[Everything changed after studying abroad] A young man from a rural area makes Belgian waffles
*COLORFLE*
Press release: September 8, 2024
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[Everything changed after studying abroad] A young man from a rural area makes Belgian waffles
*We make authentic Belgian waffles in a place a little far from the station in Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture. *
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I want to work at a waffle shop overseas and recreate that taste in Japan. This is Hiratsuka City. Among these, there is a region called Goten (Nakahara) that is far from the station.
There is a young man making authentic Belgian waffles.
My husband studied abroad three years ago, and
After that, he had an encounter that changed his path.
It’s a local store run by a Belgian.
This is my first encounter with a Belgian waffle cafe.
When I was looking for a job, I suddenly noticed a sign on my way to school.
“We are hiring now!”
The husband had vowed to only work at local stores.
I decided that I wanted to work here no matter what,
After school, I popped in and asked for an interview.
Say the words you had prepared forcefully.
“Is there your manager available right now?”
The person who called out to me happened to be my manager, a Taiwanese woman. My impression of Japanese people was quite good, so I went straight to the interview.
An unexpected development.
As luck would have it, things went well, I got a trial, and I was hired. I’ve never made waffles, and I don’t have much experience in restaurants. However, the decision was made to ensure an environment where people can speak English.
Meanwhile, due to the coronavirus outbreak, there was a lockdown. It’s been a month since I started working and I can’t even remember my job. I was in a situation where I was unable to work for three months. I was shocked when I ate waffles from the restaurant where I worked. I couldn’t forget that taste and searched for it in Japan.
It’s nowhere.
That’s when I decided, “I have no choice but to make it.”
Due to the coronavirus, moving to the main store will change the world. Due to the influence of the coronavirus, the store I worked at did not reopen, I received a notification via email from the Belgian owner.
“Can I work at the main store in the downtown area?”
I felt nothing but anxiety.
In a situation where all the staff do not know,
The husband, who can’t even speak English properly,
Can you do it?
I was just worried, but such a store is Japanese.
There are very few opportunities to work.
Lots of local Canadians and Canadian university students.
One person in such a shop.
I just want to be able to speak English,
There was no option to refuse.
The feeling of loneliness in a new world.
A new Belgian waffle shop has just started.
Even though I can’t speak English properly, I am sometimes talked to. Although it was a small start, his innate ability to work hard, Coupled with the courage to go all in without saying no,
Gradually, I was able to open up to them and they were recognized as friends.
Photos taken while studying abroad
I want to recreate my favorite Belgian waffles here.
And this is where “COLORFLE” was born.
Words are created by combining WAFFLE and COLORFUL.
I hope to express the Japanese seasons while adding Japanese ingredients.
Even after I came back from my language study abroad, the waffles I was eating back then were…
Unable to forget it, I asked for a waffle, but it tasted completely different. Can’t eat anymore? Just as I was thinking that,
“Let’s try to recreate it.”
This may have been the beginning of it all.
Then I made waffles over and over again.
After trying various machines,
I was able to recreate the taste of those days.
When I eat my own waffles, memories of those days come flooding back. I worked while interacting with people my age from Quebec.
I received a bear for my birthday from Kiki, a French girl.
We all had a Mario party at home on our day off.
Halloween celebrated by a good friend of mine from the Netherlands I became really good friends with the American-Korean people and hung out with them a lot.
I gave my phone number to a cute female customer at a store, etc.
I have a lot of fun memories
There were many nights when I cried because I couldn’t understand English.
After gaining such experience, I improved my English TOEIC score to about 430, even though I was a complete beginner before studying abroad.
In just one year, I was able to get up to 905 points.
His English skills and creativity unique to English-speaking countries are reflected in the store’s layout.
Belgian waffles all priced at 220 yen
Handmade reproduction of foreign signs.
COLORFLE exterior that gives you a sense of the warmth of wood There are also cute miscellaneous goods in the store.
Authentic waffle made with brioche dough
Brioche-based waffles are filled with butter.
It is similar to the process of making bread, using yeast and fermenting overnight.
Waffles to bake.
Before baking again,
The surface is sprinkled with Belgian pearl sugar.
They sell about 9 types of Belgian waffles that change every day.
In winter, they offer waffles made mainly of chocolate.
The store’s concept is to “embody what I felt overseas through my senses.” Originally, I was fascinated by the waffles I ate when I was working for myself. He also says that he still misses the members he worked with at the time. We talked about what we wanted to do, which was to open a store like the one back then.
This is normal. This is what everyone is doing. Not that kind of thinking Build the store you want to build. I really feel the strength of that feeling.
The final goal is to aim for the store I used when I worked overseas. From TAKE OUT to EAT IN (restaurant-style dining available), He says he is also considering opening a second store.
Images that come from feelings
As for the particular taste, there are memories that only the host knows. There must be something you’re looking for.
I would like you to try it at least once.
-About store details-
Address: 2-22-17 Nakahara, Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture Business days: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
Business hours: 9:30 – 15:00
*Brussels waffles are available until 14:00
Parking: 1 space next to the store, 2 temporary parking spaces (free) Website: https://www.colorfle-waffles.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/color_fle_waffles/
Reference site: https://www.zakkaten-moi.com/waffle-shop-in-hiratsuka-colorfle/