This was how thinly we stretched the pizza dough.
Learn about Nature,
Environment,
History, and Culture
[Special Feature]
Introduction of Hands-on Experiences
Life at a residence with a veranda
The symbol of "Kaze no Engawa" is its treehouse built on a large tree in the backyard. At first, this was built with the idea of bringing together members of the family who wish to raise their children while "growing vegetables in the field." These days, its activities have expanded to include vegetable-planting, miso-making, and even cafe operations. We rented the traditional residence "Kaze no Engawa" on a holiday and had great fun there.
It offers exciting activities perfect for both children and adults!
Life at a residence with a "veranda" that connects the backyard with the house
Several large windmills can be seen along the coast when we were driving from Oda City to Gotsu city. After turning into the inner lane on National Route 9 while enjoying the peripheral view, we reached "Kaze no Engawa." After passing the side trails that lead into the fields, the traditional residence and storehouse came into view. Here, the owner Tosei Tada operates a lunch & cafe establishment during the day on weekdays. However, today is an off-day. Close members of our family gathered together and participated in a hands-on pizza-making activity.
The children had fun running around the backyard under the clear autumn sky while we got the pizza ingredients ready! They were mesmerized by the amazing scenery that resembles something out of a picture book, with the treehouse and a swing hanging from the trees. Even the adults got excited as the children in them emerged the moment they saw the "secret base" that everyone longs for in their hearts. The children climbed trees and walked on stilts, and explored the surroundings with immense curiosity in the same way people used to play in the past. Whether it is in the past or now, the "playful impulse" of children has never changed. The children tried many times to get on the stilts, with the larger ones pretending to climb trees and the smaller ones awkwardly taking a step at a time and making their way up the tree. As they watched their children learn how to play in nature with smiles on their faces, the mothers enjoyed tea on the sunny veranda. "Look at my boy, he seems to have grown up somehow!"
The children were oblivious to what was being prepared in the salt-crusted shell. Today's ingredient is the fish "Japanese sea bass."
Finally, the ingredients for making pizza are ready. We used powdered rye that had been cultivated in the fields and ground using a stone mill. "It's so cool and feels so good~!" The pizza dough was extremely sticky and yet it was so soft, making it really difficult to roll into balls! After molding it into the right shape, we applied a layer of tomato sauce and added our favorite ingredients for the pizza toppings! "Ham, cheese, and a bit of bell pepper although I don't like it that much!" Pizzas tailored to our individual preferences were finally ready. We then baked them in the pizza oven and waited for them to be done.
"It's delicious!" Although it was our first time making pizza by hand, it tasted amazing! "Let's try making it at home next time!" Everyone was pleased with the results. Thanks to the natural surroundings, we were able to enjoy playing in the shade of trees and make delicious food using ingredients harvested from the fields. This was a day when this thought really resonated with our mind and body.
We kneaded the pizza dough, stretched it out, and topped it off with our favorite ingredients.