Oven-Baked Salmon Aref Saade

Ingredients

• 800 g fresh salmon

• 1 tbsp brown sugar

• 1.5 tsp chipotle chili powder • 1 pc lime zest (of 1 lime)

• 1 tbsp lime juice

• 1.5 tsp kosher salt

• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

• 3 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

Aref Saade first entered the restaurant business in 1985 from Saudi Arabia, when he began supplying specialist staff and authentic Japanese and Chinese ingredients to the industry. In 1992 he launched a consultancy business, setting up an office in Beirut under the name “Tropical Bamboo”, along with others in the Philippines and Japan. Aref opened the award-winning Shogun Lounge, a Japanese and Chinese restaurant, in Beirut in 1998, which gained him regional acclaim and popularity, on the back of its concept and diverse menu, and the “Best Restaurateur of the Year” award at the Grumpy Gourmet event in 2009. He has also been actively involved in the operation and supply-side of more than 42 restaurants, including Shogun, Fuji, ZN and Nippon.

In December, Prime Minister Shinzo Abi awarded him the Minister’s Award for Overseas Promotion of Japanese Food in recognition for his contribution to raising the profile of Japanese cuisine overseas.

Aref's motto "The shogun way: washoku tradition and harmony."