A taste of . . . JAPAN

When I left London, the team at the fancy restaurant I worked at bought me a truly beautiful Japanese knife as a leaving gift. Ever since that moment, Japan has captured my imagination, and I’ve carried that knife during all my global travels. Late last year, I finally visited Japan with my partner, who is equally infatuated with the country.

I really admire Japanese culture; they want to be the very best at everything. Imagine a chef cooking only rice for years in order to get a promotion in the kitchen! A favourite memory I have of Japan

— Mount Fuji excluded — is Nishiki market in Kyoto: I can still smell the roasted green tea aroma that almost commands you stop and take a deep breath.

I don’t know how many wonderful hours we spent in that market, tasting unusual ingredients, getting a few knives in the well-known Aritsugu shop and eating matcha flavoured icecream. That day I felt so inspired and decided to cook at home; we bought simple but perfect tuna and vegetables.

As I started to prepare I realised I would never be a true Japanese chef, but I can be creative with ingredients and come up with a delicious dish with my own spin. Japan has changed and influenced me in many different ways: making me love whisky even more, appreciate the simplicity of a great bowl of noodles and the beauty of nature… oh those maple trees. Kira is head chef at The Grove in Auckland.