[Showa-ku, Nagoya] Cooking Classes and Workshops are Held too! "natural food BIO"

Gokiso A 10-minute walk from the station. You will find "Shizen Shoku BIO," a store where you can buy organic vegetables, seasonings, processed foods, daily necessities, and other health-friendly foods. The bright orange color is a landmark.

Popular with those looking for products that are gentle on the body
"Natural food BIO"

The store is crammed full of carefully selected products by the owner, Mr. Oshima. There is also a space for cooking classes and events in the back.

At "Natural Food BIO," the number of customers has increased due to the COVID-19. I think it's because more people want to eat healthy food to boost their immune system," says owner Oshima..

Daily necessities such as detergent

They also carry fresh produce. It is convenient for everyday shopping.

Natural yeast bread and cookies baked in the shop

Nurtured from an early age
Healthy lifestyle

Mr. Oshima, the owner.

Natural Food BIO opened in 2004 in Sakurayama, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya. When the restaurant became too small, it moved to its current location at Gokiso. Why did Mr. Oshima, who originally worked in the automotive industry, decide to start a natural foods restaurant?

– Why did you decide to start “Natural Food BIO”?

Mr. Oshima: "While raising our three children, my wife first began to study macrobiotics (hereafter referred to as "macrobiotics"). She began teaching cooking classes at home and became a certified instructor.

On the other hand, I was tired of the salaryman life and envied my wife who was getting more and more energetic doing what she loved. Would I be patient and continue to work as a salaried worker until our child grew up? Before I was in my fifties, I quit my job and started a cooking school and a store selling goods.

– You made a bold decision! Your wife used to eat macrobiotics, but did you have an interest in such organic and natural foods from the beginning?

Oshima:"Although we did not practice anything with a macrobiotic name, my mother was the kind of person who would start by shaving bonito flakes when making miso soup. We also bought vegetables in season directly from local farmers, so I was able to appreciate the taste of the ingredients. I can also identify additives and oxidized flavors."

The concept is
"Everyone can live a healthy and prosperous life"

– What is the concept of the store?

Mr. Oshima: "I think it's about 'enhancing the health and well-being of everyone.' When customers come here, they all leave with smiles on their faces. I want to make this kind of store."

– What are your points and commitments when choosing products?

Mr. Oshima: "For vegetables, I go directly to the farmers to make purchasing decisions. I make decisions by looking at the farmer's face rather than by looking at the product. The producer's thoughts are the most important thing.

Also, while processed foods are convenient, we try not to add too much to them. Even though we are a natural food manufacturer, we have no choice but to use additives when processed. We have to ask ourselves, "Do we really need these processed products? Can we make it by hand?" We are always conscious of the following. After all, simple is always better."

Owner’s select!
Commitment product of "Natural food BIO"

Popular No. 1! "Naturally cultivated rice without pesticides and fertilizers"

Miyagi Prefecture Sasanishiki 1kg ¥ 980 (tax included)

The most popular item in "Natural food BIO" is rice grown naturally without pesticides or fertilizers. We sell brown rice by weight. (It is also possible to sell after polishing.) The most popular is Sasanishiki, which is close to the original species, so it is said that allergies are less likely to occur.

One of the conditions for purchasing Mr. Oshima's rice is to have a thermal storage that can maintain a constant temperature of around 13 degrees. By keeping the temperature constant, it is possible to prevent the rice from oxidizing. Mr. Oshima purchases directly from farmers in Miyagi prefecture.

Frozen is delicious!? Brown rice bread

Left: A loaf of wheat flour ¥470 (tax included) Right: A half loaf of brown rice bread (frozen) ¥350 (tax included)

Natural yeast, domestic wheat, domestic brown rice, and "natural food BIO" bread are popular products. The brown rice bun is especially popular because it uses rice for its chewy texture.

What's more, surprisingly, brown rice bread tastes better when frozen! "I freeze it as soon as it cools down on the day I bake it. Freezing it makes it taste better and enhances the sweetness and umami. Customers who know this taste are even aiming to freeze it." Mr. Oshima.

Bread sales schedule. You can also check the website.

Use of discerning raw ingredients! Oatmeal cookie

Oatmeal cookie ¥350 (tax included)

This is also an oatmeal cookie baked in the "natural food BIO" store. In addition to domestic wheat and organic oatmeal, it is a luxurious cookie that uses only carefully selected ingredients.

"Natural food BIO" original product! "Biwayo" with 100% natural ingredients

Loquat ¥2,200 (tax included)

Loquat leaf extract "Biwayo" is an original product of "Shizenshoku BIO". It's used for natural remedies, and I want to keep one at home. Biwayo is made from only 35°C aged brown rice shochu and pesticide-free loquat leaves.

It can be used as a lotion, for insect bites, for gargling, and even for drinking! It contains no glycerin, and can be drunk because it is made of simple ingredients: shochu and loquat leaves. Some customers buy it for their atopic children. It does not have a strong smell, so it is easy for children to use without being bothered by it.

World standard organic certification! Henna of Lakshmi

Henna from Lakshmi ¥1,980~ (tax included)

Henna is a plant that is also used in Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of India, and is used for the purpose of treatment and hair dyeing.

Lakshmi's henna is organic henna of solid quality that has received several strict organic certifications of global standards. The president, Mr. Morita, selects and purchases it directly from India, and "Natural Food BIO" also holds a talk session with Mr. Morita.

A wide variety

Basic seasoning

They also have a wide selection of products such as soy sauce, miso, and cooking oil. The Italian olive oil handled by "natural food BIO" is produced by a single farmer, and it is said that there are not many such farmers. If the olives are not extracted on the day they are harvested, they will oxidize, so we choose farmers who squeeze their own.

It seems that an Italian producer has visited the shop!

"Natural food BIO" has a wide range of high-quality products and has held cooking classes, but Mr. Oshima says, "From now on, I want to focus not only on food, but also on the spiritual aspect." “I feel that we are at a turning point due to COVID-19. We would like to emphasize face-to-face connections that large companies cannot do. We also want to strengthen the connections between ambitious farmers and customers. ”

"Natural food BIO" also conducts workshops such as fortune-telling, health checks, and storytelling. If you come here, your mind and body will be healthy.