Tourism Korakuen restaurants offering Edo-era delicacies

[thomas]

Visitors to the renowned Korakuen garden in Okayama can now experience a taste of history by indulging in dishes enjoyed by the Ikeda clan lords during the Edo Period. A committee formed to enhance the appeal of Korakuen has recreated these historical dishes, which are now available at hotels in Okayama City. The committee identified and researched the foods they consumed by studying the "Gokoen shoji tomechō" (御後園諸事留帳), a historical document detailing the official business of the Okayama lords.

The committee subsequently published "Okayama Korakuen: Tonosama no gochisō-cho, (岡山後楽園 殿様の御馳走帖)" a cookbook featuring 41 recipes from the Edo Period. These include dishes like "Shiki miso," a miso-based dish with steamed or simmered abalone, red sea bream, and Chinese yam, and "Oyakimono," a savoury dish made with cooked Japanese amberjack fillets. The cookbook provides detailed information on the ingredients, traditional cooking methods, and dining habits of the feudal lords of the Edo Period.

The book explains each dish's ingredients and traditional cooking methods and describes the eating habits of the feudal lords of the Edo Period. Since the book's publication, restaurants in the prefecture have asked to use the recipes. Therefore, the committee decided to certify each restaurant that prepared historical dishes from the book that met the committee's standards. To receive approval, restaurants need to follow five rules: Include at least one dish from the recipe book, use the ingredients listed in the book, name the set of dishes either "Okayama Korakuen tonosama gozen" or "Okayama Korakuen tonosama no gochiso-cho," present or package the dishes in a way befitting the names and offer the dishes or packed meals on an ongoing basis. These historical meals are available at the ANA Crowne Plaza Okayama and Hotel Granvia Okayama, both located in Kita Ward in Okayama City. Arate Saryo, a restaurant in Kita Ward, and the Okayama Plaza Hotel in Naka Ward will start serving the dishes soon.

Feast like a feudal lord near Korakuen in Okayama | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Okayama Korakuen Garden Official Website