[NEWS] A “Vegan Lunch” at FARO

At “FARO,” inside the Shiseido Building in Ginza, Tokyo, chef Kotaro Noda and pastry chef Mineko Kato are pursuing innovative experiments. When it opened in October 2018 it started out as an Italian restaurant serving pastas and the like, but more recently it has woven in abundant innovative elements.

One of these new attempts is the introduction of a vegan menu. “Vegan,” now often heard in Japan too, means avoiding not only meat but all animal-derived foods such as eggs and dairy – in other words, strict vegetarianism. Using some 150 ingredients sourced from across Japan, FARO devises and serves vegan dishes and desserts that pursue flavors and aromas distinct from animal products.

Built on Italian dishes such as gnocchi and cannelloni, it is approachable even for vegan beginners. / A main dish of pesticide-free domestic ingredients and a sauce focused on fermentation – a hearty plate that holds its own against animal-based dishes. / Desserts by pastry chef Mineko Kato – fresh and inventive, drawing on the sweetness of rice rather than refined sugar, with pesticide-free fruits and herbs.

● Vegan Lunch Course 8,000 yen
● Original lunch course using a variety of ingredients from across Japan (not vegan) 10,000 yen
* The dinner-time “Vegan Dinner Course (12,000 yen)” requires a reservation by the previous day.

Plant-based eating is drawing attention in recent years for a variety of reasons – religion, health, environmental concerns (sustainability). As Chef Noda notes that it “also connects to Japanese shojin cuisine,” the day this food – which brings about beauty and health from within – becomes gastronomy may not be so far off.

■ FARO ■
Tokyo Ginza Shiseido Building 10F, 8-8-3 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
☎ 0120-862-150 / 03-3572-3911
* Phone reservation hours 11:00–22:00 (business days only). * Reservations accepted from the current month through the end of two months ahead.
[FARO official site] https://faro.shiseido.co.jp/?rt_pr=pl255