トントンマン
Recently, there has been a lot of talk about the shortage of egg supply due to bird flu, which is causing a major impact on food production. In addition, the situation in Ukraine is also causing significant changes in the distribution of wheat worldwide. The consumption of wheat in Asia has expanded by over 30% in the past 10 years, challenging rice as the staple food in the region. Countries like the Philippines and Vietnam are seeing a rise in fast food chains offering hamburgers and pasta, while noodles made from wheat and ramen are becoming popular in Vietnam. While diversifying food sources is beneficial in the long run, the current instability in wheat supply, especially with the situation in Ukraine, is causing concerns. Unlike rice, wheat production in Asia is limited due to unsuitable growing conditions in many regions, leading to heavy reliance on imports. For example, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia import almost 100% of their wheat, with Malaysia importing over 20% from Ukraine. Japan, which relies on imports for nearly 90% of its wheat, could also be affected by the situation in Ukraine, as countries in Asia turn to the US for wheat imports. This could potentially lead to further price increases for wheat, impacting countries like Japan. In response, the government is implementing measures to stabilize prices, but further promotion of domestic wheat production, especially in Hokkaido, is necessary. As someone who enjoys exploring bakeries on my days off, I keep these factors in mind during my bakery visits. On this particular day, I tried a Xinjiang cuisine restaurant in Ikebukuro, which left me somewhat unsatisfied. Afterwards, I headed to a bakery cafe on the opposite side of the station, run by two women who share a passion for providing handmade and healthy baked goods. Using domestically produced wheat and natural yeast, the bakery has been in business for 14 years, a testament to their strong consumer support. Located near Nishi-Ikebukuro Park, the bakery is open only on weekends, offering a variety of bread made with care and health in mind.