A food coordinator active in Tokyo opened a diner in his hometown of Muroran, Hokkaido. We interviewed her about her signature menu, which attracts many repeat customers, and her efforts that are filled with love for her hometown.

The owner has a unique background! The owner has a unique background!

Marie Tamura, the owner of Tamura Shokudo and in charge of serving dishes, is a native of Shirotoridai. After graduating from high school, she entered a clothing-related school to become a stylist, but a turning point came while she was studying abroad in England.

It was while studying abroad in the U.K. that she encountered "finger food," which she could pick up and eat with one hand at a cafe she frequented at the time. The name "pintxos" has now become widespread and is generally known, but it was still in its infancy in Japan.

Attracted by their cuteness and the profound charm of the way they were presented, Ms. Tamura worked as a company employee after returning to Japan, while expanding her knowledge as a food coordinator and starting her own catering business.

While providing finger foods at events and parties without a store, she received an offer from a company that saw her work and asked her if she would like to open a real store. It was around this time that his activities as a food coordinator began in earnest, and to date he has been involved in the launch of four stores.

In 2020, he opened the "Quail Cafe" themed on quail eggs, a specialty of his hometown, Muroran City. Even though the new coronavirus was the talk of the town at the time, people lined up to get in, and many of the products, including quail pudding, were sold out.

The Quail Cafe was intended to indirectly bridge the gap between Tokyo and Muroran, but gradually we began to wonder if there wasn't something we could do to help Muroran more directly. I began to wonder if there was anything I could do to help Muroran more directly.

What can we do for Muroran? Mr. Tamura thought about his hometown, Shirotoridai. There are very few restaurants and eateries in Shirotoridai. I decided to make a U-turn because I thought that if I could make the most of my experience and create a 'place for everyone to eat,' the town would become more enjoyable."