brushstroke presents our early fall kaiseki menu 

September 9th called “Choyo-no-Sekku” (Festival of Double Biggest Odd Number = 9/9), originated in the Edo era (1603-1868), and is the biggest of 5 seasonal festivals in Japan.

The symbol flower of the festival is a chrysanthemum, the Autumn beauty. This edible chrysanthemum is also valued as a medicinal flower with life-prolonging effects. Not only is it rich in vitamins, it increases your intracellular glutathione, enhancing detoxication metabolism and antioxidant action in your body.

As you may know, camomile also belongs to the chrysanthemum family. Edible chrysanthemum has similar stomachic, anti-inflammatory and tranquilizing effects to camomile.

 

– Chef Isao Yamada

This month, Brushstroke will serve various style of chrysanthemum dishes as well as other Late Summer ingredients:

Matsutake Mushroom: the most precious mushroom in Japanese cuisine, with a unique fragrance and individual texture. Brushstroke uses an Oregon matsutake mushroom that has as great a flavor as its Japanese counterpart.

Tsuru-Murasaki (Malabar spinach): This unique vegetable has a sticky texture and beautiful purple colored stalks (‘murasaki’ in Japanese). Tsuru-Murasaki is similar to spinach but is more nutritious, with higher vitamin A, C, calcium and iron content; it lowers blood glucose levels, too.

Black Cod (Sablefish): This buttery fish, everybody’s favorite, comes back in season in September. Brushstroke uses fresh (never-been-frozen) black cod from Alaska served in various creative presentations. How about in grilled sushi style this time?

To round out our September seasonal ingredients, we also use much sweeter and silkier Japanese eggplant and Kabocha-pumpkin, along with non-dairy, patented, special Soy Cream from Japan.

June 4, The Gohan Society marked its 10th Anniversary with a sold-out gala celebration at the Sony Tower in Midtown, Manhattan.

The “Washoku” Award presented by Ambassador Motohide Yoshikawa, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations

Chef David Bouley, owner of Bouley and Brushstroke, and Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, owner of Nobu were presented the Gohan Society’s “Washoku Ambassador Awards”. The honorees exemplify the spirit of Washoku in their cooking and their everyday lives. “Washoku” means the “harmony of food” in Japanese, and it is associated with an essential spirit of respect for nature that is closely related to the sustainable use of natural resources. Washoku was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013.

The Gohan Society, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to building an understanding and appreciation of Japan’s culinary heritage in the United States through outreach to chefs, culinary arts professionals and all who admire and enjoy Japanese culture.

Pictured below, Chef Bouley with Chef Nobu and the evening’s keynote speakers, Nina and Tim Zagat:

The money shot! chef Nobu and Chef Bouley. #gohansociety#nobu#bouley#sonyTower#nyc

A photo posted by Yū.R.Suzuki (@yuta.belltree) on Jun 4, 2015 at 8:58pm PDT

Tonight I had the pleasure to serve chef Nobu along with my boss chef Bouley at a Gohan Society private event.

A photo posted by Tahi (@tahi15) on Jun 4, 2015 at 6:24pm PDT

Please join us at Bouley Botanical for a series of collaborative health-focused lectures and multi-course dinners curated by world renowned doctors and Chef David Bouley.

Each event begins with a reception featuring passed canapés and a specialty health tonic cocktail. Guests will have the opportunity to mingle in the company of the guest doctor. Chef Bouley will then prepare a multicourse menu with products and ingredients to address the topic of the evening. The doctor will present during the event and be available for all questions and answers.

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