"When I'm traveling and I come across a bakery, I can't help but follow it with my eyes."

If you're a bread lover, you should definitely stop by! We'd like to introduce you to "Prét-a-Porter," a bakery beloved by Naha locals.

The aroma of butter fills the air in the red French-style shop.

A 13-minute walk from Makishi Station on the Okinawa Urban Monorail, you will come across a red Western-style store called "Prêt-a-Porter," which stands out in the city.

The signs in front of the store were written in neither Japanese nor English, but in French. People waiting outside the store were taking pictures with their smartphones of this sudden appearance of "France" in the streets of Naha.

The moment you enter the store, the aroma of freshly baked bread fills the air.

There were a variety of what are called "hard" breads, such as baguettes and pagne.

The ready-to-wear storefront space is about one tatami mat in size, so customers enter the store one by one to choose their bread. Although there is a short wait before you can make your purchase, being able to talk to the store attendant while purchasing bread is one of the store's attractions.

"Customers have different preferences for what they pair with bread and how they eat it, such as 'I want bread that goes well with red wine' or 'I want bread to go with ham and cheese.' That's why at our shop we talk to customers and suggest bread that suits their lifestyle."

That's what the owner, Takakura Goji, said.

<Store owner Goji Takakura>

On that day, I was staying at a nearby hotel for an interview. When I told Takakura about it,

"We have half-sized baguettes and small croissants that are easy to eat even by one person. We also recommend our freshly baked apple pies!" we were told.

<Delicious freshly baked bread that will stimulate your senses! Advance reservations are also possible>

I bought the recommended apple pie and a small croissant. Since the weather was nice, I took a walk and sat on a bench in a nearby park.

<A croissant that fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. With its crispy crust and buttery aroma, I finished it in an instant.>

<An apple pie with juicy, sparkling apples soaked in syrup.The balance of sweetness and sourness was perfect, and this was also so delicious that I finished it in no time!>

Customize your bread to suit your tastes and lifestyle

After training at a famous bakery in Tokyo and Resort Hotel in Okinawa, Takakura opened his ready-to-wear shop in April 2021. He was actually born and raised in Tokushima Prefecture. Why did he decide to open a bakery in Okinawa?

"Maybe because I was born and raised in the mountains, I've always had a strong longing for the sea. At first, I thought about opening a restaurant overseas. But when I came to Okinawa for the first time, I was so moved by the clarity of the sea and the richness of the food that I thought, 'If I'm going to open a restaurant, this is it!'"

The name of the shop, "Prêt-a-porter," means "high-quality ready-made clothing" in French. It is not a place for high-class people, but rather for people who know their own tastes and enjoy food that matches those tastes. The shop was named after the owner, who wanted to provide "bread for adults."

"I thought that not only in Okinawa, but in other regions in general, there were very few places that sold simple breads like baguettes and campagne.

Delicious meat and wine are now available everywhere, but the bread to go with them is nowhere to be found. Bread can be arranged to suit one's lifestyle and food preferences. Something that is common in the West is still difficult to do in Japan, especially in rural areas. In order to help these "baguette refugees," Pret-a-porter sells mainly hard meal breads."

If you're not sure which bread to choose, ask the store staff for advice!

However, there are probably many people who think, "When it comes to hard bread, I don't know what to choose..." We asked Takakura-san about his signature menu item when he can't decide.

"I definitely recommend the baguette. We make it simply so that it can go with anything. That's why you can't cheat. It's a dish that is made with great care in the ingredients and the way it's made.

<It is possible to cut the baguettes in store to suit your needs>

However, everyone has different food preferences and lifestyles, so if you're unsure, please feel free to ask us."

BOULANGERIE Le Pret a Porter（プレタポルテ）
電話：070-8459-3227
住所：〒900-0022 沖縄県那覇市樋川2-2-5ナナマンビル103
アクセス：牧志駅より徒歩13分
SNS：https://www.instagram.com/le.pret.a.porter/
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