[Inabe city] Enjoy Locally Grown Seasonal Vegetables and Carefully Selected Ingredients at French Restaurant "nord"

“nord” opened in October 2020 in Inabe City, Mie Prefecture. This is a restaurant where you can enjoy casual French cuisine, mainly using pesticide-free vegetables and locally grown ingredients.

"nord" is owned by "Matsukaze Company," which operates various businesses, including "Happu Nouen," which grows pesticide-free vegetables using natural farming methods, and "Ageki Shokudo," a popular restaurant where people line up on holidays. The company has attracted the attention of many people, especially locals.

This time, we interviewed Mr. Nishiyama, the manager of "nord".

The location is about 10 minutes on foot from "Ageki Station" in Inabe City, Mie Prefecture.

About 1 hour by car from Nagoya. There is a spacious parking lot next to the shop, so even if you come by car, you can come to the store without worrying about parking.

Wood-like stylish appearance. Plants and interior decorations here and there create a natural atmosphere. You can also see the inside of the store through the large window glass.

The store name "nord" means "north" in French.

The name of the restaurant is said to come from its location, which is associated with the word "Kita" (north). The restaurant is located in "Hokusei-cho" in Inabe City, Mie Prefecture, and is also located in "Kita-machi" in Ageki, Mie Prefecture, and was built on the former site of "Hokusei Supermarket. The restaurant was built on the site of the former Hokusei Supermarket, so he feels a strong connection to the "north. The restaurant was named "nord" in French because it is a French restaurant.

Creating a space where locals can easily visit and enjoy themselves

The interior of the store is inspired by Northern Europe. A warm and gentle space where you can feel the warmth of wood.

Many people may have the impression that French cuisine is a bit intimidating, but the good thing about "nord" is that anyone can enjoy French cuisine in a casual manner. For example, local grandfathers and grandmothers come here for lunch, or people in work clothes come here for a drink on the spur of the moment. ...... The manager, Mr. Nishiyama's desire to convey the enjoyment of French cuisine in such a casual style is reflected not only in the food, but also in the restaurant's space design.

When you look up at the ceiling, you can see the exposed wooden framework. It is a wonderful interior where you can feel the comfort of nature. Mr. Nishiyama has been involved in the design of the store and has thoroughly pursued his commitment.

Table seats and counter seats are available.

At the back of the shop, there are cute cushions lined up and table seats where you can relax. There is also a seat in front where you can enjoy your meal while surrounding a large table. Even families with children can sit comfortably.

At the counter seats, you can watch the food being prepared. Casual conversation with the staff and other customers is the real pleasure of sitting at the counter.

From the counter seats, you can see how the manager, Mr. Nishiyama, skillfully prepares the food.

Plants and paintings are displayed in various places according to the space.

I want to convey the charm of Mie, a hometown rich in nature

Originally, Mr. Nishiyama worked at a popular restaurant in Nagoya. We asked him about the background to why he decided to start "nord".

Mr. Nishiyama: “After graduating from culinary school in Nagoya, I trained at a high-class restaurant called Grand Maison in Nagoya for about three years. When I thought about what my strengths would be, I wanted to convey the richness of nature. I spent about a year growing vegetables under the supervision of an organic farmer with whom I had a connection in order to awaken to this.”

We convey the charm of Mie, a hometown surrounded by rich nature, through our cuisine. For that reason, I felt passionate about Mr. Nishiyama's attitude of learning how to grow vegetables from scratch.

While studying vegetables at an organic farm, I came across Ageki Shokudo. I started working part-time in the field during the day and at Ageki Shokudo at night.

– From there, how did you join the ranks of the Matsukaze Company?

Nishiyama: "Actually, my parents have a French restaurant. It is called 'Ebisutei' in Kuwana, and my father told me to come back there! I quit Ageki Shokudo, where I had worked for about a year, and returned to my parents' house.

About 10 months later, I suddenly got a call from Mr. Matsumoto, the owner of Ageki Shokudo. The content is "I really want to work with you. I've been asked if I'd like to open a store like this, and only you can entrust it to me."

Considering his position as successor and his family, he initially declined the offer. However, he could not forget the fun he had in the fields and Ageki Shokudo, which he started because he thought it would be his strength. He told his family about his feelings and went on to start a new restaurant.

Focusing on local production for local consumption,
A French restaurant where you can enjoy seasonal vegetables and ingredients

That is how the French restaurant “nord” was born. Mr. Nishiyama's dream of "having his own shop" will come true.

I learned a lot about the concept and commitment of the store.

Mr. Nishiyama: "We use vegetables from our own farm, Happu Nouen, and purchase local meat and fish to complete one restaurant in the form of local production for local consumption. And we make French cuisine that is easy for locals to visit and eat in a way that is easy to understand."

The dishes served at "nord" use a lot of seasonal vegetables. All of the vegetables are grown at our own farm Happu Nouen. You can enjoy French cuisine made with fresh vegetables grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers.

The bread that goes with the meal is from Freibaecker Saya, a German bread shop that uses wheat and rye grown at Happu Nouen. It is also a sister store to "nord", a popular bakery located in Inabe City, Mie Prefecture.

Mr. Nishiyama says that it is our job to bring together the things that everyone is excited about and have fun making at "nord" and pass them on to our customers.

Mr. Nishiyama's desire to convey the sense of unity of "Matsukaze Company", which creates everything in-house from scratch, and the deliciousness and fun of it, is what makes "nord" so appealing.

A la carte menu in early July

– Please tell us about your commitment to the menu.

Mr. Nishiyama: "I don't really want to make leftovers. If I just heat the food first and serve it, it is not so different from what you can buy at a good supermarket. I think the reason people come all the way to a restaurant is because they want to eat freshly prepared food and enjoy the aroma of the ingredients. The aroma of cooked vegetables can only be experienced at that moment. So I want to convey that aroma."

Most of the menu at "nord" changes daily. The reason is that the vegetables and seasonal ingredients that can be harvested change depending on the day. Some menus are only available on that day, so no matter how many times you visit, you'll be able to discover new dishes.

We introduce lunch menu with full of seasonal vegetables

The lunch menu features an attractive salad with plenty of vegetables. This time, we had the A Lunch, which features meat or fish as the main dish, and the B Lunch offers a pasta lunch to make it easy for everyone.

The concept behind the lunch at nord is to tell the story of the current state of Happu Nouen. We try to serve vegetables from the fields as untouched and cleanly processed as possible.

Here is the salad of the day. A luxurious and colorful salad with 5 kinds of vegetables, pickles, and beetroot potato salad with cherry blossom pork smoked ham and bread is also beautiful to look at.

The 5 types of vegetables are Trevis, green lettuce, sunny lettuce, new onion, and yellow zucchini. Accented with Freibaecker Saya garlic croutons. Top it off with a sweet and sour dressing made with red onions.

The first thing that surprised me when I took a bite was the freshness of the vegetables! You can see that the vegetables are not only crunchy but also vibrant. The more you chew, the sweeter the taste, and the more you can enjoy the nutritional benefits of the vegetables.

Vichyssoise with new potatoes is perfect for hot weather! A smooth and easy-to-drink chilled soup packed with the flavor of new potatoes.

This is the main meat dish. Ballotine of chicken thigh meat from Mie Prefecture, sautéed tsurumurasaki, kidney beans, sweet long pepper, and blue cheese sauce.

The ballotine is filled with the flavor of chicken thighs, and the blue cheese sauce adds just the right amount of flavor to create a luxurious taste. You can enjoy various flavors by eating it with 3 kinds of vegetables with different characteristics.

Although it is not included in the lunch, we recommend adding dessert! (Photo: Nougat Glace)

Lunch at "nord" where you can enjoy many kinds of delicious vegetables. French cuisine that makes the most of the natural flavors of the ingredients will give you a special feeling filled with seasonal ingredients.

Enjoy "nord" at home,
To-go menu

"nord" also has a full to-go menu.

The recommended menu is the delicatessen where you can enjoy "nord" for one person in one box. There are various things in it little by little, so you'll be completely satisfied when you're done eating. It is a menu where you can enjoy the deliciousness and fun that is packed with the charm of "nord" in one box.

In addition, we have various takeout menus such as omelet rice and hayashi rice. For takeout for dinner, liver paste and terrine that go well with wine are also recommended! There is no doubt that your home dinner will be luxurious.

Reservations are recommended for to-go. The restaurant's Instagram page provides information about the restaurant, such as today's menu, so be sure to check it out.

Finally, we asked about future prospects.

Nishiyama: "I was talking with Mr. Matsumoto of Ageki Shokudo, and he said that people around here are leaving for the city. I want to make this town more attractive to the children who live here now!

First of all, I would like to make this shop attract attention from all over the Tokai starting from Mie. And eventually, I would like to make it a store that attracts attention from all over the world. ”

"nord" is a wonderful restaurant that teaches you a new way to enjoy French cuisine. It is packed with charm that will make you want to visit even from outside the prefecture. How about visiting "nord" to enjoy French cuisine made with delicious vegetables and local ingredients?