Morimoto guest-chefs at the White House
The Hiroshima-born Morimoto worked with White House executive chef Cris Comerford and executive pastry chef Susan Morrison on the menu, which featured American food infused with Japanese flavors.
TV's Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto - who owns Japanese restaurants in Philadelphia and New York City with Stephen Starr - was guest-chef at the White House April 28 for a state dinner honoring Japan's President Shinzo Abe and first lady Akie Abe.
The Hiroshima-born Morimoto, who turns 60 next month, worked with White House executive chef Cris Comerford and executive pastry chef Susan Morrison on the menu, which featured American food infused with Japanese flavors.
Morimoto, for example, used bamboo shoots from Japan and hearts of palm from Hawaii.
People Mag raved over the meal and Michelle Obama's china design. Performers from the cast of Jersey Boys sang.
The meal for 300 people included a sake toast and three California wines - a 2013 Ryo-fu Chardonnay from Freeman Vineyard & Winery, founded by Ken and Akiko Freeman, a 2010 Joli Coeur Pinot Noir from Morlet Family Vineyards, and 2007 Russian River Cuvee sparkling wine from Iron Horse Vineyards.
Also on the menu at the state dinner was American beef bred from Japanese Wagyu cattle.
Lettuces and flowers planted by schoolchildren were taken from the White House kitchen garden for the salad course.
The White House described the first course as "a nod to the classic American Caesar salad with a Japanese twist, literally. The salad is wrapped in a clear acetate and tied with a Mizuhiki cord emulating a gift to be opened."
The soup course - Vegetable Consommé En Croute and Shikai Maki - was served with a crisp Hawaiian pineapple tempura topped with a sliver of cured ham from Virginia.
The main course was roasted American Wagyu beef surrounded by early-spring vegetables, including young carrots, baby cauliflower, and wild ramps.
For dessert, a take on the American-style cheesecake was prepared using healthier ingredients such as Silken Tofu and soymilk. It was complemented with a fruit salad featuring a selection of seasonal berries from Florida. Included was a petit pillow accented with blackened syrup and honey.
Yahoo Food also has photos.