Summer Holiday Opening Hours

Summer Holiday has started!
However, my son is still at school for two more days😁

Recently, more customers visit cafe an-an from quite far away.
I really appreciate it and am happy to serve more people, I would not know if I were not at this cafe.

So I need to make sure no one would be disappointed by this awkward Summer Holiday opening hours!
Please, please check this calendar before planing to come to my cafe.

Green is the Open, and pink is close.
Instead of opening 3 weekends, 3 Mondays are closed.
Sorry for the inconvenience.

July Sweets and Events

an-an is into the 4th year, and still very busy as usual.
Thanks for coming to the Tanabata Festival at Hove Cornerstones Church on 1st July. I could see some familiar faces there and made me so happy!
Weather was excellent and it was a success!

Well, I again didn't have time to take photos, I borrow other's. Thanks for letting me to use your photos.

Photo from Step Up Japanese 
Here is the website for Step Up Japanese



And, Wagashi ya an-an is…

Photo from Food Standard Agency

awarded !!!  °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°　
Apparently, there is no certificate, so I just got sticker... but I don't have anywhere to stick it. I don't think it's right to stick on the cafe window as this is not for the cafe, it's for my home kitchen where I make Japanese sweets...

At the moment, the cafe has got 4* because of very minor reason. I am waiting for another inspection to get back 5* with polishing and scrubbing fridge/freezer and recording temperature on the diary. Last month's hot day made the freezer overworking and build a huge layers of frost making the doors hard to closed. Now my first job in the cafe is crushing frost in the freezer every morning. Apart from it, the freezer keeps well below -18 degree and working perfectly.

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July Sweets

* If you are eating in the sweets, you can have 1 scoop of vanilla icecream with £0.50. Please request on the order.

Star Kuzu sweets　￡1.50 each *

This will be twice as large as ones I made this for Tea ceremony in the Cornerstone's event. Two stars, represent Orihime and Hikoboshi in the Kuzu Ball. Available till 10th.


Kanten Cubes with Fruits　1cup　￡1.80 *
Kanten cubes with the seasonal fresh fruits (Strawberries, Apricot pieces and Cherries etc.) in a cup. Mix with Azuki bean paste and home-made Morasses sauce.  Sorry I don't have the photo, so please come to the cafe!

Strawberry Daifuku Mochi　￡1.50(£1.80）*

The most popular sweets anywhere I go!
If you haven't tried any of Japanese traditional sweets, Wagashi, this would be the one to try!






Dorayaki  ￡1.50 each
Smooth Azuki Bean paste,
Chunky Azuki bean paste,
Matcha Green Tea flavored paste
It's contains eggs, Wheat and Gluten.

Waka ayu (Sweet Fish)  ￡1.50 each
Representing a young fish strongly swim up a stream in the early summer.
Yuzu flavored sweet mochi inside.
It's contains eggs, wheat and Gluten.

Daifuku Mochi  ￡1.00 each
Smooth Azuki Bean paste or Chunky Azuki Bean paste available.

Sanshoku (3 colour) Dango　￡1.50 each
this will need about 20 mins as this needs to be steamed on order. If you are eating meal at the cafe, please order with your meal.

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Events in July

Saturday 1st　Tanabata Festival＠Hove, Cornerstones Church 1:30～4:00pm　
　　　　(This event is finished.）
Thursday 6th　Okonomi Yaki Night　6:30pm～9:00pm　
　　　　　with Japanese savory pancake. Please reserve seats for eating in.
Friday 7th　Tanabata Festival (I am planning to do some celebration...still thinking.)
Thursday 13th　Okonomi Yaki Night　6:30pm～9:00pm　
　　　　　with Japanese savory pancake. Please reserve seats for eating in.
Saturday 15th　Summer Festival at Maeda Gakuen, Acton　
　　　　　Time：12:00～4:00pm　ticket sold at the entrance. No parking.
　　　　　Place：Queens Drive Playing Field, Queens Drive, London W3 0HT
　　　　　　I have donated a Wagashi workshop worth £100 for the raffles!
Thursday 20th　Okonomi Yaki Night　6:30pm～9:00pm　
　　　　　with Japanese savory pancake. Please reserve seats for eating in.
Saturday 22nd~ 　Changed to Opening hours of Summer Holiday.
　　　　　　Detail of Summer Holiday opening hours will be in the next newsletter.

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There are more to let you know... (don't say any more💦）
1) Card payment- No matter the amount you spend, ￡0.50 will be charged. Itemized receipt will be sent by email. Please type in your mail address. Sorry for the inconvenience.

2) Opening hours on Tuesday is changed to 11:30 to 2:30pm. It's due to school time change. It will be back to normal once Summer holiday Opening hours starts.

Thank you. See you at the cafe or in London!

Cafe an-an is 3 years old!!!

It's the 3rd Birthday of cafe an-an!

Thank you so much for all of your support! I would like to say thank you to all of you!!! To cerebrate the BIG milestone...

１）Cold Salad noodles will be served from this week.
２）A free small piece of birthday cake for everyone on Wednesday, 21st June.
３）Open on Sunday, 25th June lunch time! (possibly Okonomiyaki?)　Not on Saturday as informed on the last blog. sorry.
But, I hope to see some of you cannot come to the cafe during weekdays!

Most of all, this year's Birthday present to this cafe is a "Card Reader”！When you are paying more than £20.00, we now accept card payment. Until we are used to use the machine, payment takes a bit longer, so please please be patient.

Look forward to seeing you💛

June Sweets and Events

What a day!
Winds from Atlantic Ocean blow directly through the street of Cafe an-an... almost taking away tables and chairs!

This is always I moan...
My body cannot adjust to the change of temperature. Sometimes feeling soooo down.

I am not sure because of that, an-an is invited to the Healing Bazaar at West London. I will hold a small workshop making some seasonal sweets.
Wagashi contains a lot of nutritious ingredients and shaping in hands gives relaxation and satisfaction at the end having tea with it.

Well, I almost for got Japanese traditional sweets, Wagashi is made from the world of Zen.

I put the detail of the event. It is getting too close, so be quick if you are interested.

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Sweets in June

Strawberry Daifuku Mochi　￡1.70 each　(￡1.50 each at the cafe）

I cannot help talking about strawberries this time of year! It's the best!

Wimbledon Tennis starts means it's the season of British Strawberries. It's Strawberry & Cream on the side of the grass coats, but it's Strawberry & Mochi at an-an. ｗｗ


Kuzu Mochi  ￡1.80/cup
Using Real Kuzu from Japan. Cool and hydrating sweets in Summer.  As Chinese medicine use Kuzu, it has good nutrients and we believe it removes toxins from bloodstreams. Enjoy with a lots of Organic Soy powder, roasted by an-an, and Black Syrup.
This contains Soy Beans.

Waka Ayu (Sweetfish)　￡1.50 each

This is one of really popular sweets can go with not only Green tea but also English tea or Cafe Latte.
Mochi with Yuzu (Japanese citrus fruits) is wrapped by Dorayaki pancake, so some of you are not fond of Bean paste love this sweets. It looks cute, too.
This contains Eggs and wheat-flour, gluten.





Minazuki　￡1.50 each
Available from Mid-June. This sweets are for the event on 30th June, Nagoshi-no-Harai, started from Kyoto.
triangle shaped steamed mochi with aduki bean on top. This shape is for longing for health and warding off bad luck for another 6 months.
You can make it cool and enjoy.

Daifuku Mochi (smooth paste or chunky paste)　￡1.00 each

Sanshoku Dango  ￡1.50 each

Dorayaki（Smooth adzuki paste、chunky adzuki paste、Mattcha Green tea）　￡1.50 each

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Events in June

Thursday 8th June 　Okonomi Yaki Night　18:30～21:00

　　




Saturday 10th June　Second Book Market at Croydon Japanese School
                                     10:00～12:00　open to public
　　                               (11:00～11:45 not for public)
　　　　　　　I will prepare a lot of Summer Sweets.　

Saturday 10th June　Arbury Carnival at Cambridge
　　　　　　　　Time：11:00～17:00
　　　　　　　　Place：Cambridge Aubery Community Centre
　　　　　　　　　　　Campkin Road, Cambridge CB4 2LD
Yakisoba, Chicken Karaage? Many Japanese foods and crufts workshops! The profit will go to the Japanese toddler group in Aubery. If you live near there, please pop in!

Sunday 11th June Healing Bazaar　Speical No.4

As well as Wagashi Workshop, I will bring some sweets to sell, and seasonal sweets to be enjoyed in Tea ceremony.
For the detail, please go to this link.
https://healingbazaar.wixsite.com/events
If you would like to join the workshop, please apply from this link.
There are so many kinds of Healing you can try. Please pop in if you are interested in.


Thursday 15th June Okonomi Yaki Night　18:30～21:00
　
Monday 19th～Friday 23rd　Cafe an-an's 3rd Birthday week!
I am planning free birthday cakes and Japanese afternoon tea sessions during the week. I will issue another newsletter near the time.

Thursday 22nd June Okonomi Yaki Night　18:30～21:00

Saturday 4th June　Special Weekend Open💛Umm... I want to do something special though...

Thursday 29th June No Okonomi Yaki Night. Sorry for the inconvenience.  Lunch service business as usual.

Saturday 1st July　Summer Festival of Japanese Toddler Group, Ohisama Ahaha!.
　　　　　　　Place：Cornerstone Community Centre
　　　　　　　　　　Church Road,, Hove BN3 2FL
　　　　　　　Time：10:00～16:00
The profit will go to Ohisama Ahaha! There will be free Japanese class trial, Origami and Face Painting and, so on... Of course, you can enjoy Japanese lunch and snacks, too.
There will be another announcement near the date.

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I am really shocked to see what's on the list. 
well, my daughter's birthday do will be added on top of this list, too. 
I just don't have any moment to waste...

Then, an-an will come to West London again on 15th July, at the Summer festival of Maeda Gakuen.

Note:
I need to go shopping trip to Japan in Summer.
Cafe will be closed from 7th to 27th August. Sorry for the inconvenience... 
Once Summer holiday starts, I will open Cafe on Weekends. I hope it's ok...

May sweets and events

It's already half way of May!!!!
I am so sorry I thought I have published this English blog on the 1st day after I translated...
But it was still in the "Draft" box for 15 days...

To be honest, the last 2 weeks was to busy! I have been making sweets non-stop.
On top of that, My husband had been absent for a week in Germany for business... leaving two kids for me to chase their bottoms 24/7.

Anyway Okonomiyaki week was well received! now I know how much people love Okonomiyaki!!! I will do the Okonomiyaki week again sometime in Summer, so till then, please come to enjoy Okonomiyaki on Thursday evenings.

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May Wagashi sweets

Kashiwa Mochi　　￡1.50 each
Koshian (Smooth adzuki bean paste),
Tubuan (Chunky adzuki bean paste) with Japanese mugwort,
Misoan (Miso flavored smooth white bean paste)
* limited numbers left. as soon as the leaves are gone, this will finish.

Strawberry Daifuku Mochi　￡1.50 each
Popular one! British Strawberris are on season! They are soooo tasty in Mochi.
I try to make it everyday, but may not available if I could not find the strawberry in right weight and shape grown locally...
.＊please order in advance (2 days at least) if you would like to buy more than 5 on the day.

Wakaayu (Sweet fish)　￡1.50 each
Yuzu flavored mochi is wrapped in Dorayaki pancake.
If you don't like bean paste, this is the one! It goes so well with Coffee, too!
contains eggs and flour (gluten)

Dorayaki Pancake sandwich　￡1.50 each
Please chose filling from Koshian, Tubuan, Matcha Green tea.
contains eggs and flour

Daifuku Mochi　￡1.00 each
Tubuan or Koshian

Kusa Daifuku Mochi　￡1.20 each
Tubuan in Yomogi (Japanese Mugwort) flavored Mochi.
a hint of minty aftertaste.

Sanshoku Dango　1.50 each
Please give us 15 min. to steam after order at the cafe. If you are having meal first, please order with your meal.

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May events

Tuesday 2nd - 5th May
It was Okonomiyaki week!
Thank you for enjoying Okonomiyaki for lunch.
We will do this more in Summer!

Thursday 18th 18:30～21:00
Okonomiyaki Night
Please book table/seats. Seats are still available.

Thursday 25th 18:30～21:00
Okonomiyaki Night
Please book table/seats. Seats are still available

＆　There will be  a delivery of Namayasai(Organic Japanese Vegetable) at luch time. If you are interested in purchasing a box (please ask the contents nearer the time), please order at cafe or on line by Monday 22nd.

Monday 29th
Closed for Bank Holiday

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Cafe an-an will be 3 years old next month!!!
We would like to celebrate and thank to all our favorite customers!!!
What shall I do? is there any request???
Please let me know.

At the same time, I am planning to improve the shop front...
I hope you will see it very soon.
xxx

Tuesday 11th April

Cafe is closed today. Sorry for the inconvenience.
I had to go to London to get some stuff for the cafe yesterday, so I feel I have a proper day off at home with my children today finally.

Recently, I only write monthly newsletters, so I thought I shall write something more like blogging.

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On Sunday, the morning of Brighton Marathon, I had to leave home really early to catch the local people who cheer up the runners.

However, as I didn't have time to go shopping for my family, there was no loaf left in my house cup boards. So, I pulled out The Breadmaker (from Panas●nic, thought to be the best by Japanese), which was given as a Christmas present by my lovely husband 2 years ago.

I set all the ingredients and asked my husband to check if I pressed the right button to start baking.

I left house saying "Please enjoy once the bread is baked💛"
Well, such a capable wife, aren't I? ww








After I made so many cups of coffee and served a few cakes at my cafe, I received a text message with a photo from husband.

”What am I supposed to do with this? This is not what I expected..."

I, kinda, knew I am not good at baking. 
Well, I am so sorry I am a wife even cannot use Fully Automatic Bread Maker...
(ノД`)・゜・。

Cafe an-an is open tomorrow (Wednesday 12th) morning 11:30.

April sweets and events

Cherry Blossoms!
I found a Cherry tree, Somei-Yoshino, in a park near my home. Each flower is so big and gorgeous. This flour became the design of my Cherry blossom Tea set in my cafe.


So, Cherry Blossom Tea set is still available at my cafe.

Jo-namagashi (Yoshino-Sakura) and Petit Dorayaki with Sakura flavored bean paste + a choice of pot tea... this set only costs￡3.50!

Dorayaki contains gluten and egg, so mini-Hanami Dango can be chosen instead. (Suitable for Vegan)

Jo-namagashi seems to have a formal sweets to have in Tea ceremony, but you can enjoy it any time. You can also take away and enjoy under Cherry Blossoms.

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April Sweets

Sakura Mochi　　　￡1.50 each

Also called Domyoji in Tokyo area. However, this is "the Sakura Mochi" for Kansai (around Kyoto and Osaka) people. Smooth Adzuki Bean paste inside, and wrapped with a pickled cherry leaves, harvested in organic farm Namayasai. Please enjoy the aroma of cherry leaves.

Hanami Dango　　　　￡1.50 each
Well known as Sanshoku (tricolor) Dango　　
Green Dango with organic Japanese mugwort represenets grass, white one is air and pink one is cherry blossoms.

Mitarashi Dango　　　￡1.50 each
This is also one of sweets we want to eat under cherry blossoms. dango on skewers covered in sweet soy sauce. Tamari is used, so its gluten free. It contains Soy.

Daifuku (smooth or chunky adzuki paste)　　￡1.00 each
Kusa（mugwort）Daifuku　　￡1.20 each　
Organic mugwort from Namayasai is used. Please enjoy the minty aroma. with chunky adzuki bean paste

Dorayaki（smooth、chunky、Matcha green tea、Sakura(limited edition））　￡1.50 each
contains eggs and wheat flour, gluten

Easter♪
White Rabbit & Black Rabbit　￡1.50 each
White Rabbit with white bean paste with white (yellow?) skin. Black Rabbit with smooth Adzuki bean paste with Molasses flavored skin. Both are steamed buns, so Suitable for Vegan, but contains gluten.

Kashiwa Mochi　(smooth、mugwort ＆chunky adzuki、Miso bean paste)￡1.50 each
Ready from 24th. Miso bean paste contains Soy.

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April Events
This month, children are out of school for Easter Holiday for two weeks...
So, Opening hours are a bit (or a lot?) different from usual.
Please check here or Facebook page before setting off the trip to an-an.

Brighton Marathon is passing in front of the cafe on Sunday 9th!!!
I was in two minded, but now an-an cafe is open on this Sunday!

This time, I have a proper coffee machine, so if you haven't tried my coffee or Matcha Green Tea Latte, this is the chance!!!

Pan cakes and some other cakes are served as well.

It's already full of events for me...

5th May will be The Children's Day (Tango no Sekkku) so, I might plan something on the day.

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Weather is changeable so much in this season. please take care and enjoy this colourful season.