Racines: filling cafe type bistro in maze-like Ikebukuro!

I was in Ikebukuro, away from my "sphere".
Even with several wanderings, I can never get to the right place in Ikebukuro.
I don't know if it has anything to do with the crowdedness and windings of
the streets, but I always end up getting lost in that district.

But with help of my friend,  I was able to find an organic un-Ikebukuroish bistro.(sorry if I've offended anyone...but Ikebukuro's image of Ramen haven kinda made me say it.)

Bakery Bistro. That says all. French bistro-type food served with fresh-out-of-oven bread!

Weekday Bistro Lunch: 1800  
appetizer, main dish, tea/coffee with 4 types  of freshly baked bread
appetizers and main dish are hearty. Ikebukuro size!

other types of lunch available. Salad Lunch 980 and more.

Racines Boulangerie&Bistro
http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1305/A130501/13100821/dtlmenu/

JUNKUDO SHOTEN IKEBUKURO Building B1, 2-14-2 MINAMI IKEBUKURO,
TOSHIMA-KU, TOKYO

東京都豊島区南池袋2-14-2 ジュンクドウ書店池袋ビル　B1

TOCHIGI field trip!? Copse, not corps :)

I was away from Tokyo this weekend, enjoying a day at
tradional coppieced woodland, ZOKIBAYASHI, in Tochigi prefecture.
Weekend traffic out of Tokyo has increased due to the weekend highway
toll discount. Doube-edged sword, indeed.

Our destination was Tochigi-ken, Nasu-gun, Nakagawa-machi
(栃木県那須郡那珂川町) where ZOKIBAYASHI is still conserved.

The scenery as well as the people there made my heart warm.
Homemade food like riceballs(ONIGIRI),vegetable pickles with KOJI,
YUZU confit, MISO soup with lot of goodies(KENCHINJIRU), KONNYAKU,
etc etc was served and that, made my tummy warm as well!
 Rice was just harvested rice(SHINMAI), with red beans and chestnuts.
The rice was sticky rice, was awesome.

If you feel trapped in Tokyo, try spending a day in untouristy rural areas!
Need help? Drop me a line :)