Peace of Mind Dining: An Allergy-Friendly Cafe Experience in Ishiyama

Our Ishiyama Cafe's Commitment to a Worry-Free Experience for Guests with Allergies

In the scenic area surrounding Ishiyama Station in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, there are numerous eateries that captivate visitors. From renowned Ishiyama yakitori restaurants that carefully grill Omi chicken over Binchotan charcoal to Ishiyama izakayas with tatami rooms utilizing seasonal ingredients and open-air Ishiyama terrace izakayas, the dining options are incredibly diverse. Our cafe, located in this vibrant Ishiyama area, also strives to provide a special time for our customers.

However, one factor that causes considerable anxiety for many when trying to fully enjoy delicious food and pleasant moments is food allergies. Whether it's you, a family member, or a friend who has allergies, concerns like Is this restaurant safe? or Can we eat here without worry? often become significant hurdles when choosing a place to dine.

So that everyone can gather around the table with a smile. With this wish in our hearts, our cafe implements meticulous measures and creative efforts daily so that customers with food allergies can enjoy their meals without any worries. We strive to be a place of reassurance, chosen by everyone for gatherings and private parties in Ishiyama.

• We clearly outline our specific measures so customers with food allergies can choose our cafe with confidence.
• While touching upon the richness of the local food scene, including Ishiyama Station yakitori and Otsu yakitori restaurants, we highlight the unique features of our cafe.
• We emphasize the importance of understanding our customers' anxieties and providing them with peace of mind.

The Current State of Food Allergy Accommodation and Customer Concerns

In recent years, the number of people with food allergies has been on the rise, and the types of allergies are diverse. According to a survey by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, about 10% of infants and 5-8% of school-age children in Japan have some form of food allergy. It is also not uncommon for adults to develop allergies later in life. In this context, we believe that accommodating allergies when dining out is no longer a special service but a fundamental responsibility of any food and beverage establishment.

Customers face a wide range of anxieties. We often hear concerns such as, What should I do if there's no information on the menu?, I'm worried my concerns won't be properly communicated to the staff, and What if I accidentally eat something I'm allergic to? Accommodating a wide range of allergens, not just the 7 specified major allergens (egg, milk, wheat, buckwheat, peanut, shrimp, crab) but also the 21 recommended items, is a critical issue for our customers.

Eliminating the What If for Our Customers

The Ishiyama area is home to many specialty restaurants, such as Keihan Ishiyama Yakitori and Awazu-cho Yakitori, each offering carefully selected ingredients. Similarly, to provide safe and delicious food to our customers, we have established a thorough management system, from ingredient selection to cooking methods. We believe it is our mission to create an environment where customers can savor their meals to the fullest, without worrying, What if an allergen might have gotten mixed in?

For each customer's delicious and safe experience, we sincerely address various questions and concerns and have implemented concrete measures to resolve them. The following five pillars of our cafe are a testament to these specific efforts.

• We cite statistical data (approx. 10%, approx. 5-8%) on the current state of food allergies to show the prevalence of the issue.
• We list the specific anxieties customers feel when dining out (lack of information, communication concerns, fear of accidental ingestion).
• While mentioning the diversity of restaurants in the Ishiyama area, we emphasize the importance of allergy accommodation as an introduction to our cafe's initiatives.

The 5 Pillars of Our Food Allergy Management Plan

At our cafe, we take a multifaceted approach to allergy management to ensure customers can enjoy their time in Ishiyama with peace of mind. Just as an Ishiyama yakitori restaurant with private rooms provides the best experience in a private space, we are committed to providing meticulous, personalized care for each customer.

1. Providing and Sharing Detailed Allergy Information

For all menu items we offer, we have a detailed list of allergy information covering not only the 7 major allergens but all 28 specified items, including the 21 recommended ones. Upon request, in addition to a verbal explanation, we provide this list so customers can check the information for themselves.

• The allergy information on our menu is regularly updated based on information from our ingredient suppliers.
• We hold mandatory weekly meetings among staff to share the latest allergy information and prevent any communication gaps.

2. Thorough Kitchen Management and Use of Dedicated Cooking Utensils

One of the most critical challenges in allergy management is preventing cross-contamination. To address this issue, we have established the following strict rules:

• When preparing allergy-friendly meals, we use a dedicated space separate from other ingredients and use dedicated cooking utensils (cutting boards, knives, bowls, etc.) for over 90% of the process.
• Before cooking, all staff members thoroughly wash and sanitize their hands and wear disposable gloves as needed.
• For fried foods, if a dedicated fryer is not available, we take meticulous care, such as completely changing the oil.

3. Comprehensive Staff Training and Awareness

No matter how detailed the information or advanced the equipment, it is meaningless if the people using them lack awareness. At our cafe, all staff members undergo an average of over 20 hours of specialized food allergy training annually. This training covers the basics of allergies, symptoms, emergency responses, as well as methods for consulting with customers and the importance of information sharing.

• New staff members are required to complete initial allergy management training before being assigned to their posts.
• We conduct regular spot quizzes to maintain and improve the knowledge and awareness level of each staff member.

4. Custom Menu Development and Consultation with Advance Reservation

To ensure an even safer dining experience, we recommend that customers with severe or multiple allergies make a reservation and consult with us by phone in advance. When you book, we will ask for detailed information about your allergies, and our chef can even develop a custom menu just for you. This is a bespoke service tailored to each customer, much like an Ishiyama yakitori restaurant specializing in Omi chicken selects cuts based on a customer's preference.

• During reservation, we conduct a detailed consultation regarding specific allergens, severity of symptoms, and possible substitute ingredients.
• While we do our best to accommodate walk-in guests, contacting us in advance allows for a smoother and more reliable service.

5. Regular Information Updates and Customer Feedback Integration

Information about allergies is constantly updated, and customer needs are always changing. At our cafe, we always review our allergy information when introducing new ingredients or changing the menu to keep it up-to-date. We also ask visiting customers to complete a survey on our allergy accommodation, and 95% of respondents have rated their experience as able to dine with peace of mind. We use this valuable feedback to improve our future services.

• Survey results and feedback are always reviewed at our monthly meeting to devise improvement measures.
• We invite an allergy management expert for an annual external audit to verify our safety standards from a third-party perspective.

Our Procedure for a Worry-Free Experience from Arrival to Departure

We have established a specific procedure to ensure our customers can have a consistently worry-free experience from the moment they arrive until they leave. This is to ensure that individual customer needs are met, even during large gatherings like parties and private events in Ishiyama.

1. Reservation & Consultation Step
   • Please contact us with your desired date and time, along with your allergy details, via phone or our website's contact form.
   • A dedicated staff member will consult with you in detail about the specific allergens, severity of symptoms, and your food preferences.
   • Based on this consultation, our chef will propose a menu tailored to your needs as much as possible. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions or share any concerns at this stage.
2. Confirmation and Care Upon Arrival
   • When you arrive, before seating you, our staff will perform a final check on your allergy information and the day's menu.
   • Allergy-friendly menu items will be served with a special marker to distinguish them from other dishes.
   • We also provide visual cues, such as placing a card at your table indicating that your meal has been prepared with allergy considerations.
3. Final Check When Serving Your Meal
   • Just before your meal is served, both the kitchen and serving staff will double-check to confirm it is the allergy-friendly dish.
   • When we present the dish, we will verbally reconfirm which ingredients are allergen-free.
4. Post-Meal Feedback
   • After your meal, we kindly ask for your cooperation in completing a survey about our allergy accommodation.
   • Should you have any concerns or suggestions for improvement, we will take them seriously and use them to enhance our future services.

Through this entire process, we strive to resolve each of our customers' anxieties, allowing them to truly relax and enjoy their cafe experience in Ishiyama.

Delivering Delicious and Peace of Mind to All Our Customers

As a cafe near Ishiyama Station, just as the local Ishiyama yakitori restaurants serving Omi chicken skewers, the Otsu yakitori spots famous for Hakata-style mizutaki, or the lively Ishiyama yakitori restaurants with private rooms are passionate about providing the best flavors and atmosphere, we prioritize providing both delicious and peace of mind without compromise to our customers with food allergies.

Food allergies are based on individual constitutions, and managing them requires meticulous care and deep understanding. Through our allergy accommodation efforts, we hope to bring more smiles to our customers' faces and enrich their memories of Ishiyama. Whether it's a special time with family and friends, a party or private event in Ishiyama, or a quiet moment at our cafe, our entire staff is dedicated to ensuring that every customer feels genuinely glad they came.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any concerns. We sincerely look forward to welcoming you.