Japanese cafe suggests topping pudding with yolk

Caramel sauce is poured on the Aomori Raw Egg Pudding at Nature Cafe in Aomori. (Credit: The Yomiuri Shimbun)

AOMORI -- I visited Nature Cafe in Aomori city after hearing that it serves delicious pudding and ordered Aomori Raw Egg Pudding to eat in for 600, yen not including tax.

Brought to the table was a small jar of pudding along with salted caramel sauce in a small pitcher and a fresh egg yolk. I placed the whole yolk on the pudding and poured the sauce over it. Mixing these toppings with the pudding, I put a spoonful in my mouth and encountered a rich flavor.

"Many customers enjoy customizing their pudding, with some first eating the pudding as it is before adding the yolk, while others have their pudding without adding the caramel sauce," said owner Shingi Kudo.

Shingi Kudo holds up a package of his restaurant's specialty products. (Credit: The Yomiuri Shimbun)

Kudo, 52, carefully selects ingredients from Aomori Prefecture, such as milk from the village of Shingo, eggs from the town of Takko and salt from the Tsugaru Strait.

"As Aomori Prefecture is blessed with many delicious things, I focus on using high-quality local ingredients," he said.

What inspired Kudo to sell his puddings dates back to 2012, when he was running an izakaya pub in the city. A pudding using apple puree he served was popular. Some customers encouraged him to take part in a sweets contest organized by the city government. The pudding won second prize, defeating some sweets specialists.

Kudo decided to try commercializing his pudding after city government officials suggested it. He still hangs a poster of the contest at the back of his cafe to not forget the day that would subsequently change his career.

Nature Cafe also serves pudding in other flavors such as strawberry and apple, as well as pancakes and fresh pasta.

For the pancakes, 640 yen for a single layer and 880 yen for double, Kudo uses wheat he fell in love with when he visited a farmer in Aomori Prefecture. As such, he carefully selects local ingredients for items at his cafe.

"My izakaya turned into a cafe before I realized it," Kudo said. "However, my passion remains unchanged: to promote what is delicious in Aomori Prefecture."

Nature Cafe

Open: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Closed: Wednesdays

Address: 2-19-13 Hashimoto, Aomori

Phone: (017) 752-1761

Credit cards accepted

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