The deep history hidden within the most popular menu item at Shimokitazawa Cafe: "Two-Curry Platter"

The deep history hidden in the two-curry dish at Shimokitazawa Cafe

Hello everyone. This is Tsukui from WAITER-U. I run a cafe in Shimokitazawa that has a campsite-like atmosphere, and today I'd like to talk about the fascinating background story behind our most popular menu item, the "Two-Curry Platter."

Composition of the two-curry serving

Our "Two-Curry Platter" consists of two distinctive curries.

• Pork Vindaloo CurryIndian pork curry
• Dal CurryA mild-flavored curry made with beans.

A rare Indian curry originating from the state of Goa.

I mentioned Indian curry, but India is a country where the vast majority of the population practices Hinduism. In Hinduism, many ingredients are forbidden for religious reasons, including beef, pork, seafood, eggs, garlic, chives, and other herbs.

Amidst all this, our pork vindaloo curry is a very rare Indian curry that uses pork. The reason why such a curry exists is deeply connected to the unique region of Goa in India.

A deep relationship with Japanese Buddhist monk Sasai Shūrei

Goa is a place with deep ties to a certain Japanese person. That person is the Buddhist monk, Hideaki Sasai.

Mr. Sasai was born in Okayama Prefecture, and while studying Buddhism in Thailand, he witnessed racial discrimination firsthand, which solidified his resolve to fight against it. Subsequently, in order to do something about India's caste system, he renounced his Japanese citizenship and acquired Indian citizenship, and has been engaged in activities to convert people from Hinduism to Buddhism in India for many years.

The spread of Buddhism and its influence on food culture

Thanks in part to Mr. Sasai's efforts, approximately 8.4 million people in India, or 0.7% of the total population of about 1.4 billion, are now Buddhists.

Goa is one of the regions where Buddhism is deeply rooted, and since Buddhism does not prohibit the consumption of pork, this is the background behind the widespread consumption of pork vindaloo curry in this area.

Differences from typical Indian curry

While typical Indian curry restaurants mainly serve butter chicken curry, mutton curry, and spinach curry, our pork vindaloo curry is a very rare menu item.

Basmati rice that creates an Indian atmosphere

To give you a more authentic Indian experience, we pay special attention to the rice we use. Instead of Japanese rice, we use long-grain basmati rice, which is cooked with cardamom and cinnamon.

Unlike the sticky texture of Japanese rice, basmati rice has a light, fluffy texture that pairs well with curry sauce. Restaurants serving curry with basmati rice are still rare in Japan, allowing you to experience an authentic ethnic flavor.

A mildly spicy and easy-to-eat flavor.

Many people associate curry with spiciness, but our curry uses plenty of yogurt, giving it a tangy flavor that makes it delicious even for those who don't like spicy food.

When you visit Shimokitazawa, please be sure to try our "Two-Curry Platter." We look forward to your visit.