The Kaminoura area is a district full of atmosphere, even within Kumamoto City. Here, you will find a new spot that opened just in 2022, where you can enjoy sweets and drinks late into the night. Visiting the shop, enticed by its delicious aromas, you find a calm interior unified with simple decor. The sweets are displayed like jewels. We interviewed “Neu,” a place that feels somewhat “unlike typical Kumamoto,” yet is filled with a deep “love for Kumamoto.”
“Neu” means “new” in German.
“Bringing something new to daily life.” Connecting through ingredients— “People” and “sentiments.”
After a night spent savoring “Delicious Kumamoto,” if you find yourself feeling that something is still missing, Neu is the place you should definitely drop by. It operates as a cafe during the day and a bar at night. The shop’s calm atmosphere is highly recommended for those times when you haven’t quite had enough to drink or talk about. You can enjoy an uplifting time with sweets displayed like jewels and a selection of fine alcohol.
The first items we recommend are the two types of parfaits. The “Mikan Parfait,” limited to bar hours, uses mandarins from Amakusa and is a dessert you can enjoy through many layers, including jelly, mousse, and sorbet. Another distinctive offering at Neu is the “Seasonal Vegetable Parfait.” As the owner, Ms. Sayaka Okamura, says, “The sweetness of Kumamoto’s vegetables is unique and truly delicious,” these parfaits, made with Kumamoto-grown sweet potatoes or turnips, are low in sweetness—healthy yet lavish treats that allow you to enjoy the natural flavor of the vegetables. It is said that even solo male customers come to enjoy them night after night.
“When I think about shop events or parfaits, I always start with Kumamoto ingredients as the foundation. For January, I’m planning a sweet potato fair; Kumamoto’s sweet potatoes are aged by January and are truly delicious,” says Ms. Okamura. Such knowledge of Kumamoto’s ingredients leads to her meticulous commitment.
The drinks are also carefully sourced from Kumamoto. The various sours are incredibly fragrant, allowing you to fully taste the sweetness of the vegetables and fruits nurtured by Kumamoto’s soil. Ms. Okamura’s recommendation, the “Espresso Martini,” is a mellow and rich creation made by mixing Kumamoto rice shochu with an original coffee blend—an excellence that brings an involuntary sigh of contentment. It pairs perfectly with Neu’s confections, so finding your favorite combination is the best way to enjoy it.
When asked why she is so committed to Kumamoto, the owner, Ms. Okamura, answered with a smile: “Because ‘connecting’ was fun.” After moving to Tokyo and experiencing various jobs, she was surprised to find that the profession of “PR” existed. “There are many great things in my hometown, but because there was no PR work to communicate them, they weren’t reaching anyone at all. I started thinking that this might suit my nature, as I have always loved ‘connecting’ things.”
True to those words, Neu’s theme is “Living with Something New.” By using locally grown ingredients, sourcing dishes from neighboring shops, and collaborating with different industries, visiting Neu allows you to “connect” with the local area naturally. Why not visit Neu in search of discovery, encounters, and above all, delicious sweets and drinks?
Four popular varieties of sweets. Lemon cake, pound cake, canelés, and financiers. The sweets arranged in the glass case are also available for takeout. They are just like jewels.
Even after enjoying a meal, you can easily polish it right off! A blissful time for sweets.
Canelé and whipped coffee
While the elegant canelés are delicious on their own, enjoying them with whipped coffee made from the shop’s signature beans creates a moist and light, airy flavor. It is guaranteed to boost your level of happiness.
Sour
Exquisite “Sours” Crafted with Kumamoto Ingredients
From the left: a lemon sour featuring green lemons from Amakusa. A tomato sour made by infusing sun-dried tomatoes from Kumamoto and blending them with Kumamoto-produced shochu. A mikan sour made with Amakusa mandarin orange juice and Kumamoto shochu.
Winter vegetable parfait
Winter-Limited Winter Vegetable Parfait
A parfait committed to seasonality, with contents that change every season. The flavors of the vegetables are distinctly present, with no harsh bitterness. Thanks to the natural sweetness of the vegetables, the taste is not cloying, allowing you to finish it in no time.
Parfait Composition:
Carrot mousse
Turnip mousse
Burdock ice cream (infused with caramelized burdock root)
Sweet potato streusel (crushed butter cookies)
Spinach mousse
Daigaku-imo (candied sweet potatoes)
Highly Recommended!
Financiers
Served freshly baked, these treats are incredibly fragrant and delightfully crispy. This standout dessert was created under the guidance of pastry chef Shoko Hirase from a Michelin one-star restaurant. It is built upon Ms. Hirase’s core philosophy: “Delivering the moving experience of freshly made creations.”
