After seeing and smelling the lovely herbs at Nunobiki, how about tasting them? Mint Cafe, found on the second floor of the greenhouse building, has a great selection of snacks, lunches and herb teas and a great view of Kobe.
You'll probably smell the cafe before you see it. Walking in, the delicious, savory smell envelops you. The huge windows bathe the small cafe in light, and give a great view of Kobe. It's very peaceful and relaxing.
You pay for your order first, by buying tickets at a vending machine. It helpfully comes with pictures. Some options, which range from sandwiches to burgers, come with unlimited herb tea. I could clearly tell that seasonal variation is important here, from the board which states the latest flavors of soup.
According to the cafe, the most popular item is the herb burger. It did look good, but I didn't fancy it that day. I chose the quiche set and the rose parfait. My friend chose the soup. We handed our tickets to the staff, helped ourselves to some water, and enjoyed the view.
Strangely, my rose parfait was served first, but I digged in anyway so that it didn't melt. The rose flavor was delicate, yet somehow bolstered by the stronger berry sauce. The creamy soft serve was drizzled with rich honey, sweet and fragrant. The piece of herb cake provided a savory counterpoint and a bit of crunch from the nuts, with more crunch coming from the finely crushed cereal in a lower layer. Together it was a delight, a culinary journey.
The quiche was its equal in every way. Another cornucopia of flavors and textures that balanced perfectly. The salad, fresh and crisp with a tangy dressing; a few pieces of chewy octopus; the quiche, juicy and warm. Every mouthful was slightly different, but always delicious.
I tasted the soup, and even though I don't like mushrooms much, I could appreciate its creamy, savory depth of flavor.
I had many meals while I was in Kansai, but the one at Mint was the best of them all. It costs a little bit more than average, but then again it's most definitely not your average meal.
