What are your favourite cafes in Tokyo and Niseko and why do you like to go there?
For over a decade, I have been going to Little Nap Coffee Stand in Yoyogi Park, Tokyo, which is just behind the train tracks. I recently found Paddlers Cafe also in the same area. There’s also Fulgen which transforms into a cocktail bar in the evenings. They are all within walking distance of each other. This area of Tokyo has always been my respite from the city’s hustle bustle.
As for Niseko, my go-to cafe is Sprout Café, partly because I used to live in the building next door. They roast the beans at the premises. After your coffee, check out the organic shop called Pyram Organic & Plants and buy some superb dried dekopon (orange) to snack on whilst on the ski slopes. The other cafe I like is White Birch Cafe — which is also a charming and restful spot that serves good coffee and sandwiches.
Did you find any inspiring fresh produce from these places during your recent trip to Japan?
Tomatoes and white corn are so good — you can eat them on their own — but cooking them too brings a different type of happiness. We told our Japanese friends that we ate the corn raw and they were surprised and tried it for the first time!
Another produce I love is fresh sansho. I missed it as the season had ended when I arrived. It’s like dried Szechuan pepper but with fresh subtle numbness and wonderful citrus notes! It’s so addictive that I once carried a bunch with me in my pocket and secretly added it to dishes at restaurants.
Related: Meet 3 chefs who serve up the best of Japanese craftsmanship
