The cafe "RAIKA," which opened late last year on the 5th floor Living Floor of the Isetan Shinjuku Main Building, will have its grand opening on March 4th with a new menu. The cafe, which incorporates the character "rai" (賚), meaning "nature" or "blessing," into its name, offers a wide variety of meals and desserts made with plenty of seasonal fruit, and plans to further expand its selection in preparation for its grand opening. One of the most noteworthy new dishes introduced in February is the "Sea Bream Fritters with Avocado Tartare, Hassaku and Kumquat Salad" (fried sea bream served with avocado tartare, with fruit soup and coffee or tea, 1,950 yen). The refreshing color of the hassaku and kumquats scattered throughout makes this a visually appealing dish. Another popular dish is the "Sautéed Scallops, Asparagus and Hyuga Natsu Parjamin Risotto" (fruit soup with coffee or tea, 2,100 yen), which uses Hyuga Natsu fruit, allowing you to enjoy the delicious white parts around the fruit. Both dishes are only available during lunch time (10:30 am to 2:30 pm).

A highlight from the menu, which can be ordered at any time until last orders at 7:30 pm, is the "Cold Amaou and Fruit Tomato Pasta" (fruit soup with coffee or tea, 1,781 yen), which uses a generous amount of Amaou strawberries from Fukuoka Prefecture and combines them with garlic basil-flavored fruit tomatoes. The idea of using strawberries in pasta is surprising at first, but as the staff says, "Our theme is to highlight a new side of fruit. We hope you enjoy the interesting combination," and you'll discover that fruit and noodles go surprisingly well together, which is sure to brighten your spirits. For dessert lovers, we recommend the "Freshly Marinated Kumquat and Gorgonzola Cheesecake" (¥1,200 a la carte, ¥1,500 with coffee or tea). This set of freshly marinated kumquats and exquisite gorgonzola cheesecake with sucre salé is an authentic, adult-oriented flavor. It pairs well with alcoholic beverages. There's also a wide selection of alcoholic beverages on the menu. Ibaraki craft beer "Hitachino Beer" (¥800) offers a unique lineup of beers, including "White Ale" made with nuts and orange peel, "Daidai Ale" made with Ibaraki's unique "Fukurai Mikan" mandarin oranges, and "Weizen," a cloudy beer with yeast. The soft drinks are also carefully selected, including the refreshing "Yuzu Honey Drink" (¥800), made by mixing Oita-produced yuzu honey with mineral water or sparkling water. A popular classic dessert is the "Amaou and Fondant Chocolat" (¥1,200 apiece, ¥1,350 with coffee or tea), which offers three different textures of Amaou strawberries, from cooked to uncooked. The rich, sticky fondant chocolat is a favorite among both men and women. Not only are the menu items carefully selected, but the cutlery and interior design are also meticulously crafted. All items are made in Japan, beautifully coordinated with colors and textures that evoke the four seasons. "We want to change the menu with the seasons, for example, by offering shaved ice in the summer," says a staff member. Also, "Raikan," located on the first basement floor of the Isetan Shinjuku Main Building, sells Japanese sweets. "We want customers to enjoy Western flavors at the cafe and Japanese flavors in the basement," says the staff member. Stopping by the basement after lunch or tea time to pick up some desserts is a fun idea.