Fall SDGs Special: Three Sustainable Food Topics to Watch.

Hello, I’m Nishimura, an official writer for SUNNY DAYS!

This season includes September’s “GLOBAL GOALS DAY,” the day the UN General Assembly adopted the “SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals)” in 2015, so there is plenty of information about the SDGs.

In this article, we will introduce the restaurant and food category from among the initiatives for which SUNNY SIDE UP provides PR support. Changing your food choices is an easy first step—ideal for anyone wondering, “Where should I start if I want to take action for the SDGs?” Why not use this as an opportunity to start doing something good for the planet?

Palace Hotel Tokyo × Food Loss Bank: The third sweets collaboration—rice-flour cakes for special occasions.

At “Palace Hotel Tokyo,” renowned for its sweets, a range of services is offered under the sustainability concept “Entertaining the Future.” Since 2021, the hotel has collaborated with “Food Loss Bank,” which aims to improve the environment by reducing food waste. Items previously sold—such as the vegetable-rich “Cake Salé,” made with vegetables that were originally slated to be discarded by farmers, and the “Echigohime Strawberry Parfait Glacée,” made with strawberries that would otherwise have been thrown away—have earned a strong reputation among dessert lovers.

Now newly released at the pastry shop “Sweets & Deli” is the “Rice Flour Cake.” A cake previously available by reservation has been renewed using rice flour made from “Rescue Rice,” produced by Food Loss Bank. “Rescue Rice” includes environmentally conscious rice, aged rice, and off-grade rice. Because it contains no wheat flour or eggs, it is also welcome news for those with dietary restrictions who have had to give up on shortcake until now.
*Although wheat and eggs are not used, products containing wheat and eggs are manufactured in the same kitchen.

Two varieties are available: “Rice Flour Strawberry Shortcake” and “Rice Flour Chocolate Shortcake,” both whole cakes so beautifully refined you cannot help but admire them. Serve one at a celebration, and it is sure to liven up the occasion.

Experience Kadoya Sesame Mills’ social-good initiatives at the sesame-specialty café “goma to.”

Since opening in 2022, the sesame-specialty café “goma to” has been attracting attention. It is operated by “Kadoya Sesame Mills,” founded in 1858. (I still cannot forget the rich aroma of sesame oil that drifted through the air the moment I arrived on Shodoshima!) From supporting small-scale sesame farmers around the world to finding secondary uses for “defatted sesame” after oil extraction, Kadoya Sesame Mills is taking action on the SDGs in ways that are uniquely its own.

At “goma to,” you can experience these initiatives firsthand. One item drawing particular attention right now is the “Pulled Pork Open Sandwich” served with the “goma to Afternoon Tea.” It uses pork from pigs raised on defatted sesame. In addition, the afternoon tea set—featuring 12 sesame-themed items such as “Black Sesame Mont Blanc” and “French Toast Loaded with Sesame”—is not to be missed.

Visit “Tokyu Resort Town Tateshina ,” home to a newly created “edible garden”—a garden you can eat.

If you would like to learn more proactively about the SDGs, visiting a spot where you can experience them with all five senses may be a good idea. At “Tokyu Resort Town Tateshina,” which has long pursued coexistence with nature, initiatives have included turning food waste from restaurants into compost. Among these efforts, the new spot “Edible Garden” is gaining attention as an experiential space to enjoy with all five senses.

The “Edible Garden” is divided into six areas, including a compost area for vegetable scraps and fallen leaves, a picnic area, and an area that stores rainwater for watering—offering plenty to see. It is designed to help visitors learn about the “cycle of food.” If you book lunch or dinner at the on-site restaurant “Glamorous Dining,” you can also harvest herbs and vegetables and enjoy them fresh.

“Tokyu Resort Town Tateshina” offers many ways to connect with its rich natural surroundings, including outdoor activities and glamping facilities. Beyond the “Edible Garden,” it is a place that encourages you to think about the planet from many different perspectives.

All of them were not only delicious, but also uplifting. Let us start a sustainable lifestyle—beginning with food.

At SUNNY SIDE UP, we also promote a wide range of other SDGs projects. Please look forward to future reports.