Interview with owner Emi Sakagami
We spoke with Emi Sakagami, who worked at the cafe during its predecessor, Salon de Tonerico, and is now the manager of Moon grace.
What is your most popular menu item?
Sakagami (honorific omitted)
It’s the cheesecake made with Gorgonzola, a blue cheese.
There are plenty of places that serve cheesecake, but I don’t think many feature a blue cheese with such a distinctive flavor.
Blue cheese pairs really well with wine.
We also serve chocolate terrine, and we’ve developed a recipe with a rich cocoa aroma that pairs well with robust whiskies and red wine.
I focus on flavors that make you want to have a drink.
How Moon grace opened
Why did you start pairing alcohol with sweets?
Sakagami
I’ve always really enjoyed drinking.
I worked in Tokyo for a while, and the restaurant I used to go to there paired wine with its dishes.
They also served wine and sweets in the evenings, and I really loved having dessert and wine after work before heading home.
But I felt there weren’t many places in Kurashiki where you could enjoy sweets and drinks late at night.
Spending my evenings that way after work was a real pleasure for me, so I started this place thinking it would be nice to have somewhere in my hometown where people could enjoy drinks and sweets.
Customer reactions
What kind of feedback do you get from customers?
Sakagami
Many customers tell us they’re delighted.
We often hear that there still aren’t many places where you can have sweets at night.
They also say there aren’t many places where you can enjoy sweets with wine and other drinks.
I’m happy that we’ve been hearing that a lot lately.
What she keeps in mind, and her dreams and goals for the future
What are your plans for the future?
Sakagami
First, we used to open from midday on weekends, but starting in October 2023, we’ll focus fully on evenings.
When I was preparing during the day while also serving customers, I sometimes couldn’t get everything ready in time for the evening service, which caused inconvenience.
I’m thinking of creating pairing sets so people can enjoy the pairings more fully in the evening.
I’d like to make it easier to choose by offering suggestions such as, “This plate goes with red wine, and this one goes with this white wine.”
Another thing is that I want this to be a memorable place for customers celebrating a small anniversary or birthday.
I want them to feel they’ve spent a wonderful time with someone special.
I’d like to offer more set menus that people can enjoy for special occasions.
It would be nice if more places like this opened in Kurashiki in the future.
Sakagami
Yes. I hope Kurashiki will have more spaces where people can feel special and enjoy a little more luxury than in their everyday lives.
Moon grace is decorated mainly in black with gold accents, giving it a mature feel.
I like that kind of atmosphere myself.
Thankfully, we’ve been getting more customers, and sometimes we have to turn people away.
So I hope I can open another place someday with a similar atmosphere but a slightly different feel.
Would the concept be different then?
Sakagami
We’d still have some drinks and sweets, but I’d like to open a place with a slightly more grown-up atmosphere where people can really enjoy drinks and food.
From the Writer
Spend the end of your day enjoying homemade sweets alongside a drink.
Moon grace is a dessert bar, neither a cafe nor a bar, where you can enjoy a luxurious experience unlike any other.
You’ll want to visit again and again to experience the different atmosphere each season brings.
Why not savor the season through drinks and sweets?
Moon grace details
| Name | Moon grace |
|---|---|
| Address | 2-7-10, 2F, Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 050-8888-1887 |
| Parking | None |
| Hours | 6:00 p.m.–12:30 a.m. (last order at 12:00 a.m.) |
| Closed | Tuesday |
| Payment methods |
|
| Reservations | Available Reservations by phone during business hours |
| Restroom | Western-style toilet |
| Website | Moon grace: Instagram |
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