RIDEALIVE fever is growing by the day. We have already exceeded last year's number of entries, and it looks like we will reach our capacity by this weekend.
Just like last year, delicious meals will be provided at the Mikawa Kogen Camp Village, where we finish, and at CAFE OCEAN. We are also planning an activity where everyone will prepare their own breakfast.
Today, I want to talk about the food for RIDEALIVE 2015.
After playing hard on your bikes all day, you will enjoy the best food and drinks at the finish line. A delicious meal is always essential after working hard at play. Just like last year, this year's food will be just as hearty and delicious, adding color to your summer memories.
First, dinner on the first day at Mikawa Kogen Camp Village. Participants should arrive at the campsite by 5:00 PM. We won't be holding formal entry registration this time, so please check the campsite map that will be sent to you later, clutch your meal tickets, and gather in the open space for a toast at 6:00 PM.
This year, dinner at the campsite will be a luxurious feast provided by the same three vendors as last year: Gamagori-based curry shop (SUNDAY SPICE), Gamagori coffee shop (hiraya), and creative izakaya (Engiya) from Kani City, Gifu Prefecture.
A curry shop located in Gamagori City, Aichi Prefecture. The shop is housed in a renovated one-story building within the Garage Coffee Company premises. They started out as a mobile vendor, visiting various events mainly in the Tokai region. Their yellow car was their trademark, and they captured the hearts of many curry fans. After five years as a mobile vendor, they opened their current shop in March 2014.
It’s a very warm and inviting shop, where many people gather because of the owner's great personality. I have visited many times, and seeing them take on so many interesting challenges always gives me energy.
They will be putting their hearts into every single plate of curry for this RIDEALIVE as well. It’s truly delicious, so for those of you who haven’t tried it yet, look forward to it!
A coffee shop located on the same grounds as Sunday Spice. They use carefully selected, home-roasted beans and brew each cup with great care. The owner, Oda-kun, is a very passionate person and one of those valuable friends who always gives me good inspiration whenever we meet. Just like last year, when I asked him to join us, he immediately replied, "Of course I'll do it!" On the night of the first day, they will provide not only coffee but also various alcoholic beverages. And this year, they will also be serving coffee during breakfast on the second day. Delicious coffee with the breakfast we make ourselves—I’m already looking forward to that morning.
In addition to the two shops that joined us last year, we are joined for the first time this year by Hayashi-san from Engiya, based in Kani City, Gifu Prefecture. This is an izakaya that has been operating in Kani for over 10 years. The owner, Hayashi-san, is a Circles customer and also a cyclist. I have been inviting him to join us for RIDEALIVE for some time now. Engiya will be providing appetizers to go with your drinks. I can't say too much yet because it’s a surprise for the day, but they will be focusing on gibier (game meat) dishes this time. Preparations are already well underway, and we are really looking forward to it.
Hayashi-san from Engiya is on the right. He was very enthusiastic about doing a fire dance on the day, so that should be fun. Haha. We will do our best to stop him.
CAFE OCEAN is our finish line on the second day. Located along the coast, it offers a panoramic view of Mikawa Bay. It is a wonderful place where everything, from the atmosphere, ingredients, and food to the location itself, is handled with meticulous care. The site also includes a surf shop, a farm, and a pizza place, creating a truly lovely space.
"By incorporating the enjoyment of the sea and mountains into our daily lives, we aim to minimize our impact on the natural environment as a cafe. Through food, we aim for a future where children can live safely with nature. In modern times, many people are caught up in the busy day-to-day, often forgetting the fresh feelings and joy they experienced as children. We aim to plant seeds of ideas that make daily life more enjoyable, grow them alongside our vegetables, and serve them to you in the form of food that is gentle on both the mind and body."
It is the perfect place to wrap up two days of summer memories. Let’s hope to see a beautiful sunset spreading across the sea.
We are serving up the RIDEALIVE meals with almost the same lineup as last year, but because it is our second year, each shop is taking on new challenges. I hope the participants themselves will fully enjoy the "food" experience.
In the next food-related blog post, I will write about breakfast on the second day.
In a sense, this might be the key point of this RIDEALIVE, so don't miss it!