Halekulani Okinawa, the newly-opened, 5-star luxury beach resort in Okinawa Prefecture announced a partnership with DINING OUT, Japan’s premier gastronomy event series, to host an exclusive culinary experience on the main island of Okinawa on January 18, 2020.
The one-night-only event is the first in the DINING OUT series to welcome overseas guests and will introduce an open-air pop-up restaurant featuring fare from two acclaimed world-class chefs at a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
“We are ecstatic to be part of this exciting, first-of-its-kind event and partner with such a distinguished partner to introduce international visitors to Okinawa’s culinary and cultural marvels,” said Mr. Jun Yoshie, General Manager of Halekulani Okinawa. “It is our mission to incorporate both local culinary and cultural heritage throughout the guest experience and collaborating with DINING OUT to host this event is a wonderful way to continue these efforts.”
DINING OUT is known for creating legendary culinary events and outdoor pop-up restaurants in stunning and unexpected locations. Each event is designed to be unique in its location and environment and welcomes globally-recognized chefs to prepare dishes using ingredients that reflect each locale’s unique history and culture.
The Ryukyu-Uruma edition of DINING OUT will take place in Uruma City against a uniquely Okinawan backdrop which spans the ruins of Katsuren Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that embodies the deep history and culture of Okinawa, offering views of the impressive Mid-Sea Road which connects four islands.
GohGan, the featured pop-up restaurant, comprises two chefs of international acclaim for whom the event marks the beginning of their next venture. Chef Gaggan Anand, whose eponymous restaurant has previously held the No. 1 ranking as “Asia’s 50 Best Restaurant” for four consecutive years, and Chef Takeshi Fukuyama of La Maison de la Nature Goh, the only restaurant in Kyushu to also be ranked among “Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants,” will utilize the region’s indigenous ingredients and cooking methods to create a sensory experience for guests. This pop-up will make the pair’s twelfth collaboration and last pop-up activation ahead of the opening of their new joint restaurant, also called GohGan, in Fukuoka in the Kyushu Islands in 2021.