LifeTeria
[Visit in October 2014] I visited a cafe that I had always wanted to visit. After getting off at Hiroo Station and heading towards Arisugawa Park, I found the cafe on the second floor of a building located at the intersection where "National Supermarket" is. "Cafe Calva Hiroo" is the name of the shop. The interior is decorated in a striking burgundy color, with the ceiling, walls, and chair fabrics adding an impactful touch. The solidly built counter creates a calm atmosphere, balancing out the interior style. When the weather is nice, the bright sunlight streams in through the windows, and the lush trees of Arisugawa Park provide a pleasant view. Cafe Calva Hiroo's operating hours are from 10:00 to 18:00. It closes early for this area, but interestingly, from 19:00 onwards, it transforms into a champagne bar called "Pomponne". Quite intriguing, isn't it?
I tried the Seafood Gumbo (1,100 yen) and the Fig Tart (700 yen). The lunch menu had Gumbo, which was quite unusual. According to Wikipedia, Gumbo is a dish that has permeated the Gulf Coast region of the Southern United States and is made with a rich soup stock, meat or seafood, thickening agent, and the "holy trinity" of vegetables (celery, bell peppers, onions). Traditionally, Gumbo soup is served over rice. The Seafood Gumbo here was just the right amount of hot and delicious. The soup, extracted with the umami of seafood, was perfectly spiced, stimulating the appetite. And I must mention the coffee that came with the set. The hand-dripped coffee was rich yet smooth, with a clean finish. It was probably one of the best coffees I've had in a while. It may seem obvious that coffee at a cafe would be good, but not all cafes serve such delicious coffee. I also added the Fig Tart. The tart had a soft crust, quite different from the usual tart crust, but the buttery flavor was delightful in its own way.
This cafe is also pet-friendly. On this day, a cute Boston Terrier was relaxing inside.
- Name: Cafe Calva Hiroo
- Address: Muramatsu Building 2F, 5-16-4 Minamiazabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
- Phone: 03-3473-6323
- Note: They have a monthly event called "Dorayaki Day".
- Recommendation: ☆☆★★★ (2 stars: slightly recommended)
For the full article, visit the LifeTeria blog: http://www.lifeteria.com/2014/10/23/01/