A friend told me, “There’s an event like this!” so I immediately checked Instagram.
I looked over the vendor lineup and was drawn to my favorite bagels and the words “Taiwanese street food,” so I decided to go for a change of pace.
With the rising cost of food in general these days, as well as soaring electricity bills, my family tries to cook at home as much as possible, rushes to supermarkets where things are even 10 or 20 yen cheaper, and cuts back on household expenses.
I’ve also stopped going out for lunch at restaurants on weekdays.
I’d like to introduce “Midori no Ichi,” a wonderful event that brought a little refreshment and a modest sense of luxury to my financially strained daily life.
The information provided was current when this article was published in February 2023. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Overview of the “Midori no Ichi” event
“Midori no Ichi” is held once a month inside the shop and in the parking area of “Patisserie Le Vert,” a Western-style confectionery shop in Hiroe, Kurashiki City.
The theme on January 9, 2023 (Monday, public holiday), when I visited, was “Chicken, Strawberry, and Potato.”
A total of eight vendors gathered, including local businesses and others from Tsuyama City and Maniwa City.
- Midori no Ichi-exclusive curry: “Nash Curry American”
- Wood-fired pizza: “Makigama Pizza rosso”
- Bread & cafe: “Pan Kissa Atelier”
- Western-style confectionery: “Patisserie Le Vert”
- Takoyaki, etc.: “Ohisama Farm: Local Produce Dining”
- Taiwanese street food: “Saisai Taiwan”
- Fully ripened strawberries: “Ichigoya ROSSO”
- Pongashi demonstration: “Pongashi Pon-chan”
Though small in scale, it was an event packed with plenty to offer.
What the event was like
It opens at 10 a.m.
It took about 20 minutes to get there by car from central Kurashiki City.
The venue, “Patisserie Le Vert,” is right beside this pedestrian overpass, so it should serve as a landmark.
I arrived a little early, so I looked at the sign showing the vendors’ menus and waited in my car. Just after 9:50 a.m., cars began pulling into the parking lot one after another.
Whether people were shopping for a late breakfast, lunch, or something to enjoy with tea, the parking lot was full as soon as the event opened.
Presumably, people from the neighborhood also came on foot in a steady stream.
Midori no Ichi is primarily a takeout event, so customers moved through quickly, and the shop never became uncomfortably crowded.
“My personal top three,” enjoying chance encounters and seasonal treats
I wanted to shop at every stall, but narrowed it down to three: the ones selling bagels, Taiwanese street food, and pongashi.
First up, “Pan Kissa Atelier”
Seeing them all lined up is exciting.
This time, I bought a bagel sandwich called “Strawberry Condensed Milk Cream Cheese,” made in collaboration with “Ichigoya ROSSO,” which was selling fully ripened strawberries.
The combination of cream cheese blended with condensed milk and strawberry compote was exquisite, complementing the quality of both the carefully made bagel and the fully ripened strawberries.
It’s a rare treat to discover seasonal menu items like these at an event.
“Saisai Taiwan,” serving Taiwanese street food and making its Midori no Ichi debut, all the way from Maniwa City
I tried the hot and sour soup (suan la tang), which I’d seen on Instagram and had been eager to try.
Hot and sour soup is a hearty soup characterized by its sour flavor, with a kick of spice and fragrance from chili oil and pepper.
This is just the thing to sip on a cold day while saying, “Hot!” and “So good!”
I thought it would be perfect for winter, but I heard they hardly ever serve it at spring and summer events.
It feels like a real bargain to enjoy a dish I never make at home—and one whose ingredients alone would cost more than the 550-yen price of the hot and sour soup. It also makes me appreciate why it’s worth paying for.
“Pon Gashi Pon-chan” sets up in the parking area
I heard they came all the way from Tsuyama City at short notice to fill in for a shop that had to close unexpectedly that day.
They seem to set up at all kinds of markets, as well as events throughout the prefecture.
The photogenic owner, the impact of the sound, and the almost-illusion-like process of making pon gashi make you stop and watch before you know it.
A crowd naturally gathers, and thanks to Pon Gashi Pon-chan, the event felt even more like an event.
Kids are sure to have fun, but adults will enjoy it too.
Here are photos of some of the other shops and products!
▼Nash Curry American
▼Makigama Pizza rosso
▼Patisserie Le Vert
▼Ohisama Farm: Local Produce Dining
From the Writer
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., but by around lunchtime, some shops had already sold more than half their stock.
If you want to choose from the full selection of breads and sweets, I recommend visiting soon after opening.
If you’d rather take your time choosing, around 11 a.m. is also a good time to visit: there should still be plenty of products, and the crowds will gradually be thinning out.
The event is primarily takeout, with no dine-in option, but you can eat standing up in the parking area in front of the shops.
In the end, with a budget of about 3,000 yen, I got lunch for two, bread for two for breakfast the next day, a bagel and strawberry dessert, and pon gashi to take home—and enjoyed a hot soup there and then. I was completely satisfied!
It also seems like a nice place to drop by alone for brunch: for about 1,000 yen, you could enjoy bread and soup or a drink, plus dessert.
Midori no Ichi is held once a month on a Sunday or public holiday, with a different theme each time.
The theme for the next event, on Saturday, February 11, 2023 (a public holiday), is “Harmony.”
Why not stop by and enjoy a meal that’s a little more special than usual, a change of pace, and the chance encounters of the moment?
Updates about participating shops are posted regularly on Instagram, so be sure to check it out.
Midori no Ichi Information
| Name | Midori no Ichi |
|---|---|
| Date | Planned to be held once a month (on a Sunday or public holiday) |
| Location | 2-12-50 Hiroe, Kurashiki City Patisserie Le Vert |
| Participation fee (tax included) | Free |
| Website | Midori no Ichi |
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