To celebrate the year of the dragon, I had the honor of attending a stupendous feast, hosted by Dining Out and @halekulani_okinawa, and featuring Tomoya Kawada of ⭐️⭐️⭐️ @sazenka, who prepared an elaborate full-course dinner under the stars amid the remains of Shuri Castle.

The palace of the Rykyu Kingdom between 1429 and 1879, Shurijo was the main site of the kingdom’s legendary gastrodiplomacy, where the Rykyu royals entertained envoys from Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Smooth relations bolstered the kingdom’s position as a vital trading hub and cultural crossroads.

Sadly, the castle was razed during WWII, and a long-term reconstruction project was thwarted when a fire destroyed the nearly completed main building in 2019. A second reconstruction is now underway.

The history-steeped stone remains served as a dramatic backdrop to Chef Kawada’s stunning cuisine, which incorporated Okinawan ingredients. A truly marvelous event!

Dining Out Rykyu Shuri Part 1

Somen in tea flavored with getto herb

Yako-gai marinade

Golden crab spring roll

Yun Bai Rou Sazenka style

Jellyfish with choumeisou

Yako-gai and soft shell turtle soup

Sichuan deep-fried harisenbon

To be continued…