I couldn't get in right away, so I wandered around the photo gallery while waiting. My phone rang. I enjoyed a seasonal dessert plate with three varieties: dried persimmon chocolate terrine with Egyptian salt, pistachio cake with cream cheese, and baked apple with mascarpone ice cream. The Haskap from Furano Farm was delicious. Overall, the flavors were rich and well-balanced, with a skillful use of salt, spices, and herbs. I had a great time enjoying this hidden gem.

This restaurant was opened by Yoshiko Takahashi after she moved to Biei. Lunch requires reservations. The birch-lined path leading to the restaurant is beautiful, and the interior is lovely with attention to detail. The appetizer, a famous soup from the hill, is a chilled soup made with eggplant and corn, with a hint of vanilla beans adding sweetness. This month's theme was tacos. They offer a variety of tacos, such as fried tacos, simple tacos with edamame and cheese, and tacos with hokke fish. Each dish is made with organic vegetables, herbs from the garden, and free-range eggs from Farm Lera in Higashikawa. Yoshiko explains each dish as it is served, which adds to the dining experience. The meal ends with a miso soup, a Mexican-style miso soup with tender meat. The dessert was corn ice cream. I ordered a lavender and haskap berry milk cocktail with the set. Although adding three extra drinks made the bill a bit high at 14,000 yen for two people, the satisfying lunch was worth it. I am interested in visiting the cafe next time I go to Biei.

"SSAW BIEI AUGUST 2023"COLORS & SPICES" (5,800 yen + drink 880 yen) + Nise Acacia and Lime and Margao Soda [Hill Soup] Tomato Gazpacho / Corn and Sage [Biei seasonal vegetables whole] Young corn and chili mayo, tomato and northern mustard child pepper and rice eggplant fried and herb miso cucumber and pistachio lemon salad, green beans, shallots, round zucchini, ground cherry, watermelon, small tomato spicy Egyptian salt [Zephyr spice flit] Red summer vegetable sauce and fennel [Charcoal pork cumin farci] Ripe Lala tomato and thyme stew [Northbound shellfish Biryani] Paprika raita and beet achar served with [Luvab and cherry cardamom kulfi] + Toyako blueberry corn soup of the season is delicious (*´ω｀*) Before meals, I visited Takuma-kan, but there was a photo like Hill Soup (*′艸`)"

I tried to make a lunch reservation but it was fully booked, so I decided to make a reservation for cafe time instead! I passed through a white birch forest and arrived at a cute cafe with counter seats in a lovely space. I ordered the seasonal dessert plate for 1650 yen, which included an Egyptian salt carrot cake, a milk pudding with osmanthus (unfortunately sold out last minute), spelt wheat cookies, and a white chocolate and strawberry lavender milk ice cream sandwich. I also ordered an organic lemonade for 660 yen. The ice cream was refreshing, the cookies were crispy, and the lemonade was a nice touch. I would love to visit again for lunch next time!

Located in Biei, Hokkaido, "SSAW BIEI" is a charming cafe run by the renowned chef Yoshiko Takahashi. The cafe operates on limited days, but you can drop by without a reservation on cafe days. However, on some days, they only offer a lunch course by reservation, so it's recommended to check their Instagram beforehand. In April, Biei is still cold with occasional snowfall. I parked at Takushin-kan and walked through the snowy path to the restaurant. Along the way, I even encountered wild squirrels, which was a delightful surprise. The cozy interior of the cafe welcomed me with three staff members smiling. With a seating capacity of 8 at the counter, the handmade enzyme drinks and warm atmosphere added to the experience. I ordered the "Hatsukoi Napolitan" (with salad) and a homemade hot lemonade. The set salad included arugula and kale with a delicious homemade dressing. The Hatsukoi Napolitan featured Bucatini pasta made from Biei's tangy tomato ketchup, Asahikawa sausage, and Takara Cheese Factory's cheese. The dish could be seasoned with Moroccan pepper for added flavor. The hot lemonade, with lemon slices included, was a refreshing choice. The cafe also sold Yoshiko Takahashi's condiments at the entrance. The tomato ketchup was particularly tasty and versatile. The Bucatini pasta, though a bit tricky to eat due to its thickness, paired well with rich sauces. The sausage was flavorful, and the cheese had a delightful aroma. I thought the ketchup would be great for various dishes. The cafe was bustling with customers on the weekend, a testament to its popularity during the flower season. The desserts looked tempting as well.

Thanks to Takahashi Yoshiko's food direction, the Netflix drama "First Love" made me cry three times. There was a dish called "First Love Napolitan" featured in the show. #Biei #Hokkaido is amazing #Hokkaido love #gourmet #EnoLog

I was searching for a nice lunch spot in Biei and came across this restaurant. It's a popular place on Instagram with a branch in Musashikoyama as well. I was disappointed to find out that the online reservations were full for the September holidays, but I decided to visit anyway as they mentioned that terrace seating without reservations might be available depending on the time. The location nestled in the birch forest was amazing, and I already felt happy walking down the path to the restaurant. I ordered: - Haskap drink - Iced Chai - Pancake (single) - Pumpkin cheesecake - Ice cream sandwich The place is known for its spices, and the chai was indeed delicious. The pancake with a hint of salt could also be a meal, as explained by the staff, and it was my first time trying such a unique dish with spices, but it was delicious! The pumpkin cheesecake wasn't particularly unique, but the presentation made it popular for sure. The mint ice cream cookie sandwich used fresh mint from the garden, and the aroma was amazing, making it very tasty as well! The staff mentioned that they were short-staffed that day, so the service was slower than usual. I was prepared for the wait, but it did get a bit boring after a while. I started to feel cold in the shade and thought maybe I should have ordered a hot drink or brought a jacket or blanket. Nonetheless, the time spent admiring the birch forest, looking at acorns and fallen nuts, was uniquely pleasant and made me feel happy in Biei. I would definitely make a reservation next time I visit Hokkaido and come back to this place.

A Korean-style hand-rolled plate using plenty of local ingredients. Yoshiko Takahashi's plate changes monthly, so you can enjoy it every month. #Lunch #Biei #Hokkaido's hidden gem #hokkaidolove #gourmet #EnoLog

A wonderful restaurant located on the outskirts of Biei. Lunch is by reservation only, but you might be able to squeeze in a last-minute reservation by calling on the day. Sitting at the counter, you can watch the owner prepare the dishes up close, which is very satisfying. Each dish is carefully explained, allowing you to deeply engage with the food. Sharing dishes made with local ingredients with friends made for a truly special experience.

The appearance was wonderful, and the surrounding reviews were high, so I went with high expectations, but when I called, they said lunch was fully booked, yet when I arrived, there were seats available? I had already eaten elsewhere, so I only had dessert as planned. Hmm, stylish and fashionable! But the taste was mediocre and very disappointing. Are there too many staff members? I wonder if the food is delicious? Maybe because they don't have a clear selling point in terms of taste, it's interesting but the level of taste is not consistent.

★Photographer's renovated restaurant★Located near a free photography art museum cafe, with a wonderful location. Open from Friday to Monday.