Seven chefs take part in an event for Noto’s recovery

Destination Restaurants, presented by The Japan Times, tells the world about Japan’s outstanding regional restaurants. An event for the recovery of the Noto Peninsula was held on Feb. 13 at Crazy Pizza in Toranomon Hills Station Tower with the participation of seven chefs honored by Destination Restaurants: Toshiya Ikehata of L’Atelier de Noto and Toru Kawashima of Ipponsugi Kawashima, both in Ishikawa Prefecture; Kazuhiro Inoue of Restaurant Uozen and Keiko Kuwakino of Satoyama Jujo, both in Niigata Prefecture; Kanji Kobayashi of Villa Aida in Wakayama Prefecture; Hiroto Murai of Yoichi Sagra in Hokkaido; and Masakazu Taira of Don Bravo in Tokyo. Using ingredients from their home regions, the chefs prepared and served attendees highly creative appetizers and pizzas.

The event was made up of three seating periods starting at noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Each gathering was a great success, with every seat filled. All the guests looked delighted as they savored the original, one-time-only pizza creations of these celebrated chefs.

Kawashima said: “Even though it has been over a year since the earthquake, Noto’s recovery is not progressing. But there are actually a lot of people who think things are all right now, and I’m afraid [Noto] will fade in people’s memories. If skilled chefs getting together and creating an event like this helps raise awareness of the current and future situation of Noto, which is working so hard [to recover], I’ll be happy.”

Ikehata, whose restaurant collapsed in the earthquake and whose outlook for rebuilding remains unclear, said: “I can’t let the encouragement I’ve received from so many people go to waste. Having colleagues all over the country who support me has enabled me to look forward. Chefs are unhappy when they’re not cooking, so an event like this makes me really happy.”

Taira, the event’s presenter and the owner-chef of Crazy Pizza, remarked that the plan had come together very quickly when the chefs met at the previous Destination Restaurants award ceremony in May 2024. He said he was infinitely grateful to fellow chefs throughout Japan who, with heartfelt wishes, sent products in support of the event although they were unable to attend in person.

地方の素晴らしいレストランを毎年リストアップするジャパンタイムズ主催「Destination Restaurants」。受賞シェフたちによる能登半島復興イベントが、2025年2月、虎ノ門ヒルズ・ステーションタワーの『クレイジー・ピザ』で開催された。参加したのは、石川県『ラトリエ・ドゥ・ノト』池端隼也、石川県『一本杉川嶋』川嶋亨、新潟県『UOZEN』井上和洋、新潟県『里山十帖』桑木野恵子、和歌山県『ヴィラ・アイーダ』小林寛司、北海道『余市SAGRA』村井啓人、東京都『ドンブラボー』平雅一の７人のシェフたち。それぞれが、地元の食材を使い趣向を凝らした前菜とピザを料理し振る舞った。

被災地石川県で店の再建に取り組む池端・川嶋両シェフは、全国にシェフ仲間がいて支えてくれていることが励みになると語る。

震災から1年以上経っても能登の復興はなかなか進まないが、能登の現状や今後を知り風化させないためにも、非常に意義のあるイベントであった。

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