On March 5th, the Japanese Food Culture Association and the Japan America Society of Southern California convened at the Orange County Hyatt Regency Hotel for this year’s Japanese Food & Sake festival. With the astonishing turnout of roughly 1600 attendees who packed the festival grounds, everywhere you turned there was people, people, and more people! Over 60 businesses and restaurants gathered to present a variety of Japanese foods, Sake, Green Tea, Health Foods, and Seasonings. Excited for such a rare opportunity to try high-level Japanese foods, as well as local sakes from all over Japan, people surrounded the booths offering free tastings.
In a central location, the sight of an enormous block of Shimofuri Wagyu Beef caught the attention of many passing guests. On spot, the meat was sliced, cooked shabu-shabu style, and passed out to the guests. The full-bodied, mellow flavor proved to be a most exquisite pairing with the refreshing taste of sake. Another long line for Tokyo’s acclaimed Chibakiya ramen proved well worth the wait. When in need for a quick breather, the refined and elegant GreenTea booth proved to be the perfect stop. There is something especially good about a cup of tea served by a woman in Kimono.
The energizing sounds of traditional Japanese festival music began filtering into the room with the arrival of a most dynamic Taiko performance by Kogenkai, part of Nannka Fukuoka Kenjinkai (The Association of People from Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan), as well as a Shamisen Performance by Mr. Mike Penny.
As for the highlight of the event, Restaurant Owner and Chef Katsuya Uechi displayed a most magnificent cooking demonstration with sea bream. Sushi Roku Executive Chef Hiroshi Shima prepared a three-course menu, utilizing Japanese spring vegetables and seafood. Mr. Junki Yoshida from Yoshida Group introduced a simple chicken recipe using his specialty sauce. Cheers went wild as Mr. Yoshida and Mr. Yasuo Kumoda, chairman of Japanese Food Culture Association, also known as “Mr. Tofu”, surprised the crowd with a tofu dance performance.
The event lasted until 8 in the afternoon. People left feeling energized, inspired, and hardly able to wait for what next year has in store!
