Hiroko’s
place isn’t a place dedicated to tea but I absolutely wanted to mention it
because I actually love that place. It is more known as a Japanese restaurant
but it doesn't serve traditional foods like ramen or sushi. They have curry, omurice,
French fries, a bit different from what you are probably used to.
They have a small selection of 5 teas and a few deserts for
those who would like to stop for a small 4pm break, which I highly recommend as
a shopping break in Soho.
I haven’t found any places like that in New York City yet. It’s
a very cute place that releases a very special atmosphere. I would like to say
this restaurant is a coffee place where you feel like home. There are a couple
of tables, a piano, a shelf with Japanese manga and magazines, two sofas, and of
course Japanese music.
When I entered the café, it was empty. I was the only
customer. There was just the two cook, the three waitresses and ooji-sama (grandfather)
as I like to say. I always see him there, sitting on the sofa, and I’ve never
understood what he is actually doing, but I feel now he belongs to that place
so each time I come, I know he will be there cutting some papers and stuff for
some reasons I don't know.
Back to my story, I sat at a table near the window at the
back and I could here all the employees talking all together in Japanese. I
ordered one of my favorites desert: “a green tea parfait” and a hot Ceylon tea.
The parfait reminds me some of my nostalgic time in Japan and I know I can only
find it in that café.
Hiroko’s place, a well-chosen name that makes me think that
each time I’m going there I’m actually going to a friend’s house.
(Closed
on Wednesday)
