In an effort to promote Japanese ingredients, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles are partnering with ten Phoenix restaurants to host Taste of Japan: Specialty Seafood & Sake Series. From February 16 to March 1, each restaurant will create and serve unique, limited-time dishes highlighting Japanese seafood, specifically the succulent Hokkaido scallop.
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Arizonans can visit the following restaurants to experience the Taste of Japan:
- Kaizen Phoenix, located inside the Lawrence Building at 515 East Grant St. in Phoenix
- Kuka Sushi and Izakaya, located at 1221 E Apache Blvd. Suite 103 in Tempe
- Shimogamo Japanese Restaurant, located at 2501 W. Warner Rd. in Chandler
- Mikado Sushi, located at 3125 S Alma School Rd. #3b in Chandler
- Kay Sushi, located at 10115 E Bell Rd. Unit 111 in Scottsdale
- Sushi Crush, located at 6501 E Greenway Rd. Suite 123 in Scottsdale
- Sake Haus, located at 214 E Roosevelt St. in Phoenix
- Hana Japanese Eatery, located at 5524 N 7th Ave. in Phoenix
- Roka Akor, located at 7299 N Scottsdale Rd. in Scottsdale
- Umami BBQ Sushi, located at 7000 E Mayo Blvd. #1090 in Phoenix
Each restaurant will put its unique spin on the scallop; for example, Hana Japanese Eatery is offering the scallop dusted with potato starch, flash fried and topped with soy vinegar vegetables and ao nori while Kuka Sushi and Izakaya will offer a raw scallop served with basil olive oil, pink salt and yuzu sherbet.
Through #SupportSake, an additional JETRO project, each restaurant will also offer a special sake pairing alongside its dish. Diners can use #SupportSake on social media to share their experiences at each restaurant. By using #SupportSake and tagging @supportsake on social media posts, diners will also be entered to win round-trip airfare to Japan and other great prizes.
According to the Consul General, there is an increased interest among Japanese companies in doing business in the state of Arizona. Taste of Japan: Seafood and Sake Series is more than a food event; it is a microcosm of the expanding relationship between Japan and Arizona.
“We are also committed to further strengthening the relationship between Japan and Arizona in the area of food as well as economic and cultural people-to-people ties,” said Kenko Sone, Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles. “Japan has high-quality seafood from our rich coastal waters, and sake and seafood have a harmonious relationship that complements and enhances each other. I hope Arizonans will take this opportunity to enjoy the marriage of Japanese seafood and sake.”
The Japanese scallop comes from the Hokkaido and Tohoku regions of Japan where the water is nutrient and plankton-rich, allowing the scallop to thrive. As a food, scallop is versatile as it can be either cooked or eaten raw. Currently, the scallop is the most popular Japanese seafood in the world and is known for its rich umami flavor and uniquely firm yet juicy texture.
To learn more about Taste of Japan: Specialty Seafood & Sake Series please visit https://tasteofjpn.com/supportsake.
