Ichigo Ichie celebrates women in the industry this International Women’s Day with a special showcase from 8 to 12 March 2022.
Chef Akane Eno, the only female Japanese chef leading a restaurant in Singapore, highlights the accomplishments of six women in areas close to her heart – food and art. Quality vegetables and seafood are transformed into exquisite kappo dishes (from $138++ per person), while fine Japanese pottery and lacquerware (from $79+) crafted by artisans are displayed at the restaurant’s gallery space.
Forming the epicurean highlights are vegetables, seafood, and sake sourced from three female suppliers who Chef Eno works closely with. Two sakes – Tabito Junmaishu ($36++/180ml) and Tabito Tokubetsu Junmaishu ($39++/180ml) – are selected by Hanako Kudo from family-owned Maizuru Brewery, who was recognised as Akita’s first female master brewer in 2000. Ita-wakame and kuro-awabi are sourced by Mayumi Tachibana from SOL Japan, while other organic yamato-mana and house-made yuzu kosho are acquired from Wakako Mori from Katsuragi Sanroku Farms in Nara.
In appreciation of impeccable expertise and craftsmanship, an array of fine Japanese pottery and lacquerware created by three Japanese female artisans is showcased at the restaurant. Exquisite lacquerware are carved and polished by Eiko Tanaka, a lacquer artist and woodturner based in Kaga City, Ishikawa. Also on display are Seto Sometsuke-yaki – elegant white porcelain pieces that are adorned with indigo floral designs hand-painted by Mayuki Kato, a 4th generation ceramic artist at Singama, a pottery founded by her family in 1919. Rui Mito, a ceramic artist, established her own wood-fired kiln in 2009. Rui personally sources for clay used in her pottery, and shapes Karatsu ware that are beautifully rich in expressions through traditional glazing and carving techniques rooted in the region.