Interview with owner Iwata
About the origin of the restaurant's name
First, could you tell us how the restaurant got its name, “pas a pas”?
Iwata
In French, it means “step by step” or “steadily.” I chose it to express the idea of moving forward step by step, steadily.
About his dedication to hamburg steaks
Why did you decide to specialize in hamburg steaks?
Iwata
Maybe because hamburg steaks are enjoyed by everyone, from children to adults.
In practice, they seem easy to make, but they're difficult and have a lot of depth. So many things change from day to day. Sometimes even I'm surprised by how they taste. There's no end to how much you can refine them, and that's a big part of it.
At first, it was called a “Western-style restaurant.” Could you tell us why the sign's name changed to “Hamburg Steak Restaurant” after it reopened?
Iwata
At first, we had Western-style dishes such as omurice and cutlets. We were operating on a high-volume, low-margin basis, but what I really wanted to sell was hamburg steak.
So I decided to focus exclusively on hamburg steaks and changed the menu to serve only them. I'd be happy if people came here because they want to eat a hamburg steak.
I also love the hamburg steaks at pas a pas, and come here whenever I feel like having one. By the way, could you tell us which hamburg steak is the most popular and which one you recommend?
Iwata
The most popular one is also the one I recommend: “simmered hamburg steak.”
From the disaster to the present
Please tell us, as much as you're comfortable sharing, about what happened from the time your restaurant was hit by the July 2018 Heavy Rain until now.
Iwata
Our home was in a different part of Mabi from the restaurant, but the July 2018 Heavy Rain flooded both the restaurant and our home.
On the night of July 6, 2018, I had evacuated to Kibiji Clean Center, but when I heard my father was still at the restaurant, I went back once. But he had already evacuated, and while all that was happening, the water was closing in and I couldn't get away.
I took shelter on the roof of a convenience store with my wife, son, and beloved dog. We spent the whole night up there…
In the end, the water rose to above the second-floor windows of the restaurant.
That must have been so difficult… What did you do about a place to live after that?
Iwata
My wife is from Aichi Prefecture, so I sent her and our son back to Aichi, while my dog and I started living in a tent inside the damaged restaurant. It was difficult to evacuate elsewhere with a dog.
From the end of July until the beginning of September, I lived in a tent without electricity while cleaning up the restaurant.
I see.
Iwata
If I had really thought it was hopeless, I would have lost heart. I told myself this way of life was only temporary and tried to enjoy it as best I could.
Rhinoceros beetles would fly into the house, and I'd say to my dog, “This is kind of like the end of the world, and it's great.”
I figured I could just take things as they came, and kept going, “step by step.”
When did you decide to reopen the restaurant after the July 2018 Heavy Rain?
Iwata
Right after the disaster, the carpenter who had helped build the restaurant before rushed over and helped us clean up. I realized that the only way to make a living was to keep the restaurant going, so I decided to reopen right away.
After that, the carpenter and all the related contractors pitched in, working on the restaurant's renovation every day from around 6 a.m. until after midnight.
Then, on December 1, 2018, we reopened. It was thanks to everyone's help and support.
We made a space on the first floor where we could sleep, and since the end of January 2019, the three of us and our dog have lived here, with the restaurant and our home under one roof.
Finally, what has made you happy about running the restaurant, and what do you find rewarding about it?
Iwata
I'm happy when people come back to eat here many times or write about us on their blogs and so on.
For example, a male customer who used to come alone brought his girlfriend, and later brought his children. Being able to watch our customers grow and see the different stages of their lives has also brought me joy.
When we reopened, so many people in Mabi told us, “We've been waiting for you,” and I was truly grateful.
The restaurant that made me fall in love with Mabi
For me, pas a pas is the restaurant my husband and I visited for lunch before we got married, and it introduced me to how delicious the vegetables from Mabi are.
It's also a symbol of a special “happy meal.”
The tender hamburg steak goes perfectly with the demi-glace sauce, which takes four days to prepare. It's a special taste you can't find anywhere else.
Like the restaurant, Mabi is steadily moving forward with its recovery, one step at a time. I hope you'll visit and try one of Iwata's exceptional hamburg steaks.
Hamburger restaurant pas a pas data
| Name | Hamburg Steak Restaurant pas a pas |
|---|---|
| Address | 1016-9 Yata, Mabi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-698-5817 |
| Parking | Available 3 spaces |
| Business hours | 11 a.m.–3 p.m. (Last order at 2 p.m.) |
| Closed | Sunday |
| Payment methods |
|
| Reservations | Accepted |
| Seating | 14 seats total 3 tables for two 2 tables for four |
| Smoking | Entirely non-smoking |
| Restroom | Western-style toilet |
| Families with children | Children's chairs available |
| Website | Western-style restaurant pas a pas Twitter |
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