Tokinokura's Restaurant

　"Café & Restaurant LENRI" has an appearance reminiscent of an old castle. A farm growing a variety of crops spreads out beyond the windows of the second-floor seats overlooking a large row of trees. The person creating new possibilities for food here is French chef Dori Machida, who was awarded the title of ``Fujinokuni Food Capital Creator'' in 2012.

　Aikan Co., Ltd., where Mr. Machida works, is primarily a company that deals with plumbing work, but it is also known for its diversified businesses, including food and beverages, childcare, farms, and glamping. When the company's restaurant was being renovated, Mr. Machida became the manager of the restaurant business, and LENRI, which cooks local ingredients like art, was born. There is a nursery school run by the company next to the store, and there is also a field where children can learn how to grow vegetables.

　Mr. Machida, who expresses the feelings of producers in his food, has held collaborative events with local producers such as Kato Farm, which grows vegetables without pesticides, and Mineno Farm in Inasa, with the theme of food-agriculture collaboration. It is being held. In addition, his ideas and activities are diverse, such as touring Hamamatsu's ``Hana no Mai Sake Brewery'' and making cooking proposals with dentists who are conscious of dental health. She sometimes uses vegetables grown by the children at the nursery school in her cooking. A patisserie will also open on the same premises in 2024.

　Machida's activities connect food and agriculture, like a chain of trees that connect different trees, and greatly expand the potential of the region. This advanced endeavor may be a conduit to a sustainable future.

Machida himself is involved in growing and harvesting crops at the farm in front of "Café & Restaurant LENRI."

Mr. Machida talks to nursery school children about growing vegetables. The kindergarteners look curious.

The farm grows fruits such as lemons and blueberries, as well as herbs, without using pesticides.

2nd floor seats overlooking the orchard and trees. A high-quality space with great attention to detail.

*From the article “Introducing the winners of The Worker of the Year 2023”