Embassy of Japan in Canada

 An Evening of Traditional Japanese Cuisine

On October 22, Ambassador and Mrs. Monji hosted a dinner highlighting traditional Japanese Cuisine. The dinner was a joint collaboration by the Ambassador’s chef, Mr. Ichiro Fujii and Japanese Government cultural envoy, Mr. Naoyuki Yanagihara, who was visiting Ottawa from October 13 to 25.

For the evening, owners of well-known Ottawa restaurants, celebrity chefs, a world-class sommelier and food writers were invited to discover Washoku cuisine. Following a lecture by Mr. Yanagihara on traditional Japanese cuisine, guests were treated to a six-course authentic Japanese dinner, accompanied by seven different types of sake carefully selected for each course by Ambassador Monji who has the title of Sake Samurai.

Guests commented that on top of the wonderful taste, the presentation of the food excited the senses, while the various sake perfectly complemented the different dishes. In addition, Mr. Yanagihara’s lecture helped them to understand the beauty of Washoku cuisine which was added to UNESCO’s intangible culture heritage list. Ambassador and Mrs. Monji’s hospitality in hosting the dinner was greatly appreciated by all the guests.

On the following day, October 23, another dinner was hosted for those who helped organize Mr. Yanagihara’s lecture at La Cité, as well as well-known Ottawa chefs. Mr. Yanagihara also joined this dinner as a guest.

Ambassador Monji would like to continue organizing this kind of event to further promote “The Heart of Japanese Cuisine” in Canada.

The two chefs showing off their skills

Ambassador Monji welcoming guests

Ambassador and Mrs. Monji, Mr. Yanagihara and Chef Fujii

Ms. Margaret Dickenson expressing her gratitude on behalf of all the guests

Starter
・Vinegared surf clam and cucumber in mandarin cup
・Grilled duck breast
・Pumpkin soup with dashi
・Soused chrysanthemum and mushroom
・Dried mullet roe and Japanese radish
・Smoked salmon rolled in kelp
・Escabeche of smelt wrapped in lotus rhizome

Sake

Soup
・Soup served in a teapot with matsutake mushroom, lobster, chicken, ginkgo nut, rape shoots, broccoli

Sake
・Daishinshu, Karakuchi, Tokubetsu-Junmai　

Sushi
・Black bream, Salmon, Burned mackerel
・Yuba (soy milk skin) roll with tuna and okura

Sake

Fish
・Grilled miso-marinated butter fish
・Maitake mushroom of Quebec
・Syrupped chestnut
・Ginkgo nut
・Dashi-cooked beetroot

Sake

Meat
・Angus fillet steak
・Fallen leaves of autumn vegetables
・Japanese radish, yam, giant oyster mushroom and paprika
・Watercress and wasabi sauce

Sake
・Fukuchitose En （Warmed：40℃), Yamahaijikomi, Junmai

Dessert
・Green tea Mont Blanc cake with two kinds of sweet potatoes

Sake

Japanese sake selected by Ambassador Monji for each course of the dinner

Mr. Yanagihara answering questions from the guests after dinner

With guests on October 22nd

With guests on October 23rd

Related links：

Washoku for all　柳原尚之 (Facebook)　

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