Gourtto STORY (Autumn 2022 issue)

City of Yokohama, Transportation Bureau's public relations magazine "Gurutto" focuses on local production for local consumption along municipal subways and buses, entitled "STORY for Local Production for Local Consumption in My Town." On this website, we will send you an interview that did not fit in the magazine!　This time, we interviewed Masahiko Miyaji, who runs a French restaurant "Cafe Felix Falls" near Nakayama Station.

French kitchen cafe rooted in the community
About a 4-minute walk from Nakayama Station. "Cafe Felix Falls" offers dishes using local vegetables in Midori Ward, which has many farmers and direct sales outlets. It is a casual and easy-to-stop restaurant, but it is a restaurant where you can enjoy authentic French cuisine that makes use of the taste of the ingredients by chefs who have trained in France for 10 years.

"Cafe Felix Falls," which offers traditional French and rural dishes, offers a variety of menus for each season. It is said that the menu starts with asking local farmers about the vegetables they are ready to eat.
We don't use processed products as much as possible, and all dressings and sauces are homemade. There is no microwave oven in the shop. You can see the chef Miyaji's commitment, who doesn't rely on machines in cooking.

Weekly lunch can be enjoyed at a reasonable price, starting at ¥1,200 (excluding tax) with appetizers and salads using local vegetables on the main dish. At dinner, you can enjoy dishes that match your sake, such as specialty wines.
The recommended menu in autumn is cheese dishes that have been popular since its inception. Cooking using cheese and duck is also the starting point of "Cafe Felix Fall".
"In particular, October is the month of the ban on cheese in France. We will devise a menu with seasonal vegetables purchased from local farmers, focusing on mushroom dishes tailored to cheese."

The local cuisine of France is exquisite!
Mr. Miyaji worked in France until he opened 11 years ago. It is common in France to enter a restaurant as a trainee for the first year, obtain a permit for stay, and then formally start working.
"I wonder if you went around 10 stores during the training period. I work part-time in summer to go south of France and work in ski resorts such as Chamonix in winter."
After various experiences, I returned to Japan just after my stay was 10 years.

After returning to Japan, he worked at a restaurant in Yokohama for one year, and then opened a business.
"Local vegetables harvested in a ripe state are the best," says Miyaji, who has been working on local production for local consumption since its opening. I met three farmers, the main suppliers, through a local production and local consumption exchange meeting held at the ward office 10 years ago. Among them, Kaneko Farm makes polo green onions, which are indispensable for French cuisine, and it is also the reason why Cafe Felix Falls began using Midori Ward vegetables.
"I happened to open this area, but at that time there were many farmers who made polo green onions and zucchini, which were rare in Japan, and I feel the edge."

"Cafe Felix Fall" started opening a store in a kitchen car about two years ago. If it is difficult for customers to go out, purchase a car to go out here and apply to the ward office.
"It was a 2-year desperate to survive. To be honest, the situation continues to be difficult, but I would like to explore what I can do and work on it."
Mr. Miyaji offers delicious French cuisine in various places in the area, such as the Midori Ward Min Festival and Satoyama Garden Festa, while focusing on sales at actual stores. Recently, he has participated in events at the ZOORASIA Night Market and Yamashita Regional Exchange Center (formerly Yamashita Elementary School wooden school building) held at Yokohama Zoo ZOORASIA during summer vacation.
Also, I'm particular about cars. Miyaji's favorite car is a quiet kitchen car that generates electricity with hydrogen energy from sunlight.

Midori Ward's local production and local consumption
In addition to local production and local consumption exchanges held at the ward office, there is also a voluntary organization in Midori Ward where local production and local consumption support shops gather. Team Velde has a total of 14 stores, both Japanese, Western, and Chinese, sharing information and entertainment from local farmers.
"It's quite unusual for restaurants that are also competitors to interact with each other," says Miyaji. It is said that by deepening exchanges between these restaurants, the local production and local consumption of Midori Ward is further enhanced.
"Velde" actively participates in local events and other events in cooperation with local farmers. They sold vegetables and lunch boxes in front of a condominium in Tokaichiba,Midori Ward residents' festival, and other events.

The existence of neighborhood farmers

"Farmers have wholesale the vegetables they want to use at each shop, and say, 'I'm doing this kind of event, can you give me some vegetables?" We are responding to individual demands such as these. I'm really grateful."
Local production and local consumption community in Yokohama, where restaurants and farmers support each other. With the activities of Miyaji-san, you can easily enjoy dishes made with delicious vegetables freshly picked every season.
"In Japan, I feel that the value of primary industries such as agriculture is decreasing. The profession of agriculture should be even more respected. Especially in this world, logistics may be stagnant due to unexpected unexpected things. I am very grateful that there are farmers in the local area."

The menu created by Mr. Miyaji, who values the connection with local farmers, has the original taste of local vegetables.
I would like you to taste the dishes carefully made with all your heart.