トントンマン
This shop is known among guitar enthusiasts for hosting regular classical guitar concerts (mostly by amateurs). However, due to the distance from my home, I never had the opportunity to visit. That is until I discovered the bakery "Boulangerie Ken" through a recommendation related to Tabelog, known for its high-quality pastries. I was planning to visit when I found out that this shop was nearby. I decided to take advantage of this coincidence and pay a visit. The shop is located on the south side of Shimo-Akatsuka Station, along the narrow one-way road that is also designated as Route 442. It is on the right side as you head towards the Akatsuka Station front shopping district from the intersection with National Route 254 (Kawagoe Highway). On this day, just before 12 o'clock after finishing lunch, I visited the shop. The shop has a somewhat subdued appearance, but once you enter, you are greeted by a surprisingly spacious interior. To the left upon entering, there is a small stage surrounded by a collection of CDs and classical guitar sheet music. The seating is comfortably arranged, with 6 counter seats and 20 table seats. I chose a table for two. The shop is completely non-smoking, and although I expected classical guitar music in the background, on this day, it was surprisingly music by Masashi Sada. The owner brought water and the menu to my table. He was very polite and humble. He mentioned his long-standing relationship with classical guitar and studying under the late Kazuhito Yamashita, Masahiro Ojiri, and other prominent figures in the field. We had a brief conversation about guitars while I looked over the menu. The menu was more like that of a high-quality coffee shop. Although registered as a "cafe" on Tabelog, I applied for a change to include "coffee shop" in the genre. The coffee blends were priced at 480 yen, while the 11 specialty coffees were priced at 500 yen (some ranging from 600 to 700 yen). I decided to try the Costa Rica Monte Brisas for 500 yen and added a homemade cake (pear tart) for 350 yen. There was no discount for the cake set, but considering it as an 850 yen set seemed reasonable. The coffee was of the Villa Sarchi variety from Costa Rica, with a slightly strong acidity and almost no bitterness. It was quite delicious. The coffee came with a Lotus caramel biscuit. The homemade pear tart had a simple sweetness and a moist sponge cake with syrup-soaked pears, creating a nice combination of flavors. It was quite tasty. I initially thought of this shop mainly for its reputation for guitar concerts, but the cafe aspect was surprisingly good. Especially in terms of coffee, they also sold beans and were quite authentic. If I have the chance to attend one of their concerts, I believe enjoying delicious cake and coffee while listening to live classical guitar music would be wonderful. Oh, you think I should perform there? Well, first, I have to overcome my dystonia for solo performances!