Kurashiki Tocotoco Bread Drinking (Held on March 23-24, 2024) ~ Snacks are Bread! A Variety of Unique Breads that Pair Well with Alcohol

Right next to the north exit of JR Kurashiki Station, Kurashiki Mirai Park hosts various events on weekends.
After shopping at MITSUI OUTLET PARK Kurashiki or Ario Kurashiki, it's a great place to stop by, and I often visit while shopping.

Recently (March 24, 2024), a market called Kurashiki Pan Nomi was held, so I decided to stop by on my way back from shopping.

Despite the unstable weather with rain coming and going, Kurashiki Pan Nomi was quite lively. Let me introduce the events of the day.

What is "Kurashiki Pan Nomi"?

"Kurashiki Pan Nomi" is an event held at Kurashiki Mirai Park on March 23 (Saturday) and 24 (Sunday), 2024.

As the name suggests, it is an event to enjoy bread and alcohol, featuring 41 food and beverage vendors from the Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu regions.

In addition to savory items like hamburgers and pizzas, there were shops selling sweets like muffins and baked goods, as well as cafes offering freshly brewed coffee. Please check the image below for detailed vendors.

This event allows you to enjoy various combinations of bread and alcohol, such as pizza and wine, hot dogs and beer.

Since snacks other than bread are also available, it seems especially enjoyable for those who love alcohol.

Events of the Day

I went on March 23 (Saturday), but unfortunately, it rained that day.
I wandered around the market, trying to time it with the breaks in the rain.

There were many families with children at the venue, and some were looking for bread for breakfast the next morning. Although it is an event where you can enjoy alcohol, the atmosphere is easy for non-drinkers to participate in as well. I was surprised to see more people than I expected despite the bad weather.

Some people were walking around eating and drinking, but since the weather was unstable, I decided to take out and drink at home.

I quickly started looking for bread and alcohol that I could take out.

"Graham Market" Garlic France

First, while searching for the main snacks, I found a shop selling a variety of breads.
Each one was individually bagged, making it easy to take home.

The shop's name is Graham Market. It is a bakery located in Okayama City.

Seeing a customer buying four of those breads made me curious, so I decided to buy from here as well.

I was tempted by sweet breads and loaves, but I chose the Garlic France, which seemed to pair well with alcohol. The ingredients looked plentiful and delicious.

Next to the bread, there were also baked goods for sale. It seems to be a pop-up shop called Awäito, which only appears at events. These sweets are rare and can only be found at events.

"s.tart.inn" Amanatsu Tart

Having secured some savory bread, I now look for sweet bread.

As I walked around the venue, I spotted a shop with a stylish straw hat and a row of tarts, and the smiling shopkeeper drew me in, prompting me to stop by.

s.tart.inn, which sells tarts and quiches, is a vendor from Fukuoka.

There were various flavors of tarts, including chocolate, lemon cream cheese, and apple, but upon hearing the shopkeeper say, "Amanatsu is in season right now," I decided without hesitation to go for the Amanatsu Tart.

It's palm-sized but looks substantial, and I'm looking forward to it.

"LUCE wine & tapas" Bologna Ham

Since it's a good opportunity, I wanted to buy some snacks other than bread, so I decided to buy ham from LUCE wine & tapas.

LUCE wine & tapas is a wine bar located in Kurashiki City.

At the booth, there was a ham slicer, and it seems you can buy freshly sliced ham.

There were three types of ham, and while I was wondering which one to buy, the shopkeeper asked, "What kind of bread did you buy? It's also recommended to choose ham that pairs well with your bread."

After consulting with the shopkeeper, I decided on the Bologna ham (middle in the photo below). Choosing while chatting is a fun aspect unique to events.

"Oroi Brewing" Koero Pilsner

Having gathered a variety of snacks, I now buy some alcohol.

While wine and cocktails were also available, I decided to purchase craft beer from Oroi Brewing, a brewery from Kagawa. I had been curious about the refrigerator filled with canned beer for a while.

There are four types of craft beer, and it seems they have prepared brands that go perfectly with bread for this event.

I was unsure which one to choose, so I told the staff about the snacks I bought and my beer preferences, and they recommended "Koero Pilsner." I'm excited to try this beer for the first time and see what it tastes like.

Drinking at home with takeout bread

Once I got home, I quickly enjoyed the bread and drinks I bought.

First, since I was really thirsty, I tried the craft beer. It has a crisp and clear taste, and it seems like I could drink it easily without any strong flavors.

I warmed up the garlic French bread in the toaster and tried it. The plump scallops and rich cheese pair well with the refreshing craft beer. It was a satisfying snack with plenty of ingredients.

The freshly sliced Bologna ham was drizzled with olive oil, giving it a taste like something you'd eat at a restaurant. It pairs excellently with the bread and drinks.

The sweet amanatsu tart served as dessert had nuts in the dough, and as expected, it was a substantial and satisfying sweet treat.

It's nice that I can warm it up in the toaster at home.

It turned out to be a slightly luxurious and enjoyable weekend lunch.

In conclusion

I thought "pan-nomi" (bread drinking) would be an event for people who love alcohol, but I also saw families with children choosing snacks and housewives buying bread for breakfast. Thanks to the variety of customers, it was easy to participate even alone.

The communication with the staff was lively, making for a fun shopping experience. It seems that the Kurashiki pan-nomi has been held several times in the past, so I look forward to the next event.

Please check out the weekend events at Kurashiki Mirai Park, which are easy to attend.