PREMIER INVITES IRON CHEF FOR DINNER
Published Monday, 07 April, 2008 at 01:00 PM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Tokyo: Queensland will host the King of Iron Chefs, Mr Hiroyuki Sakai bringing his special style of entertainment and cuisine to a series of gala dinners on the Gold Coast in July this year.
Premier Anna Bligh chose Mr Sakai’s Tokyo restaurant La Rochelle to host a Queensland Government luncheon for Japanese steel industry representatives, taking advantage of the opportunity to meet Mr Sakai and announce a $5000 Queensland Government sponsorship for the Gold Coast events.
As a feature of the luncheon, Ms Bligh was interviewed by TV Tokyo Group for a Japanese national television programme that will focus on the Iron Chef’s life and famous character, taking the opportunity to promote Queensland, its food products and the upcoming Iron Chef dinners.
“I am among a great number of Queenslanders who are huge fans of the Iron Chef television program. I am pleased that my government will be able to assist to make sure Iron Chef Sakai’s visit is a great success,” Ms Bligh said.
“The Queensland Government will sponsor the gala dinners because we see it as a low-cost investment in further promoting the trade, cultural and culinary relationships between Japan and Queensland.
“Queensland exported A$1.7 billion worth of agricultural produce to Japan last year, making it the second largest component of Queensland-Japan exports after coal.
“Exports of high-quality fresh food and beverages to Japan are a substantial earner for Queensland companies and the dinner will represent a major promotional opportunity to extend trade in this area.
“Given the high profile that Mr Sakai receives in Japan and around the world, the Iron Chef gala dinners provide an excellent opportunity to showcase the quality of Queensland food and beverages to an international audience,” said Ms Bligh.
Over three nights Iron Chef – French Sakai will work together with Palazzo Versace Executive Chef, Steve Szabo to produce an eight course collaboration meal with specially selected wines to complement the dishes.
Catering for 70 people each night, including guests flying in from Japan, the gala dinners will provide attendees with ultimate interactive viewing of an Iron Chef-style kitchen atmosphere.
Cameras will capture Sakai and Szabo as they create dishes reflecting their passions for Japanese cuisine and traditional French cooking techniques, and images will be screened live to guests through preparation to presentation.
The gala dinners will be held at the Palazzo Versace Resort’s Vanitas restaurant on the Gold Coast from 4-6 July 2008.
End Note :Hiroyuki Sakai appeared on the Iron Chef television program for nine seasons and was known as Iron Chef - French for his predilection toward French cuisine. Mr Sakai had the best winning percentage of the Iron Chefs. His stature as the top chef on the show was formalised when he was named the ‘King of Iron Chefs’ after emerging victorious from the show's grand finale. His record on Iron Chef is 70-15-1.
6 April, 2008
Media contact: Premier’s office – 3224 4500
Premier Anna Bligh chose Mr Sakai’s Tokyo restaurant La Rochelle to host a Queensland Government luncheon for Japanese steel industry representatives, taking advantage of the opportunity to meet Mr Sakai and announce a $5000 Queensland Government sponsorship for the Gold Coast events.
As a feature of the luncheon, Ms Bligh was interviewed by TV Tokyo Group for a Japanese national television programme that will focus on the Iron Chef’s life and famous character, taking the opportunity to promote Queensland, its food products and the upcoming Iron Chef dinners.
“I am among a great number of Queenslanders who are huge fans of the Iron Chef television program. I am pleased that my government will be able to assist to make sure Iron Chef Sakai’s visit is a great success,” Ms Bligh said.
“The Queensland Government will sponsor the gala dinners because we see it as a low-cost investment in further promoting the trade, cultural and culinary relationships between Japan and Queensland.
“Queensland exported A$1.7 billion worth of agricultural produce to Japan last year, making it the second largest component of Queensland-Japan exports after coal.
“Exports of high-quality fresh food and beverages to Japan are a substantial earner for Queensland companies and the dinner will represent a major promotional opportunity to extend trade in this area.
“Given the high profile that Mr Sakai receives in Japan and around the world, the Iron Chef gala dinners provide an excellent opportunity to showcase the quality of Queensland food and beverages to an international audience,” said Ms Bligh.
Over three nights Iron Chef – French Sakai will work together with Palazzo Versace Executive Chef, Steve Szabo to produce an eight course collaboration meal with specially selected wines to complement the dishes.
Catering for 70 people each night, including guests flying in from Japan, the gala dinners will provide attendees with ultimate interactive viewing of an Iron Chef-style kitchen atmosphere.
Cameras will capture Sakai and Szabo as they create dishes reflecting their passions for Japanese cuisine and traditional French cooking techniques, and images will be screened live to guests through preparation to presentation.
The gala dinners will be held at the Palazzo Versace Resort’s Vanitas restaurant on the Gold Coast from 4-6 July 2008.
End Note :Hiroyuki Sakai appeared on the Iron Chef television program for nine seasons and was known as Iron Chef - French for his predilection toward French cuisine. Mr Sakai had the best winning percentage of the Iron Chefs. His stature as the top chef on the show was formalised when he was named the ‘King of Iron Chefs’ after emerging victorious from the show's grand finale. His record on Iron Chef is 70-15-1.
6 April, 2008
Media contact: Premier’s office – 3224 4500