TOP TIPS: The art of authentic Japanese cuisine

Japanese cuisine is riding a wave of popularity in the Middle East at the moment, with a host of fantastic new restaurants cropping up around the region over the past couple of years.

So what's the secret to running a truly authentic Japanese eatery?

Caterer Middle East asks the experts...

 

Zuma Dubai executive chef Colin Clague:

“For me there is no secret: my philosophy is that I use whatever type of food I’m cooking, get the best quality ingredients I can get and keep it simple.

“In Japanese food, which is over reliant on simplicity, it’s all about the ingredient so the farmer, fisherman, butcher etc can take 50% of the credit for the food at Zuma.

“All the sauces and marinades are there to enhance what is the basic ingredient; when I eat beef I want to taste the beef, anything else is just a bonus.”

Mirai executive chef Scott Hallsworth:

“I think it is a matter of continually learning, practicing and respecting the basics.

“I like to get creative with Japanese technique and ingredients but the important thing to remember is not to stray too far from the origin.”

Maki Restaurants founder and managing partner Mohamad Zeitoun:

“Preserve the traditional qualities and values, but be smart and genuine in developing the Japanese cuisine into a new dimension, if that is your aim — a contemporary fusion Japanese cuisine that is admired and loved by both Japanese and non-Japanese people alike!”

Okku Restaurant and Lounge co-founder Markus Thesleff:

“Quality ingredients, your chefs’ expertise combined with creativity.

“Unlike any other cuisine, the Japanese cuisine is like a way of life or almost even a religion, as there’s a whole culture built around the preparation and serving Japanese food.”

Gulf Hotel and Convention Center Bahrain assistant F&B manager Nikolai Calleja:

“Japanese cuisine is an art and can only be authentic when you put all the right components together.

“A combination of master chefs, specific products flown directly [from Japan], traditional décor and well trained servers are the secrets that makes Sato the leading restaurant in the cuisine from the ‘Land of the Rising Sun’.”