Interview with owner Emi Sakakami
We spoke with Emi Sakakami, who was the manager of the café during the previous Salon de Tonerico era and is now the manager of Moon grace.
What is your most popular menu item?
Sakakami
It’s a cheesecake made with Gorgonzola, a blue cheese.
I think there are many places that serve cheesecake, but there aren’t many that fully showcase the slightly strong flavor of blue cheese.
Blue cheese pairs really well with wine.
We also serve a chocolate terrine, which is designed to pair well with strong whiskey or red wine, allowing you to fully enjoy the rich aroma of cocoa.
I’m conscious of creating flavors that make you want to drink.
The background of opening Moon grace
Why did you start pairing alcohol with sweets?
Sakakami
I have always really liked drinking.
I worked in Tokyo for a while, and the restaurant I worked at paired wine with food.
They also served wine and sweets during the evening, and I really enjoyed eating sweets and drinking wine after work.
However, I thought there weren’t many places in Kurashiki where you could enjoy sweets while drinking alcohol late at night.
Since I personally found that to be a blissful time after work, I thought it would be nice to have a place in my hometown where people could enjoy both alcohol and sweets.
Customer reactions
What kind of feedback do you receive from customers?
Sakakami
Many customers are pleased with it.
I often hear that there aren’t many places where you can eat sweets at night.
Especially, there aren’t many places where you can enjoy sweets with wine or other alcohol.
I’m happy to hear that more often lately.
Things to keep in mind, future dreams and goals
What are your thoughts on future developments?
Sakakami
First of all, until now, I have been open on weekends from the afternoon, but starting in October 2023, I will focus on evening operations.
While preparing during the day, I sometimes couldn’t make it in time for the evening service, which caused inconvenience.
To allow customers to enjoy pairing more thoroughly in the evening, I’m thinking of creating pairing sets.
For example, I’d like to provide clear recommendations like this plate goes well with red wine, and this one with white wine.
Additionally, I want to make it a memorable place for customers celebrating special occasions or birthdays.
I want them to feel they spent wonderful time with their loved ones.
I hope to offer course plans that can be used for celebrations.
It would be great if similar places increase in Kurashiki in the future.
Sakakami
Yes, I think it would be nice to have more spaces in Kurashiki where people can feel a little luxurious and special compared to their daily lives.
Moon grace has a black base with gold accents, creating a mature atmosphere.
I personally like that kind of ambiance.
Currently, I’m grateful that the number of customers is increasing, and there are times when I have to turn people away.
So, I hope to someday open another place with a similar atmosphere but a slightly different feel.
Will the concept be different at that time?
Sakakami
I will have some alcohol and sweets, but I want to create a place where people can enjoy alcohol and food in a more adult atmosphere.
Conclusion
Spend the end of your day enjoying homemade sweets with alcohol.
Moon grace, which is a Sweets Bar that is neither a café nor a bar, offers a luxurious time that is different from what you’ve experienced before.
A place where you can experience a different atmosphere with each changing season makes you want to visit multiple times.
Why not savor the season through alcohol and sweets?
Data on Moon grace
| Name | Moon grace |
|---|---|
| Address | 2-7-10 Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, 2F |
| Contact | 050-8888-1887 |
| Parking | None |
| Business Hours | 6:00 PM – 12:30 AM (Last order at 12:00 AM) |
| Regular Holiday | Tuesday |
| Payment Methods |
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| Reservation | Available Phone reservations during business hours |
| Toilet | Western-style toilet |
| Website | Moon grace: Instagram |
