A few more snaps of the brilliant, buzzy 246 Common, as featured in my new (occasional) Japan Times column, Food Matters.
While there are a few produce stalls and wholefood bakery outlets, the core of this semi-temporary al fresco encampment of trailers, wagons and ad hoc shacks — slogan "We, the Community" — is less farmers' market, much more food trucks serving comestibles ready to be consumed on site.
The first outlet you see as you arrive along Aoyama-dori is run by Nakahora Bokujo, dispensing soft cream and curry-rice made with beef from their grass-fed pasture-reared cows in Iwate.
Plus farm-fresh fruit, such as these plums kept nicely chilled on ice — perfect for the Tokyo summer.
Another standout — and not just visually — is the sleek Airstream trailer operated by the ever-savvy Wired Cafe folks.
Check out that menu of Southern Indian-style dosa pancakes with stuffings to blow your mind. I tried the veggie masala, which was satisfying but not very spicy at all. Next time I'm going back for the lox and cheese dosa.
Blue Kitchen serves salads and smoothies…
Sanraku Kitchen Stand is more traditional, with yakitori and kakigori shaved ice...
There are a couple of bars, ranging from the funky friendly Omotesando Sakaba…
…to the slick, corporate wagon operated by whiskey company Hakushu, featuring sausages and charcuterie to go with their own highballs:
The eating/drinking areas — communal of course — are towards the middle and back. Extra cachet for wearing a slogan tee-shirt…
Do not fail to look around the corner at the end, where you'll find a very photogenic row of traditional wooden huts — with wooden roofs and sliding doors — including the appetising Shozo Coffee Store, which is due to open tomorrow (Sept. 1st).
However, my top pick of all is the excellent takoyaki served by Ikebo, if only for the wonderful retro-look kiosk they're served from:
So cool it really deserves its own blog post — check back here in a couple of days!
