This article was written as of June 2021. Please contact the store for details.

Hello!

It’s the second half of June. The number of cloudy and rainy days has increased, how are you all doing?(*’▽’)

I want to be careful not to lose my physical strength before the full-fledged summer begins.

This time, I visited “Okome no Megumi Hotaru” in Murayama City, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan!

“Hotaru”, a rice bakery in Murayama City, Yamagata Prefecture

“Okome no Megumi Hotaru” is a bakery in Murayama City that sells bread made from rice flour.

This shop is located along the prefectural road in the Kawashima district of Murayama City, and is marked by a cute signboard.

The store is filled with lovely freshly baked bread… ♪

It looks like this♪

There are many autographs of famous people on display. It must be a popular store.

There is also table space, so you can buy bread and eat it inside!

What are the advantages of rice-flour bread?

What’s the difference between bread made with rice flour and bread made with wheat flour?” You may be wondering, “What’s the difference between bread made with rice flour and bread made with wheat flour?

Have you ever heard of the term “gluten-free”?

Gluten-free refers to a diet in which foods containing gluten are not consumed.

Breads, cakes, pizza, pasta, sweets, and other foods made primarily from flour contain gluten (a protein found in wheat flour).

Originally, this diet was designed for people allergic to wheat or gluten intolerant.

Bread made from rice does not contain gluten, which is why it has been gaining attention in recent years, especially among those who are sensitive to diet and allergy measures.

In addition to being safe for people with allergies, bread made from rice flour is said to be easier on the stomach because of its high moisture content.

The texture is also sticky, which increases the number of times you chew, making it easier to feel full!

It also contains lots of good nutrition such as carbohydrates, protein, fat, and vitamins, so it will be a strong ally during your diet.

Hotaru’s bread is basically made with less than 20% gluten, but they can also prepare gluten-free bread by making a reservation in advance!

Maritozzo made from rice dough! MaiRitozzo♪

The latest trendy sweet is Maritozzo, but Hotaru has something called “Mai Ritozzo”.

It is not “Kome Ritozzo.” It’s called “Mai Ritozzo.”

It is a sweet only available on Saturdays and Sundays, and they also have a pistachio flavor.

I have yet to try MaiRitozzo…so I am even more looking forward to it!

My first impression of the bread is that the dough is very soft and sticky, so it’s very satisfying.

When you eat bread made with wheat, you can sometimes taste a unique sourness or flavor, but I thought the taste and flavor of the rice-flour bread was slightly sweet without any of that.

I also like the cream that is not too heavy.

And here is the much talked about pistachio MaiRitozzo!

It’s packed with finely crushed pistachios, and the amount is so large you’ll wonder if you’ve ever eaten that much pistachios at one time.

Also, the cream is not too sweet, which is probably to avoid spoiling the sweetness of the bread, but it is very tasty.

It is also a good idea to buy two and compare them!

The MaiRitozzo is only available on Saturdays and Sundays, and quantities are limited, so the First come first served!

Both are priced at 300 yen each.

We hear the story from with Mr. Kimura of Hotaru!

I was wondering what kind of person makes such cute and delicious bread, so I approached him and asked him for an interview.

The owner, Mr. Kimura, originally worked at a financial institution, but was fascinated by the fun of baking bread, which he started as a hobby, and after training at a bakery in Yamagata City for three years, he opened his store in March 1991.

He was inspired to make rice-flour bread not only because of his original interest in the subject, but also because of this episode.

A few years ago, when his child and some of her friends were playing at home, he served out sweets, but one child with allergies couldn’t eat the same snacks. This child had to eat the sweets she had brought with her.

Seeing this made him think, “Is there any way we can all eat the same thing and have a good time together?” and this was what led him to switch to making bread using rice.

Our bread doesn’t contain any additives, so it doesn’t last long, but that just shows how fresh it is.

An increasing number of customers have looked up gluten-free bread on the internet and come all the way to the store to buy Hotaru’s bread.

In addition to people who come to visit their neighbors, we also have many customers who have allergies and can’t eat bread who are happy to say, “I can eat Hotaru’s bread!” and it makes us really happy!

“Kimura-san told us.

It’s bread that is full of consideration, as it is sympathetic to the feelings of people who “want to eat it but can’t.”

The warmth conveyed by Mr. Kimura and his family is just like the cute illustration on the store’s sign.

It was really impressive to see Mr. Kimura and his family having a pleasant conversation with customers who come to buy bread.

By the way, these are the breads we purchased at Hotaru for lunch that day.

All of them were delicious!

This bakery uses rice flour, which is rare in this area.

We hope you will try some of Hotaru’s bread.

Thank you for reading to the end.(*ˊᵕˋ*)

☆Click here for the “Okome no Megumi Hotaru” website☆