets its vibrant colour from its picante spices and red chili oil. But it's not simply a bowl of spiciness - it also has typical Japanese flavours like a dashi made from skipjack tuna and kombu. It's also mixed with grape juice made from grapes grown in Fuefuki, Yananashi for deeper flavour. Upon ordering this curry you can pick from three different levels of spiciness. Those who order the highest level, dubbed "Mount Fuji's Peak," are offer to take part in an eating challenge. If you're able to devour the hottest version of this curry within 22 minutes and 30 seconds the price of your bill will be wiped and you will receive a free ice cream. The Red Mount Fuji Curry serves as a follow up to the cafe's original Blue Mount Fuji Curry which erupted in popularity on Japanese social media.

Popular smoked curry restaurant Kunkare is set to re-open along Hitotsukidori in Akasaka on November 27. Kunkare was first established in 2011 in the quaint district of Ningyocho, Akasaka. It was the first curry roux restaurant in Japan to serve smoked curry and acquired a patent for its unique cooking method.   In line with the restaurant's move to Akasaka, they have changed he taste of the curry. It still retains that smokiness but the flavour of the spices has been made more prominent. All of the other items on the menu have been upgraded too, giving rise to an all-new Kunkare.  

Tokusei Curry: ¥1,180 (Tax Included)

The Tokusei Curry (literally "specially made curry") was always the No. 1 most popular dish when the restaurant was based in Ningyocho. This is an upgraded version served on a specially made and original Hasami ware curry plate.

Irodori Yasai x Curry: ¥850 (Tax Included)

This curry dish comes with colourful and seasonal vegetables and an upgraded smoked curry served with turmeric rice. Another service to look forward to falls on Saturday every week where Kunkare will serve popular curry dishes from famous restaurants in the local area. The first item on the menu is a keema curry from Kai, a cafe and bar in Fukuoka that has continued to be loved for 19 years and which brings in lines of customers. Limited quantities will be served, so you'd better get in there quick if you want to enjoy some authentic Indian cuisine laced with a Japanese touch - salted rice malt, condiment paste made from yuzu zest and chilli peppers, Japanese pepper and more.   Kunkare is a place where you can expect to try curry you won't find anywhere else.

Shimokitazawa in Tokyo is known as the 'Curry District,' and for good reason. Not only is it home to countless curry houses, it's also where the annual Shimokitazawa Curry Festival takes place.   Tariki Honganji Curry is a new curry restaurant opening in Shimokitazawa on July 1. Their name means to prosper as a business by servicing others which is also part of their policy. Their menu will include a very special Gold Leaf Keema Curry which promises not only to taste delicious but look gorgeous too! Priced at ¥5,000, only five of these curries will be available each day, making it a rare sight. There's plenty of other choices to choose from if you can't get your hands on one of these, including the Tariki Hongaji Curry (¥1,500) as well as ordinary curry (¥800). They are also taking curry recipes from customers which will be served at the restaurant and change each month. Compensation will be given for recipes used.   Additionally, the restaurant is recruiting for their gallery exhibition. The wall can be rented out to be used as a gallery, so if you're interested be sure to enquire in-store. Head to Tariki Hongaji Curry and try to get your hands on that Gold Leaf Keema!    

The Lava Cafe, located in the north block of the Fujisan World Heritage Center in Yamanashi Prefecture, has introduced the new Mt. Fuji Curry to its menu.

 

The blue coloured curry dish is made to look just like Mount Fuji while the pickles represent the surrounding forest at the base of the mountain Aokigahara, also known as the 'Sea of Trees.' This Instagrammable meal is aimed at both Japanese and foreign tourists.

 

There have been many curry dishes on the market with rice formed in the shape of Mount Fuji, but this dish not only maintains the shape, but the colouring too. It took them over half a year to perfect the dish.

 

The cafe will also begin serving a 'mega size' version of the blue curry from June 22 to bring it closer to the size of Mount Fuji. They also plan to release a spicy red version in autumn to bring to life the scene when Mount Fuji appears red when the sun's rays shine over it. Make sure you don't miss out on this one either.

 

Head to the Lava Cafe to try eating this stunning curry that you can't get anywhere else!