Interview with owners Chihiro Misaki and Miyuki Misaki
Salon de Tonerico opened in March 2022.
We spoke with Chihiro Misaki and Miyuki Misaki, who run the restaurant Salon de Tonerico and the flower shop atelier tonerico in Nishinakashinden, Kurashiki City.
What inspired you to open the business?
Chihiro Misaki (honorific omitted)
Since this is a restaurant run by a flower shop, we want more people to learn about flowers.
I think many people only go to flower shops to buy gifts or when there is a special occasion. I hope having a place like this can give people an opportunity to learn about flowers.
Eating is essential to life, so we started this business hoping to introduce people to flowers through food.
What is the origin of the name Salon de Tonerico?
Miyuki Misaki (honorific omitted)
We already run a flower shop called atelier tonerico, and we think of the flower shop as the atelier and the restaurant as the salon.
Tonerico is a plant that is also planted at the entrance here.
There is a tree called tonerico.
It's often used as a symbolic tree for homes these days, but it's not a particularly showy plant.
Its color doesn't change, and it's not the kind of tree people go out of their way to see, like cherry blossoms.
But it's evergreen all year round and doesn't lose its leaves, so I imagine it as something that is part of everyone's everyday life at home.
We thought that was a good fit, so we named the flower shop atelier tonerico.
Salon means “gathering” in French, so we named the restaurant Salon de Tonerico, hoping it would become a place where people gather.
Could you tell us about your recommended menu items?
Chihiro Misaki
Our salad is our top recommendation.
We usually arrange flowers into bouquets, and we plate the salad with that same image in mind.
We call it a bouquet salad because it looks like a bouquet.
It's not just a feast for the eyes; with nuts and herbs, you can enjoy it with all five senses.
Many people order the salad because it looks great in photos on social media.
Since the weather turned cold, pasta and gratin have also been popular.
We're working hard on a new course menu that uses seasonal ingredients and lets you experience the season.
Purple flowers are more readily available in spring, so we'd like to incorporate colors that suit the season.
Is there a story behind the parfait?
Chihiro Misaki
The idea of flowers sprouting from the soil in the tiramisu parfait is probably what we most want to do as a restaurant run by a flower shop.
Miyuki Misaki
We hope food can give people an opportunity to experience flowers.
We'd like to develop our menu in a way that connects it to the fact that we're run by a flower shop.
For our “Strawberry and Mascarpone Parfait,” we use strawberries from ROSSO in Funao, Kurashiki City.
Both the parfait and the bouquet salad were created thanks to our meeting with ROSSO.
We care about the producers we work with, and ROSSO is committed to shipping strawberries when they are fully ripe.
We thought that concept was wonderful, so we started buying from them.
Because the strawberries are shipped fully ripe, they smell different when you open the box, and the lingering taste is different from other strawberries.
In Okayama, we're close to the producers and can talk with them directly. I think that's one of Okayama's strengths.
What are the evening menu and atmosphere like?
Chihiro Misaki
Basically, the menu is the same at lunchtime and in the evening.
However, we're planning to revamp the menu soon.
We hope to create a bar-like atmosphere, focus on the food, and serve alcoholic drinks that pair well with the dishes.
Miyuki Misaki
We'd like people to feel more comfortable dropping by the flower shop, as casually as they would go for a walk, but that's quite difficult.
In that sense, I think a restaurant or bar makes it easier for people to come in.
In the evenings, lots of male customers come to the bar, and we're happy when they become interested in flowers.
Some have asked us for advice because they want to give flowers as a birthday present.
We're happy that people who weren't interested in flowers before are learning about them.
We hope that opening in the evenings will broaden the range of people who enjoy flowers.
We hope people leave feeling glad that there were flowers here.
What would you like to do in the future?
Miyuki Misaki
I think it's exciting to collaborate with people in different industries and meet and connect with all kinds of people.
We've held one before, but we'd like to put on events such as a viola concert or other activities surrounded by flowers.
We've talked with producers about holding a “Sweet Pea Night.”
We could fill this place with sweet peas, enjoy their fragrance, and have a gathering where people can drink while listening to the producers talk.
I think there are connections we've made precisely because we're a flower shop.
Chihiro Misaki
Listening to producers is educational, and now that we know these things, I think it's our role as florists to share them.
Miyuki Misaki
We'd like to share with our customers what we've learned through being florists and what we've learned through running a restaurant.
I think that also encourages the producers.
Producers don't often get the chance to see their flowers on display or people eating what they've made.
When we pass that feedback along, it encourages both sides.
I think that's important in running a business.
Chihiro Misaki
I'd also like to explain what the producers have made while people look at flowers or eat strawberries.
Since it's a salon, I want it to be a place where everyone gathers and something new comes out of it.
From the Writer
Salon de Tonerico is run with the heartfelt desire to help more people discover the beauty of flowers.
It might be nice to enjoy the seasonal flowers surrounded by flowers and greenery, while savoring food, desserts, and drinks.
It's a place where many people can encounter flowers, and we're looking forward to seeing what Salon de Tonerico does next.
Salon de Tonerico details
| Name | Salon de Tonerico |
|---|---|
| Address | 2-7-10 Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, 2F |
| Contact | 050-8883-6966 |
| Parking | None |
| Hours | 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. |
| Closed | Monday, Tuesday |
| Payment methods |
|
| Reservations | Accepted |
| Seating | 18 seats |
| Smoking | Entirely non-smoking |
| Restroom | Western-style toilet |
| Website | Salon de Tonerico: Instagram |
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