A Japanese chef first appeared as the leading role in the US CNN documentary program "Culinary Journeys", which features famous chefs from all over the world. The choice was Chef Fuminobu Ikue, who heads the two-star French restaurant "L'Effervescence".

Why is it a French chef, not Japanese food? We talked to CNN producers Amanda Sealy and Sarita Harilela, who worked on the show.

● The theme is "hospitality"

The theme this time is "hospitality". Chef Ikue will act as a guide to delve into Japanese hospitality through tea ceremony, kaiseki cuisine, seasonal ingredients, sake, and rice during the 23-minute program.

All performers are the same age as the chef (born in 1973). The people were selected as "I wanted to have people who would create the future together" (Chef Ikue). The producer said, "Everyone I met has inherited the family traditions that have been passed down for centuries. I felt that Japan has a special talent to pass on traditional culture to new generations. ".

● Why the French chef was chosen

Why was Mr. Ikue, a French chef, nominated instead of Japanese food?

The producer said, "He is attracting attention as a new generation chef among Japanese chefs. While using French cooking techniques, his cooking has roots in Japan. He is a production farm and Japanese. The craftsman has a love and expresses that love in his cooking. "

The chef also talks about his cooking, "If you dare to express it, it is a fusion of Japanese taste and Western techniques." For example, a plate that expresses the taste of turnip that changes with the seasons. The juicy summer turnip baked with butter comes with a soup made from Honbetsu. It's a combination that can only be made in Japan.




In addition, his unique background was a decisive factor.

In fact, Chef Ikue has a unique career as a cook, having entered the world of cooking after graduating from university. Having worked at an overseas restaurant, "I think I was able to pay homage to what I noticed in Japanese culture and traditions," (producer). And it seems that one of the reasons was that I could explain it in English.

● Inherit tradition

Finally, I asked the producer about the most impressive scene.

"I've never seen rice steamed for brewing sake. I was impressed with the men going through each and every process by hand. It's a simple task. No. I think sake is delicious because people taste the attention of the craftsmen in each bottle. "


The program will be broadcast at 20:30 on August 27, 13:30 on 28th, and 12:00 on 29th. You can also see the archive on the English version of CNN's site. The "hospitality" introduced by the world's top chefs to the whole world may have new discoveries for us living in Japan.