Asahi Shuzo sake collaborating with chef
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Japanese sake maker Asahi Shuzo plans to open a shop in Paris next year in collaboration with French chef Joel Robuchon.
It will have a bar featuring Dassai sake, with Robuchon overseeing a restaurant that will pair the rice wine with French cuisine.
It is rare for a domestic sake brewery to open a shop overseas.
Visiting Tokyo, Robuchon said that Dassai – made in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi prefecture – goes well with his dishes.
“We want to attract people who do not have any particular interest in Japan,” says Asahi Shuzo president Kazuhiro Sakurai about the restaurant venture. ‘We hope to expand the scope of Japanese food and blend it with local culture.”
Asahi Shuzo and Robuchon will jointly manage the Paris restaurant. The sake maker originally planned to open an outlet in the French capital two years ago.
Questions & Answers
Q.What is the primary purpose of the new establishment Asahi Shuzo is opening in Paris?
What is the primary purpose of the new establishment Asahi Shuzo is opening in Paris?
The establishment will feature a bar serving Dassai sake and a restaurant where French chef Joel Robuchon will pair the rice wine with French cuisine. It aims to attract people without a specific interest in Japan.
Q.Why is this overseas venture considered unusual for a Japanese sake producer?
Why is this overseas venture considered unusual for a Japanese sake producer?
The article states it is rare for a domestic sake brewery to open a shop overseas. This makes Asahi Shuzo's direct expansion into Paris a notable and uncommon strategic move for the industry.
Q.Who will be responsible for managing the new Paris restaurant?
Who will be responsible for managing the new Paris restaurant?
The Paris restaurant will be jointly managed by Japanese sake maker Asahi Shuzo and French chef Joel Robuchon. Both entities are collaborating on the entire venture, including the restaurant's operations.
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