Episode 84: Serving Japanese Tea for 300 Years

$Episode 34: Bringing a Green Tea Culture to the U.S.: On this weeks episode of Japan Eats, host Akiko Katayama welcomes guest Rona Tison, the senior vice president of corporate relations at ITO EN, to discuss making green tea a true part of American culture. Tison has extensive experience in the tea industry and has received Green Tea Certification from ITO EN. Prior to joining ITO EN, Tison worked extensively in the hotel and service industry where she served as director of operations at the W Hotels The Court and The Tuscany, executive vice president at the lifestyle store Felissimo and rooms divisional manager at Le Parker Meridian, all in New York. Part of the beauty about tea is also sharing with friends. You can enjoy it in solitude, a moment to relax and have a cup of tea, or you can entertain and share great conversations. All those activities are great, I think, in terms of overall health. [23:00] \*\*\* Listeners, if you are interested in learning tea ceremony (which helps yo$

Episode 15: The Secret of Japanese Cocktails: Meet Kenta Goto, guest on this weeks episode of Japan Eats, hosted by Akiko Katayama. Kenta is the mastermind behind the newly opened Japanese-American bar, Bar Goto, located in the Lower East Side of New York City. Talking the differences between the American and Japanese bar scenes, and what makes the fusion of the two a unique experience at Bar Goto, Kenta shares his own brand of creativity when it comes to serving the best some of the cocktails in the city. Does freshly chipped ice make for a better martini? Whats on the menu at Bar Goto? Tune in for the delectable answers! Theres a huge difference between the Japanese bar scene and American bar scene... in the states we make tips, bartenders in Japan are based on salary. [11:00] The concept is good cocktails and comfort Japanese food. [25:50] --Kenta Goto on Japan Eats by Japan Eats!

43 min listen

Episode 30: From French Chef To Ramen Master: 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 Bravos Top Chef Masters. Tune in for more on this inspiring chef! andnbsp; by Japan Eats!

51 min listen

Episode 47: The Birth of Saké: Filmmaker Erik Shirai joins us in the studio to tell us all about the making of his latest documentary, The Birth of Saké, which grants an inside look at the art of sake creation in a Japanese brewery. Shirai and his producer managed to get access to the brewery at a time of transition, as a younger brewmaster was starting to take greater responsibility. by Japan Eats!

39 min listen

Episode 31: It All Started in Japan: 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 Michaels experience in Japan stayed with him even as he moved to France and back to the U.S. andnbsp; 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 by Japan Eats!

50 min listen

Episode 3: Rick Smith of Sakaya NYC: Rick Smith, owner of Sakaya, joins host Akiko Katayama in studio today for a conversation all about Sake. Rick starts the show by giving us all an education about what sake is made out of, and the complicated process of how it is brewed. Rick and Akiko discuss the changes that have occurred in the US based on sake appreciation. Just as wine is highly appreciated in the US, Rick tells us that sake appears to be on the same track. The beautiful tradition of sake production, how to drink sake properly, and the expanding industry of sake in the US, all this week on Japan Eats . This program was brought to you by Whole Foods Market. Beer brewing is a sequential process, one step after another, sake brewing has many steps happening at the same time in the same tank. [5:00] That was the ah ha moment for me, that premium sake had all the same qualities that had attracted me to wine. [11:00] -- Rick Smith on Japan Eats by Japan Eats!

43 min listen

Episode 22: Natto: A Stinky Superfood: 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 its 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 theres any one food that I feel is a superfood, its natto! [26:00] You can basically do anything with it that you could with a flavorful cheese. [41:30] --Ann Yonetani on Japan Eats by Japan Eats!

47 min listen