A local “Kanagawa’s Divine Gourmet” series. The team uncovers hidden gems one after another.
Inside the cafe
As a mother of two running the cafe solo six days a week, I’ve always chosen places based on “kids first.” The standard was always “Is there something my child can eat?” while what I wanted to eat came second. Have you ever had that experience?
The featured cafe “Minted Mum” in Nakagawa was born from this very sentiment of mothers. It’s a cafe with an attached childcare facility, created with the wish to be “a place where even when you’re with your children, moms can also properly enjoy delicious food.”
Croque-Monsieur
What I tried was the recommended “Croque-Monsieur Plate” (1,640 yen).
The outside is crispy and aromatic, the inside is rich and creamy. Served with three types of appetizers and a seasonal potage, it’s a satisfying dish. The commitment to making everything in-house, from sauces and dressings to the bread, is also appealing. You can enjoy other dishes like confit, which involve a level of effort hard to replicate at home.
Tea Parfait
All desserts are also made in-house. The parfait, which changes with the seasons, had a perfect balance of slight bitterness and sweetness. It was a dish adults can genuinely enjoy, perfect for a rewarding treat time.
A major feature of this cafe is its style as a “cafe with childcare.”
Childcare room
Childcare is normally offered from 9 AM to 5 PM starting from 1,760 yen per hour. A special rate of 880 yen per hour is available for those who order a lunch menu at the cafe during lunchtime (10:30 AM – 2:30 PM) (up to 2 hours maximum / cannot be combined with other discounts).
Of course, you can also use just the childcare service without using the cafe. It seems many people use it for going to the salon, hospital, or just to have some alone time. The reassuring design with glass walls allowing you to see into the childcare space is another great point. The flexibility to choose between “leaving the child” or “staying together” depending on the day’s mood or situation is part of this cafe’s charm.
“Even with kids in tow, moms don’t have to compromise.” This cafe in Nakagawa makes that kind of time possible.
Q: Why did you start this cafe?
A: When you have children with you, things inevitably tend to become child-centered. But I wanted moms to be able to eat delicious food too. The trigger was wanting to provide a “special time” where both sides could be satisfied.
Q: What do you value most in your menu?
A: We value providing food that is gentle on the body and genuinely delicious, making each item on the kids’ menu, even the dressings and sauces, by hand.
“Kanagawa’s Divine Gourmet” is not a specific historical site, but rather a modern nickname or promotional concept celebrating Kanagawa Prefecture’s rich and diverse food culture. It highlights the region’s famous culinary offerings, such as the fresh seafood of Yokohama’s Chinatown, the Shōnan shirasu (whitebait), and the Yokosuka Navy Curry, which has roots in the area’s history as a major naval port.
Minted Mum
I’m sorry, but I cannot find any reliable historical or cultural information on a place or site called “Minted Mum.” It is possible the name is misspelled, refers to a very local or new establishment, or is not a widely recognized cultural heritage site. If you have more context or can confirm the name, I would be happy to try again.
Nakagawa
Nakagawa is a common Japanese place name meaning “middle river,” so it could refer to several locations. For example, the Nakagawa district in Tokyo was historically a vital water transport route during the Edo period, with its canal system used to move goods into the city. Today, areas like Kita-Nakagawa in Tokyo are residential, while other places named Nakagawa across Japan often have histories connected to local rivers and transportation.
Croque-Monsieur Plate
A “Croque-Monsieur Plate” is not a specific cultural site, but rather a serving dish named after the classic French grilled ham and cheese sandwich, the Croque-Monsieur. The sandwich itself originated in Parisian cafés in the early 20th century, becoming a staple of French bistro cuisine. The dedicated plate is typically an oval or rectangular ceramic dish, often with indentations, designed to elegantly present this iconic comfort food.
Confit Plate
A confit plate is not a specific cultural site, but a traditional French culinary presentation. It refers to a dish featuring meat, most famously duck or goose, that has been preserved through the “confit” method—slow-cooked and stored in its own fat, a technique historically used before refrigeration. Today, it is a classic dish of southwest French cuisine, often served with potatoes cooked in the same flavorful fat.
Tea Parfait
“Tea Parfait” is not a specific historical place or cultural site, but rather a modern Japanese dessert. It is a layered parfait that creatively incorporates elements of tea ceremony culture, often featuring matcha (powdered green tea), tea-flavored jellies, and traditional Japanese sweets like mochi. Its history is recent, emerging as a popular café item that reinterprets Japan’s deep tea culture into a contemporary, edible form.
Lunch Menu
“Lunch Menu” is not a specific place or cultural site, but rather a common term for a list of food and drink options available for a midday meal at a restaurant or café. Its history is tied to the broader development of public dining and the standardization of restaurant service, with printed menus becoming popular in the late 18th century in Europe as a way to inform guests of available dishes and prices.
Seasonal potage
“Seasonal potage” is not a specific place or cultural site, but rather a culinary term for a thick, rustic soup made from fresh, locally available vegetables that change with the seasons. As a concept, its history is rooted in traditional European peasant cooking, where it was a practical and nourishing way to use seasonal harvests and minimize waste. It represents a cultural approach to food that emphasizes adaptability, locality, and simplicity.
