"Nancy has dedicated her life to finding and revealing the local flavors and ingredients that have been cornerstones of Japanese cooking for centuries." -Alice WatersIn this striking, highly personal volume, acclaimed cookbook author Nancy Singleton Hachisu introduces readers to the regional chefs and artisans at the heart of Japan's unique food culture. Bringing to bear more than three decades of life in the Japanese countryside and over a decade as a food writer and champion of artisanal Japanese food traditions, she offers unique recipes, spectacular photographs and insightful essays about chefs and producers across Japan.
The 140 recipes-created by seven remarkable Japanese chefs-use local, seasonal ingredients to deliver intense, sophisticated flavors in an approachable way. Each of these Franco-Japanese, Italianate-Japanese and classic, yet modern Japanese dishes have been meticulously tested in the author's home kitchen. Readers will find here:
- Essays on regional producers of artisanal food items ranging from sea greens and umeboshi to potato flour, air-dried fish, miso, soy sauce and Japanese malt whisky
- Refreshing starters such as Squid and Yugao Gourd Salad with Shiso Vinaigrette, and Smoked Pacific Saury with Pickled Myoga and Chrysanthemum
- Savory mains such as Salt-Grilled Butterfish with Smashed Tofu, and Grilled Pigeon, Clam, Taro, Leeks & Dried Treviso
- Japanese influenced Franco and Italianate dishes such as Snapper with Yuzu Beurre Blanc and Abalone with Sweet Potato and Abalone Liver Risotto
- And many more plant- and seafood-focused dishes
Hachisu's passion for food traditions is shared by the chefs and artisans-making this book an inspiration for anyone who appreciates food on a deeply personal level. Yet it is also a cookbook to be splashed on, marked up, and used to reproduce the very best that Japanese cuisine has to offer in their own kitchens.