On September 9th, the herb & spice restaurant "Mineral" (Genji-machi, Hirosaki City, TEL 0172-55-6558) opened in Hirosaki.

The restaurant, which was opened in 1884 (Meiji 17), has been renovated and opened after renovating the dining room of the long-established inn, Saei Ryokan. The owner, Mr. Toshiki Bando, opened the second store of "Bistro x Steak Doteria" (Dote Town). "I heard that Saiei Ryokan will leave the dining room to stay without meals, so I was able to rent it at the right time," he said.

Mr. Bando, who was from Hirosaki, moved to Tokyo and returned to his hometown after working at a restaurant for more than 10 years. Hirosaki was involved in the launch of Doteria and became independent in April 2015. Having acquired the qualifications of a medical herb coordinator and herb & life coordinator, he said he started thinking about opening the store.

The store area is about 20 tsubo. There are 20 seats. Mr. Bando himself made the table in the store "to make it wider and relaxed". "I want tourists to use it because it's close to Hirosaki Park," he says. Tsugaru kogin sashimi is used for chair cushions and coasters. "It was made by Mr. Kisa Saito, the maid of Saiei Ryokan," said Bando. In addition, we are actively incorporating local crafts such as "Tsugaru Bidoro" for lighting.

Order herbs from CONSE FARM (Oirase-cho, Kamikita-gun). "The southwestern part of Aomori Prefecture is in the same north latitude as the origin of the herbs, the Mediterranean Sea, and the farm is particular about pesticide-free," says Bando. The seasonal herbs that are harvested depending on the season are directly purchased and used for cooking.

The menu includes various herbal teas for 450 yen and an alcohol menu. The food menu is "mineral salad with plenty of herbs" (S size = 1,100 yen, M size = 1,800 yen), tandoori chicken (700 yen), five-grain chicken, Porchetta (800 yen) garlic pork, special stewed hamburger with minerals (1,000 yen) Yen), today's raw pasta (1,150 yen), etc. A lunch menu (1,000 yen and up) with mini desserts is also available.

Mr. Bando said, “Hirosaki's herbal tea is not very familiar. We would like to make it a place to tell about herbs that are said to have relaxing and immunity enhancing effects. In the future, we will further expand the herb menu and blend herbs at our shop. If they could sell it," he said.

Business hours are Monday to Saturday = 11:00 to 21:00, Sunday = 11:00 to 18:00 (above, lunch time = 11:00 to 14:00).