The first day of Spring in Japanese Calendar. It's new start of Cafe an-an!

 

I was busy for "colour by number" for adult.

Oh? Where did winter go?

I’ve been so busy it felt like I missed it entirely.

"Weren’t you closed for the entire month of January?”

Yes, I’m sorry. We were closed for various repairs to the café. We fixed the roof leaks, and also the wall leaks... For the leaks under the windows, we were told it couldn't be done until the weather improves, so we’ll wait a bit longer.

an-an will start a Kominka (traditional old Japanese home style) café.

Because of that, electric complanies and insurance agents keep calling, “Did you take over a new shop?” or “Are you starting a new business?”

Excuse me, don’t you dare close down an-an (# ﾟДﾟ)”  I cannot deny an-an don't have any problem... I kindly answer, “We’ve been here for five years now!” and gently hang up the phone.

Meanwhile, painting wall in the toilet is finally finished, and we will reopen the café from tomorrow.

We can tell that we haven't changed pricing proudly! 

Despite the rising costs of various things, we plan to keep the prices the same. We will still offer a 30p discount if you bring your own takeaway cup, and if you collect enough points on your card, you can still get a free drink of your choice. The weekly special lunch will also remain the same price.

I feel we need to improve communication so that customers can better understand what we’re focusing at. For example:

• More events and workshops! Announcing them well on SMS and issuing tickets two weeks in advance.

• Declaring that we are a dog-friendly café.

• Anyone can read the books on the bookshelf. It’s okay to take photos for reference, but please refrain from taking away from the cafe.

• We do not handle nuts or sesame seeds in the café. We do not use sesame oil in the dumplings either.

• To cater to people of different religions, we purchase meat from halal-certified butchers. However, as some Japanese dishes use mirin or soy sauce containing alcohol, please ask for non-alcoholic menu options when ordering. When it’s not busy, we can also prepare dishes without mirin or alcohol-based soy sauce freshly, so please ask.

• The building itself is a British historic house built in the Victorian era. We are trying to create a Japanese home style atmosphere within this traditional British house. There are still many areas we want to improve on both the interior and exterior, so we hope you watch us grow kindly.

We only a cafe, not a restaurant. It's not a restaurant quality cuisine, but we will do our best to provide everyone with home made cooking of Japanese mums, Okaasan. We hope you’ll enjoy the cozy atmosphere of a traditional Japanese house.

 All the events for the 10th anniversary have been completed!

It was a hard schedule and a real challenge.

Why haven't you heard from me for the past two weeks?

Because I was burnt out.

＊＊＊＊＊＊

Well, what I want most right now is time to do nothing, but the time for a break will come soon, and I will do my best to do what I can only do now! So I'm just slowly lifting my hips.

＊＊＊＊＊＊

Just a quick digest, I'll post some photos from the 10th anniversary event. I also got a lot of photos and videos sent to me via insta-story. Thanks a lot.

  

Ahhhh, it was fun!!!

To those who participated in the various events, to those who sent me messages of congratulations, and to the An-an regulars and staff who broke my decision to let go of the cafe with all my heart.

Thank you so much.

I have been able to run the cafe for 10 years. I thought that was enough.

But I have made up my mind to continue An-an for a little while longer.

The business style may change a little, but I hope you will continue to support An-an in the future.

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

So, without further ado, I will be offering a summer vacation wagashi making experience for children and older children at the end of this month. There is a limit on the number of participants, but please try the experience of making cute wagashi.

The slightly shorter 1.5 hour wagashi workshop (mini) comes with tea and sandwiches. We will also talk about wagashi, if you are interested.

For tickets, please click here.https://fienta.com/children-s-wagashi-workshop-with-noriko

We look forward to seeing you there.

It's almost.... (cafe an-an's 10th anniversary events report)

 It is now the middle of July.

We have been working almost nonstop since the start of An An Cafe's 10th anniversary event.

First, let me start with a report.

Thank you very much for participating in the 4-day wagashi workshop that started on June 14. A total of 16 people participated. Everyone seemed to enjoy the event and the response was great.

Next, we are planning a junior wagashi workshop for summer vacation.

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

We cooked a lot of Takoyaki on the Takoyaki & Okonomiyaki buffet to eat octopus on June 20, the summer solstice.

And here are some photos from the event. (Photo from a customer. Thanks.)
Jumbo okonomiyaki with a diameter of 30 cm... but it doesn't look so big on the griddle💦.

This is the centerpiece of the day, omu-soba...although it lost its shape quickly.

I threw in a few stones for the Ghibli Week coming up later this month.

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

And on my 21st birthday, I had a birthday party inviting staff and friends from 27Boundary road. Some of the staff had already gone back to Japan and some friends had lost touch with them, but a lot of people came and we had a lot of great conversations. (Here are also photos from customers and staff. A big thank you!}

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

We took a week off to recharge our batteries here.

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

After that, I got to sell Japanese sweets at the Japanese Language Club of Brighton's Open Day on the 29th,

A week later, on July 6, I sold Japanese sweets at a used book sale at a Japanese language supplementary school in Croydon, and yesterday, July 13, I sold Japanese sweets at the Maeda Gakuen summer festival.

In a return to my original intention, I participated in three consecutive events involving children.

First love?

What is it now? Some of you may be thinking, "What's that?" But it is what I always have in mind when I make wagashi.

It is to introduce traditional and true wagashi, wagashi with meaning, to the land of England.

In particular, to let children and young people, who are said to be losing interest in anko (red bean paste), taste the true taste of anko.

We have been making anko from dried azuki and dried white beans in England for 16 years.

Anko is cooked with only beans, water, and good quality sugar.

Children who have tasted my wagashi since they were in their mother's tummy are now old enough to come to the cafe alone to buy them. I am very happy.

Wagashi have meanings.

For example, "wakayu" (young sweetfish) is a wagashi that imitates the shape of a sweetfish that climbs up a stream in May and is a prayer for strength and good health, and "mizunashi" (waterless moon), eaten on June 30, a day exactly halfway through the year, is a gairo with a triangle shape to keep bad luck away and red colored azuki beans on top to drive away evil spirits. It is very delicious when eaten cold.

The very popular sanshoku dango also has a meaning.

It is a wish for everyone to live a long and healthy life.

We have sold many Japanese sweets with such wishes.

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

Now, for a change of pace, I am currently hard at work with Miss N, our baking staff, on an event to close out our 10th anniversary.

It is the Ghibli Rice and Ghibli World Afternoon Tea, which has been requested for a long time.

Our usual Japanese afternoon tea has only a plant-based menu, but this time we have two kinds, a pescatorian version and a plant-based version, as fish is inevitable.

Both are equally Ghibli's world!

We'll leave the details for a bit until the day of the event.

Limited to 10 people per day for 5 days. You can purchase tickets at this link.

https://fienta.com/cafe-an-an-ghibili-afternoon-tea

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

It's almost... Have fun and do my best!

The Biggest Surprise Present (Cafe Tenth Anniversary Event)

We received an unexpected big 10th anniversary present.

What a surprise! We received an invitation to a reception for His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress! (I thought it was a spam and wondered why. (I wondered if it was a spam, and for a moment I thought my heart was in a rough spot 💧)

It was a miracle that I could exist in the same space as the Emperor.

See, he came so close to me.

I was already feeling like a chaperone.

This was my confession of what happened during my one-week vacation at the end of June.

Thank you very much to everyone at The Japan Society London.
And a commemorative photo with some of the people who have always been so kind to us.

It was a shame that Laura, who has been a bridge between An-an and The Japan Society London, was not able to join us on the day. We really appreciate it. Let's meet again!

It was a great 10th anniversary present.

＊＊＊＊＊

Extra

Unfortunately, Masako-san was resting at the hotel to recover from her long trip, so we were unable to meet her, but we took this commemorative photo in front of the hotel we passed on our way home.

I was not able to attend the parade the next day, but it was great to see her in such good health.

Happy Birthday WaCafe an-an

Well, well, well...

10 years.

I mean all year round, but it has finally been 10 years since I took over the shop and the chicken cutlet curry on the menu from OO-My at 27 Boundary Road in June 2014.

To be precise, I received the keys on 14 June 2014 and started operating on 21 June.

So this year, we are planning a lot of events to celebrate our 10th anniversary from 14 June.

Well, it's going to be a birthday month where we will look back over the past 10 years and respond to requests from our customers.

During the period from 14 June, from 9am to 3am (last order 2pm), the menu will be normal.

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

Summer wagashi workshop on 14 and 15. Each is limited to six people and reservations are accepted.

Friday evening from 6pm to 8pm and Saturday from 3pm to 5pm for two hours. You will make fruit daifuku and seasonal confectionery. Anko (sweet bean paste) is included to take home so that you can make them at home. (￡30.00 per person)

On 16 (2pm to 4 pm), there will be a calligraphy and ink painting workshop. 

sorry cancelled 

On 18 & 19 Jan, summer wagashi workshop again. Each is limited to 6 people and reservations are accepted.

The workshop will last two hours, from 6pm to 8pm on both evenings. Participants will make Daifuku fruit and seasonal confectionaries. Anko (sweet bean paste) to take home so that you can make them at home too. (￡30.00 per person)

The 20th is the summer solstice, so we will have a takoyaki party to eat octopus. 

We will also grill okonomiyaki. We will be grilling in a trailer, so sunny weather is essential! Plant-based okonomiyaki, available. (Negi is unavoidable, so it can't be a vegetarian dish. Sorry!)

(All-you-can-eat from 5pm to 8pm. ￡30 per person)

21st and 22nd, from 3pm, Birthday cake buffet, 90-minute limit, with pancakes, Japanese sweets, cakes and pudding a la mode. There will also be nostalgic Showa sweets. (￡25 per person, including one drink). Sorry! 22nd is postponed TBA

25th to 29th June, Wacafe an-an is Closed.

29th June, Wagashi Sales at Brighton and Hove Japanese Club at St Paul's Primary School 

6th July, London Wagashi Sales at Croydon Japanese School 

(Cafe is open as usual)

13th July, London Wagashi Sales at Maeda Gakuen "Summer Festival" 

(Cafe is open as usual)

23rd to 27th July, Ghibli Afternoon Tea 

Max 5 tables each day. More details will be announced soon.

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

All events at the cafe are by appointment only.

More details will be posted on the Facebook and Instagram event pages, so please read carefully before registering.

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

We will be making lots of delicious treats to thank you all for your support!

I went to TOTO London with 1000 Dango

 A lot of days have passed, but this is the story of the day we delivered the dumplings and the day we visited the event.

Somehow the number of dumplings went according to our calculations and we ended up with about 1,000 and 20 three-coloured dumplings.

The three-day event period was 21~23 May, but the only day we could leave the café was Thursday, the 23rd, so the delivery was on Sunday, the 19th.

Eh? Do dumplings last that long?

If you are wondering, yes, they do not last long. An An's dumplings, which use no preservatives or moisturisers, taste best when they are freshly steamed. So, along with 1,000 frozen dumplings, I also brought a steamer. It was quite a big load, so I asked my husband to drive me in a big car.

　

It was a rare sunny day in May in the UK, so the two-hour one-way journey was nothing to be sneezed at. I enjoyed it very much.

When I entered the centre of London, there were many people! It was a Sunday and the weather was so nice that the streets were swarming with people... I would never have been able to drive. I'm glad I asked my husband to drive.

Oh, over there at Blackfriars station is St. Paul's Abbey.

And here we are at the TOTO Showroom. (Top photo).

　

The event space in the shop had already been decorated with a four-and-a-half-mat tea ceremony room, and a table space had been prepared for a miniature karesansui (dry landscape garden) making experience under the guidance of a professional gardener. Don't miss the miniature toilet that is firmly hidden away!

I was allowed to set up like this on the counter table next to it. Oh no, I was nervous.

When I explained how to steam, how to wrap the cellophane and how to fasten the cellophane with a handmade QR code sticker, he readily agreed and said, ‘I'll advertise it a lot’, to which the manager smiled. The dumplings were steamed on the spot and the director and his family tasted them and said they were delicious, which made me smile too.

I smiled too, and said, ‘Good luck with that!’ And then I hurried back home.

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

On Thursday, the last day of the event, I went to pick up the steamer, and also to take a look at the Karesansui (dry landscape garden) workshop! I arrived at lunchtime to find that the workshop had already finished and there were dozens of dumplings left!

I was a fool to think that I would take the dumplings that no one had taken back home with me.

The steamer was also nicely packaged, and we put it in the cart and were on our way home. No, it was a bit annoying to leave without experiencing anything, so I decided to borrow the toilets.

What a surprise, there were three different toilets with washlets in the bathroom!

It's a showroom, so that's no surprise! We asked those who had experienced it for the first time to write down their impressions and put them up on the wall. They wrote: ‘I've never experienced anything like this!’ I can't use other toilets anymore’ and many other interesting comments.

I also had my first experience.

Tada-!

This is an oversized washlet with European specifications.

Too big to fit in an ordinary UK household toilet... 💦.

The stability is unbelievable. And the price is also not half bad.

In Europe, it's still slow to spread to ordinary households, but I hear that expensive washlets are being sought after in high-end hotels. I can see why! If the toilets are Washlet, I want to stay there even if it's a bit expensive. Subconsciously, Japanese buttocks are sucked into washlets.

Anyway, it was an event where I learnt a lot. Ah, it was fun.

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

Finally, the warden's craftsmanship.

‘The steam was illuminated by the lights every time the lid was opened, and it was insanely live.’

I got some feedback from him. It must have been hard work for him to steam 1,000 sanshoku dumplings. How good a man is he✨.

instagram.com/toto.europe.uk/