Japan Eats!

Chef Michael Anthony, Executive Chef of Gramercy Tavern and Untitled of the Union Square Hospitality Group talks with Japan Eats host Akiko Katayama about living in Tokyo right after graduating from college. The move changed the course of his life and career. Tune in to hear how Michael’s experience in Japan stayed with him even as he moved to France and back to the U.S.    > #### “That was one of those moments that those decisions determined the course that my life would take.” [20:30] “In the kitchen you have to appeal to ppl on a personal level if you want to share ideas and work together as a team.” [24:30] –Chef Michael Anthony on Japan Eats See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Over his 25­‐year career, Chef Takashi Yagihashi has been lauded by consumers and critics alike for his exquisite ways of melding contemporary French, Asian, and American cuisine, and today he is in studio with Akiko Katayama for a brand new episode of Japan Eats. A native of Mito, Japan, the self-taught Yagihashi was working in a local restaurant when the owner asked him to relocate to the States and work for him there; over the next several years, the young chef worked his way up the culinary ladder throughout Chicago where he has most recently helmed the Slurping Turtle restaurant and appeared on Bravo’s Top Chef Masters.  Tune in for more on this inspiring chef! Takashi  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

John’s interest in cooking began with his curiosity in his grandmother’s expansive garden, learning early about the importance of seasonality, flavor and balance. At age 14, John moved to South Korea for three years where he not only became fluent in Korean, but truly embraced Asian flavors, language and spirits. After nearly two decades running a successful law practice and firm in Manhattan, John decided to pursue his real passion-a new culinary career at the French Culinary Institute (FCI) in New York where he graduated first in his class. It was at FCI that John met Dave Arnold, a well-respected renegade of modernist cuisine. Dave encouraged John to stage at Chef Wylie Dufresne’s wd-50. After staging for several years, he and was offered the new position as part of Research and Development at wd-50 before leaving in October, 2011 to truly take his skills and craft to a new frontier. In 2010, John and Dianna (his wife) purchased a home in Columbia County, New York, in the heart of the Hudson Valley and bountiful farmland. Columbia County reminded them both of their childhood homes in Maryland and Pennsylvania. The Crimson Sparrow was bought in October, 2011 and opened in June, 2012. The Crimson Sparrow builds on all of John’s reverence and experience in cooking with Asian flavors utilizing French technique. The Crimson Sparrow’s Tasting Menu is a foray into all of these complex, rich and unexpected flavors. It changes approximately every two to three weeks, to reflect seasonality. In addition, some of the best elements of the seasonal menu can be sampled at the bar as part of the restaurant’s a la carte menu all of which have a true pact with the cellar and beverage program. The beverage program at The Crimson Sparrow was developed by John and features unique cocktails, and a formidable list of wine, sake and shochu. John also received certification as a Sake Adviser and Sommelier through the Sake School of America, which has been endorsed by The Sake Service Institute International, the largest organization of Sake Sommelier certification in Japan. John continues to study Asian cuisine and culture, staging in Tokyo as well as remaining engaged in the study of Sake. In the Winter of 2014, he staged with a Sushi Master in Tokyo and continues to infuse all that he has learned into the cuisine and experience at The Crimson Sparrow. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tune in to Japan Eats as host Akiko Katayama is in studio with Chef Marco Moreira. Brazilian-born chef Marco Moreira arrived in New York City in 1982 eager to explore the city and immerse himself in an exciting, multi-ethnic culinary scene.  Through an inspired twist of fate, he ended up training as a sushi chef at the very beginning of the sushi craze.  From the start, he proved his skill in this highly technical profession and quickly earned acclaim as one of the most talented sushi chefs in New York City.  In 1986, he launched Marco Polo Sushi Catering, and soon afterwards he was hired to implement the sushi program at Dean & Deluca. With the skills and experience in the Manhattan restaurant scene, Marco devoted himself to turning Marco Polo Sushi Caterers into a full-service company (renamed Marco Polo Caterers) that catered to select clients in New York City and throughout the tri-state area.  At the same time Marco pursued other positions at Bouley, the Quilted Giraffe, and as chef de cuisine at The Mark. As Marco Polo Caterers grew, Marco decided to devote himself to the company full time and began looking for restaurant space to open his own kitchen and café.  Currently behind restaurants Toqueville and 15 East Restaurant, Marco and Akiko chat about restaurant evolution, seeking the perfect sushi chef, sushi’s history, and how to really order sushi! “Sushi is a perfect little bite of food.  It’s like having a tasting menu every night.  It’s the perfect meal.” [13:00] –Marco Moreira on Japan Eats  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Japan Eats is brand new this week with host Akiko Katayama in studio with food critic and author, Robert Sietsema.  Presently editor for Eater, Robert shares how he transitioned from the rock and roll scene to food writing and adds his unique view of Japanese restaurants in New York City. Initially focusing on the best ethnic eats in the city, Robert dissects what the term means to him and how he finds some of the best unknown restaurants.  Akiko highlights some of Robert’s past articles and talks the evolution of Japanese food and community throughout the big apple plus his favorite places to eat! “The popularity of sushi here has proceeded in such a way that you can spend as much as three to five-hundred dollars!” [32:15] –Robert Sietsema on Japan Eats  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Japan Eats returns for 2016 with none other than the man who wrote the book on science and cooking, Harold McGee. His career defining book, On Food & Cooking, has been referenced as a cooking bible for a generation of forward thinking chefs and culinary professionals. Discover how Harold was inspired to make a career of researching and writing about what happens when we cook, prepare and consume food, not to mention Japanese food! Harold is largely responsible for the molecular gastronomy/modernist cuisine movement and is cited as a major influence from the likes of Heston Blumenthal, Alton Brown and Dave Arnold. Harold’s passion for gastronomic knowledge has changed the way we eat food in this country, and his journey is as inspiring as his work, so tune in for a great show! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Known as “The Sake Guy,” and “The Sake Evangelist,” John Gauntner is recognized as the world’s leading non-Japanese sake expert and this week he joins in studio for the season wrap-up of Japan Eats.  He chats with host Akiko Katayama about his residency in Japan since 1988, he (necessarily) both speaks and reads Japanese fluently, and is well known in the sake industry as the window to making sake understandable and popular outside of Japan.  Tune in for a chat on all things sake and more! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wylie Dufresne is in studio with Akiko this week for an intriguing episode of Japan Eats!  Hinting at his new project opening in the new year, Wylie explains how he found himself in the restaurant industry and why working in the industry is likened to playing a team sport.  What does Wylie think about being considered a predominant figure in the modernist/molecular gastronomy food realm? What’s his brainstorming process like?  Tune in for a great discussion on finding inspiration from all around, his Japanese influences (like dashi), plus the duo dissect some of Wylie’s notable dishes. > #### “Often times we will try to take things people are familiar with and play with it, have fun with it.” [14:30] –Wylie Dufresne on Japan Eats See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“Kampai!” or “Cheers!” This week on Japan Eats host Akiko Katayama welcomes Stephen Lyman to the studio talking all about the Japanese alcoholic beverage shochu.  Founder and editor of Kampai!, Stephen explains his devotion to shochu, of which he is an expert and shares his travels to Kyushu (where 90%+ of authentic shochu is made) where he visited 6 distilleries and tried 262 different shochu (there are an estimated 6,000 labels from 600 distilleries in Japan) in just 5 days.  Stephen went on to neighboring Okinawa where he visited 5 more Awamori distilleries. Upon his return from Japan he realized he had just scratched the surface of understanding shochu, but by this point his obsession had turned into a passion.  After the break, Akiko and Stephen taste select shochu in studio and discuss traits to look for in the unique beverage. “Virtually all shochu is aged 3 to 6 months.” [28:30] “If I’m just out drinking with friends, the easiest way to drink it is on the rocks… In the summertime I really like shochu with soda.” [29:45] –Stephen Lyman on Japan Eats  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Have you ever heard of natto? Otherwise known as a traditional Japanese food made from soybeans fermented with Bacillus subtilis, natto is known for its powerful smell, strong flavor, and slimy texture typically eaten with a bowl of rice, and today it’s the topic of discussion on _ Japan Eats _.  Host Akiko Katayama welcomes Ann Yonetani, founder of NYrture Food to the studio talking about her pioneering efforts to bring the probiotic, nutrient-dense, gluten-free, and strangely addictive food to the masses.  Between the history of the breakfast/snack food and the science behind working with bacteria plus production techniques, Ann shares the multiple health benefits of the superfood and more! “If there’s any one food that I feel is a superfood, it’s natto!” [26:00] “You can basically do anything with it that you could with a flavorful cheese.” [41:30] –Ann Yonetani on Japan Eats See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.