you [Music]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Applause]
[Applause] so what’s for dinner
so what’s for dinner
so what’s for dinner that’s an everyday dilemma for
that’s an everyday dilemma for
that’s an everyday dilemma for foreigners living here in Japan and
foreigners living here in Japan and
foreigners living here in Japan and often the answer is I don’t know but
often the answer is I don’t know but
often the answer is I don’t know but that I don’t know for me was the start
that I don’t know for me was the start
that I don’t know for me was the start of a great culinary and social adventure
of a great culinary and social adventure
of a great culinary and social adventure let me elaborate so there are a lot of
let me elaborate so there are a lot of
let me elaborate so there are a lot of different restaurants here in Tokushima
different restaurants here in Tokushima
different restaurants here in Tokushima and they often take advantage of the
and they often take advantage of the
and they often take advantage of the agricultural and marine products that
agricultural and marine products that
agricultural and marine products that are here in this prefecture and they
are here in this prefecture and they
are here in this prefecture and they seek to create community not chain
seek to create community not chain
seek to create community not chain franchises I’m lucky because many of my
franchises I’m lucky because many of my
franchises I’m lucky because many of my Japanese friends have introduced me to
Japanese friends have introduced me to
Japanese friends have introduced me to many of these restaurants eating at
many of these restaurants eating at
many of these restaurants eating at these places is more than a meal it’s an
these places is more than a meal it’s an
these places is more than a meal it’s an educational and a cultural experience
educational and a cultural experience
educational and a cultural experience that has enhanced my time here in Japan
that has enhanced my time here in Japan
that has enhanced my time here in Japan for instance one Japanese restaurant
for instance one Japanese restaurant
for instance one Japanese restaurant that I go to has been around since the
that I go to has been around since the
that I go to has been around since the Edo period and they taught me that
Edo period and they taught me that
Edo period and they taught me that Hamill or Pike eel which is sold in
Hamill or Pike eel which is sold in
Hamill or Pike eel which is sold in Kyoto’s Nitschke market for a premium
Kyoto’s Nitschke market for a premium
Kyoto’s Nitschke market for a premium price is for the most part caught right
price is for the most part caught right
price is for the most part caught right here in the waters of Tokushima and is
here in the waters of Tokushima and is
here in the waters of Tokushima and is locally available not only that they
locally available not only that they
locally available not only that they told me that most Japanese think that
told me that most Japanese think that
told me that most Japanese think that it’s best in the summer but actually
it’s best in the summer but actually
it’s best in the summer but actually Hamill tastes best in the autumn when it
Hamill tastes best in the autumn when it
Hamill tastes best in the autumn when it has a higher fat content another place I
has a higher fat content another place I
has a higher fat content another place I went to is a suspicious secret exact
went to is a suspicious secret exact
went to is a suspicious secret exact ayah down a small alley and it has no
ayah down a small alley and it has no
ayah down a small alley and it has no sign and no name but if you open the
sign and no name but if you open the
sign and no name but if you open the hidden door there is a world of gourmet
hidden door there is a world of gourmet
hidden door there is a world of gourmet delights
delights
delights I have tried smoked pickles from Ikeda
I have tried smoked pickles from Ikeda
I have tried smoked pickles from Ikeda fracture a Prefecture fried rabbit
fracture a Prefecture fried rabbit
fracture a Prefecture fried rabbit fritters and barnacles that look like
fritters and barnacles that look like
fritters and barnacles that look like turtles feet
turtles feet
turtles feet so every visit is a chance for me to
so every visit is a chance for me to
so every visit is a chance for me to expand my repertoire of Japanese foods
but think about it for a foreigner who
but think about it for a foreigner who doesn’t have a grasp of the language it
doesn’t have a grasp of the language it
doesn’t have a grasp of the language it can be a daunting task to go out and
can be a daunting task to go out and
can be a daunting task to go out and discover new places on your own what if
discover new places on your own what if
discover new places on your own what if there’s no plastic food in the window to
there’s no plastic food in the window to
there’s no plastic food in the window to point at or what if you can’t read the
point at or what if you can’t read the
point at or what if you can’t read the prices on the menu
prices on the menu
prices on the menu if the fish comes alive when it’s on the
if the fish comes alive when it’s on the
if the fish comes alive when it’s on the plate or how do you know you’re not
plate or how do you know you’re not
plate or how do you know you’re not ordering innards when you want choice
ordering innards when you want choice
ordering innards when you want choice cuts of meat
cuts of meat
cuts of meat I feel foreigners want to discover and
I feel foreigners want to discover and
I feel foreigners want to discover and try new Japanese foods but it can be a
try new Japanese foods but it can be a
try new Japanese foods but it can be a little difficult without the help of a
little difficult without the help of a
little difficult without the help of a Japanese friend and you can’t really
Japanese friend and you can’t really
Japanese friend and you can’t really impose on them all the time so many
impose on them all the time so many
impose on them all the time so many foreigners go with the tried and true
foreigners go with the tried and true
foreigners go with the tried and true because they’re familiar with the food
because they’re familiar with the food
because they’re familiar with the food or they go for the cheap and dirty
or they go for the cheap and dirty
or they go for the cheap and dirty because 100 yen 280 n it’s very
because 100 yen 280 n it’s very
because 100 yen 280 n it’s very consistent but five years ago I wondered
consistent but five years ago I wondered
consistent but five years ago I wondered how can I share my knowledge of
how can I share my knowledge of
how can I share my knowledge of restaurants with the foreigner community
restaurants with the foreigner community
restaurants with the foreigner community so they can appreciate the bounty that
so they can appreciate the bounty that
so they can appreciate the bounty that Tokushima has to offer without having to
Tokushima has to offer without having to
Tokushima has to offer without having to take each person to each restaurant
take each person to each restaurant
take each person to each restaurant one at a time it was then that I
one at a time it was then that I
one at a time it was then that I remembered a quirky event called a
remembered a quirky event called a
remembered a quirky event called a progressive dinner it’s popular in
progressive dinner it’s popular in
progressive dinner it’s popular in America and the UK and in this event a
America and the UK and in this event a
America and the UK and in this event a group of friends will go from house to
group of friends will go from house to
group of friends will go from house to house and the host of each house will
house and the host of each house will
house and the host of each house will cook one part of a meal in this way you
cook one part of a meal in this way you
cook one part of a meal in this way you can share the load of the cooking and
can share the load of the cooking and
can share the load of the cooking and you can also enjoy the diversity of the
you can also enjoy the diversity of the
you can also enjoy the diversity of the dishes in a sense breaking up the meal
dishes in a sense breaking up the meal
dishes in a sense breaking up the meal creates an experience that’s greater
creates an experience that’s greater
creates an experience that’s greater than the sum of its parts
than the sum of its parts
than the sum of its parts and so our mystery dinners came into
and so our mystery dinners came into
and so our mystery dinners came into being it’s a dining out event that’s
being it’s a dining out event that’s
being it’s a dining out event that’s designed like a progressive dinner so I
designed like a progressive dinner so I
designed like a progressive dinner so I take small groups of diners to three
take small groups of diners to three
take small groups of diners to three different restaurants and we eat one
different restaurants and we eat one
different restaurants and we eat one part of the meal at each place so at the
part of the meal at each place so at the
part of the meal at each place so at the first place we’ll have an appetizer so
first place we’ll have an appetizer so
first place we’ll have an appetizer so it could be an antipasto platter or a
it could be an antipasto platter or a
it could be an antipasto platter or a fusion dish like a caprese salad made
fusion dish like a caprese salad made
fusion dish like a caprese salad made with a locally grown tomato and a yuzu
with a locally grown tomato and a yuzu
with a locally grown tomato and a yuzu dressing or at one place we were
dressing or at one place we were
dressing or at one place we were surprised by a whole tuna head grilled
surprised by a whole tuna head grilled
surprised by a whole tuna head grilled to perfection then after one hour we
to perfection then after one hour we
to perfection then after one hour we move to the second restaurant and we
move to the second restaurant and we
move to the second restaurant and we have the main dish now maybe that’s an
have the main dish now maybe that’s an
have the main dish now maybe that’s an acqua Pazza
acqua Pazza
acqua Pazza made with a sea bream from the waters of
made with a sea bream from the waters of
made with a sea bream from the waters of Naruto or a cutting board that is piled
Naruto or a cutting board that is piled
Naruto or a cutting board that is piled with French roasted chicken with
with French roasted chicken with
with French roasted chicken with homemade sauces and flavored salts or
homemade sauces and flavored salts or
homemade sauces and flavored salts or maybe it’s Hawaiian coconut shrimp that
maybe it’s Hawaiian coconut shrimp that
maybe it’s Hawaiian coconut shrimp that works for me and then we go to the third
works for me and then we go to the third
works for me and then we go to the third place and we have the finishing course
place and we have the finishing course
place and we have the finishing course or the dessert so will it be homemade
or the dessert so will it be homemade
or the dessert so will it be homemade Indian curry or oyster pizza or will it
Indian curry or oyster pizza or will it
Indian curry or oyster pizza or will it be a fig tart or churros with hot
be a fig tart or churros with hot
be a fig tart or churros with hot chocolate the fun and the intrigue of
chocolate the fun and the intrigue of
chocolate the fun and the intrigue of this event is in the mystery you see the
this event is in the mystery you see the
this event is in the mystery you see the participants don’t know where they’re
participants don’t know where they’re
participants don’t know where they’re going until they get there and they
going until they get there and they
going until they get there and they don’t know what they’re eating until the
don’t know what they’re eating until the
don’t know what they’re eating until the prearranged dish is placed on the table
prearranged dish is placed on the table
prearranged dish is placed on the table in front of them so in this way they can
in front of them so in this way they can
in front of them so in this way they can explore three restaurants and they also
explore three restaurants and they also
explore three restaurants and they also get to try cuisines that they may not
get to try cuisines that they may not
get to try cuisines that they may not have ordered by themselves and by taking
have ordered by themselves and by taking
have ordered by themselves and by taking them to three restaurants I can showcase
them to three restaurants I can showcase
them to three restaurants I can showcase the diversity of what Tokushima has to
the diversity of what Tokushima has to
the diversity of what Tokushima has to offer and that’s a lot better than
offer and that’s a lot better than
offer and that’s a lot better than creating one little event at one place
creating one little event at one place
creating one little event at one place most importantly now these diners can
most importantly now these diners can
most importantly now these diners can feel more comfortable coming
feel more comfortable coming
feel more comfortable coming back to this restaurant in a sense the
back to this restaurant in a sense the
back to this restaurant in a sense the mystery dinner has demystified the
mystery dinner has demystified the
mystery dinner has demystified the eateries for them and the restaurants
eateries for them and the restaurants
eateries for them and the restaurants benefit too
benefit too
benefit too they get PR because I’m introducing them
they get PR because I’m introducing them
they get PR because I’m introducing them to potential customers by speaking the
to potential customers by speaking the
to potential customers by speaking the customer’s language now we pay for all
customer’s language now we pay for all
customer’s language now we pay for all of the food and there is a rule that at
of the food and there is a rule that at
of the food and there is a rule that at each place the diners have to order one
each place the diners have to order one
each place the diners have to order one drink and so the restaurant makes some
drink and so the restaurant makes some
drink and so the restaurant makes some money and we also do the events on a
money and we also do the events on a
money and we also do the events on a Sunday which is generally a slow time
Sunday which is generally a slow time
Sunday which is generally a slow time for restaurants it’s a win-win situation
for restaurants it’s a win-win situation
for restaurants it’s a win-win situation for everybody it’s important that would
for everybody it’s important that would
for everybody it’s important that would pay fair menu prices because if you want
pay fair menu prices because if you want
pay fair menu prices because if you want people to appreciate the good things
people to appreciate the good things
people to appreciate the good things here in Tokushima you have to go to
here in Tokushima you have to go to
here in Tokushima you have to go to those places you have to patronize the
those places you have to patronize the
those places you have to patronize the establishment so that they can stay in
establishment so that they can stay in
establishment so that they can stay in business and continue to create good
business and continue to create good
business and continue to create good food with local ingredients so since
food with local ingredients so since
food with local ingredients so since 2011 we have done about 20 mystery
2011 we have done about 20 mystery
2011 we have done about 20 mystery dinners at 50 restaurants with a hundred
dinners at 50 restaurants with a hundred
dinners at 50 restaurants with a hundred and seventy-five participants we have a
and seventy-five participants we have a
and seventy-five participants we have a Facebook group and we send out event
Facebook group and we send out event
Facebook group and we send out event pages and they fill up in a matter of
pages and they fill up in a matter of
pages and they fill up in a matter of hours and we keep the group small about
hours and we keep the group small about
hours and we keep the group small about 10 diners so that it’s manageable for
10 diners so that it’s manageable for
10 diners so that it’s manageable for small establishments and it’s more
small establishments and it’s more
small establishments and it’s more intimate and personal for the
intimate and personal for the
intimate and personal for the participants and it’s also something
participants and it’s also something
participants and it’s also something really interesting happen when I started
really interesting happen when I started
really interesting happen when I started these dinners Japanese people asked me
these dinners Japanese people asked me
these dinners Japanese people asked me if they could join the mystery dinners
if they could join the mystery dinners
if they could join the mystery dinners as well you see it turns out that it’s
as well you see it turns out that it’s
as well you see it turns out that it’s an equally nerve-wracking experience for
an equally nerve-wracking experience for
an equally nerve-wracking experience for Japanese people to walk through the
Japanese people to walk through the
Japanese people to walk through the northern curtains of an unfamiliar
northern curtains of an unfamiliar
northern curtains of an unfamiliar restaurant people who have lived in
restaurant people who have lived in
restaurant people who have lived in Tokushima all their lives have never
Tokushima all their lives have never
Tokushima all their lives have never gone out to try new places so for these
gone out to try new places so for these
gone out to try new places so for these people the mystery dinners is a chance
people the mystery dinners is a chance
people the mystery dinners is a chance to read
to read
to read cover the good things in their hometown
cover the good things in their hometown
cover the good things in their hometown and so I’m surprised to find an event
and so I’m surprised to find an event
and so I’m surprised to find an event where foreigners and Japanese people can
where foreigners and Japanese people can
where foreigners and Japanese people can participate on the same level and have
participate on the same level and have
participate on the same level and have the same good time together and it’s a
the same good time together and it’s a
the same good time together and it’s a wonderful project I have since expanded
wonderful project I have since expanded
wonderful project I have since expanded and I’m collaborating with the Tokushima
and I’m collaborating with the Tokushima
and I’m collaborating with the Tokushima Marche to create mystery dinners where
Marche to create mystery dinners where
Marche to create mystery dinners where the chef’s used the local Marche
the chef’s used the local Marche
the chef’s used the local Marche products to create original dishes and
products to create original dishes and
products to create original dishes and these are even a mystery for me because
these are even a mystery for me because
these are even a mystery for me because I don’t know what the dishes are until
I don’t know what the dishes are until
I don’t know what the dishes are until the day of the event and the chef’s can
the day of the event and the chef’s can
the day of the event and the chef’s can exercise their creative side as you can
exercise their creative side as you can
exercise their creative side as you can see here with purple potato soup smoked
see here with purple potato soup smoked
see here with purple potato soup smoked fish croquettes and a tricolor sweet
fish croquettes and a tricolor sweet
fish croquettes and a tricolor sweet potato pizza these restaurants I’ve
potato pizza these restaurants I’ve
potato pizza these restaurants I’ve developed this event so that these
developed this event so that these
developed this event so that these restaurants can participate again in a
restaurants can participate again in a
restaurants can participate again in a mystery dinner and reach out to more
mystery dinner and reach out to more
mystery dinner and reach out to more customers and for many people are many
customers and for many people are many
customers and for many people are many of the restaurants this is their first
of the restaurants this is their first
of the restaurants this is their first time working with the Tokushima Marche
time working with the Tokushima Marche
time working with the Tokushima Marche so they get to learn more about this
so they get to learn more about this
so they get to learn more about this community organization so again it’s
community organization so again it’s
community organization so again it’s bringing parts of the community together
bringing parts of the community together
bringing parts of the community together to create a bigger more synergistic
to create a bigger more synergistic
to create a bigger more synergistic whole so what have I learned from
whole so what have I learned from
whole so what have I learned from developing these our mystery dinners
developing these our mystery dinners
developing these our mystery dinners well I think that I might have a recipe
well I think that I might have a recipe
well I think that I might have a recipe for a rewarding experience so you take
for a rewarding experience so you take
for a rewarding experience so you take some fresh local restaurants and you
some fresh local restaurants and you
some fresh local restaurants and you chop them into small pieces and you mix
chop them into small pieces and you mix
chop them into small pieces and you mix them together with multicultural guests
them together with multicultural guests
them together with multicultural guests and you put them into an odd-shaped dish
and you put them into an odd-shaped dish
and you put them into an odd-shaped dish and you bake outside the box until well
and you bake outside the box until well
and you bake outside the box until well warm hearted and it serves all who want
warm hearted and it serves all who want
warm hearted and it serves all who want a taste of something different and that
a taste of something different and that
a taste of something different and that could be a recipe for success for anyone
could be a recipe for success for anyone
could be a recipe for success for anyone is there a problem in your community
is there a problem in your community
is there a problem in your community that isn’t being solved by conventional
that isn’t being solved by conventional
that isn’t being solved by conventional means well then don’t be afraid to be a
means well then don’t be afraid to be a
means well then don’t be afraid to be a chef
chef
chef mix together the best parts of good
mix together the best parts of good
mix together the best parts of good ideas in a different format to create a
ideas in a different format to create a
ideas in a different format to create a new experience but make sure you have
new experience but make sure you have
new experience but make sure you have that win-win flavor that tastes good for
that win-win flavor that tastes good for
that win-win flavor that tastes good for all who take part and voila a new dish
all who take part and voila a new dish
all who take part and voila a new dish is born so what’s for dinner on your
is born so what’s for dinner on your
is born so what’s for dinner on your plate in your neighborhood I don’t know
plate in your neighborhood I don’t know
plate in your neighborhood I don’t know what you’re going to be cooking up but
what you’re going to be cooking up but
what you’re going to be cooking up but it’s no mystery that it’s going to be a
it’s no mystery that it’s going to be a
it’s no mystery that it’s going to be a delicious result for everyone involved
delicious result for everyone involved
delicious result for everyone involved thank you very much
thank you very much
thank you very much [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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