Fashion retail icon Ben Chan had a first-time experience last week in Aoyama, Tokyo, that had nothing to do with style or clothes. In the kitchen of Maisen, the restaurant chain famous for its tonkatsu, Chan tried preparing the pork for frying.
Watch the video on the Inquirer Lifestyle website (inq.ph/1Mbqzrm).
Tonkatsu Maisen’s veteran chef guided Chan in laying the pork slab on a tray of Maisen’s special breadcrumbs (panko), covering it evenly and meticulously, then putting it into the pan of oil formulated specifically for Maisen.
It was a fun learning experience for Chan and the media group which Suyen Corp. brought to Tokyo and Osaka to visit the restaurants/food brands which the country’s leading retail brand will bring to Metro Manila this year.
Suyen, the mother company of Bench, is likewise bringing in—aside from Maisen— Pablo, which is making waves in Tokyo for its cheese tart, and Marugame Seimen’s famous udon shops.
The openings of these Japanese restaurants and cafés will be staggered through 2015 in major malls.
After bringing in Saint Marc Café last year, which immediately became famous for its Chococro, Suyen obviously got its sweet taste of success and is committing more presence in food retail.
This is turning out to be a palate-pleasing year for Chan and family members Virgilio and Nenita Lim of Suyen.