Dinner last week Friday evening at the Japanese Ambassador's home turned into one of those unexpected delights. If the right guest list adds to a memorable dinner party, then Ambassador Peter Oyedele, the Nigerian ambassador, and his absolutely charming wife Deborah ought to be permanent fixtures and Ambassador of Japan Hiroshi Yamaguchi and his wife Yoko constant hosts. The well-travelled quartet regaled us with tales from tours of duties that have spanned several continents. Theirs are tightly knit family units that refuse to have a continent or two get in the way of regular family bonding, and their respective children have already visited their doting parents here in Jamaica. Ambassadors Oyedele and Yamaguchi share a passion for golf, but being true diplomats left that discussion for their next tee off and focused instead on enjoying discussions that segued from the recent visit of the Nobu Miami team, to sake, rice production, music, travel, postings and the advantages of being posted to a beautiful country like Jamaica. By the end of an evening that commenced at 7:00 pm and ended after 10:00 pm the accord was unanimous: that the kitchen continues to be the place where all cultures meet and that their next local trip ought to include Mystic Mountains and rafting on the Rio Grande.
Dinner is served!
Chef Yoshitada watches as Hiroshi Yamaguchi, ambassador of Japan to Jamaica, drizzles soy sauce. Yamaguchi's wife Yoko waits her turn. (Photos: Garfield Robinson)
Resident chef Yoshitada Eguchi assists Ambassador Peter Oyedele with a helping of Strozzapreti with raw ham, rucola paste and navy bean cream sauce.
'Kanpai!' Raising a toast with sake are (from left): Jamaica Observer wine writer Christopher Reckord; wife of the resident Nigerian ambassador to Jamaica Deborah Oyedele; High Commissioner of the Nigeria High Commission Ambassador Peter Oyedele; wife of the resident Japanese ambassador to Jamaica Yoko Yamaguchi and Ambassador of Japan to Jamaica Hiroshi Yamaguchi.
Discussions moved from the drawing room to the formal dining room where an elegant buffet was displayed, and finally, to the outdoor deck by an exquisite Japanese-style water garden and under a beautiful sky.
The menu:
Clear gazpacho with vegetable and seafood
Rice salad with ackee and smoked ham
Stuffed rabbit with lemoncello sauce
Strozzapreti with raw ham, rucola paste and navy bean cream sauce.
Sauteed snapper with lobster mousse and crunchy almond and garlic
Dessert:
Apple pie wrapped in pate filo with vanilla icecream.
The resident chef
Yoshitada Eguchi received his early training at Hotel Dei Marsi in Abruzzo, Italy. He moved after six months to Citta di Castello, a city in the province of Perugia, to gain more experience at a one Michelin star restaurant. Armed with suitable experience, Eguchi started to work at an Italian restaurant in Nagoya, the third-largest city in Japan, where he stayed for five years. Currently in Jamaica, and in the employ of His Excellency Ambassador Yamaguchi and Mrs Yamaguchi he serves them privately as well as at private and major dinners and receptions hosted by them. He plans, on completion of his current tour of duty, to open his own Italian restaurant back in Nagoya.
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