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In
recent years, Parisians discovered
and have fallen in love with ethnic food and Japanese cuisine
in particular. Sushi and sashimi are now part of the French diet
and Japanese restaurants are everywhere.
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But
now, a new
Japanese creation is starting to drive Parisians crazy. Its name
: wa-fumi. The concept was created by a young Japanese woman,
Mariko Ueno who came to France 20 years ago to learn the rules
of French cuisine. In 1976, after her diploma from the Ecole du
Cordon Bleu, Mariko went back to Tokyo to create her own cooking
school. Her concept is simple and seductive : French dishes easy
to prepare at home.
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Until
now, French cuisine taught in Japan was an affair for professionals,
too complex for "ordinary" housewives. Mariko came back
to Paris in 1991 and started a food consulting company, Mariko
Food Style. Among her clients, Toraya, the great Japanese
pastry shop, favorite of the Japanese imperial family. Wa-fumi,
a word made of "wa", which means "related to Japanese
culture", and "fumi", "flavor", is the
result of her ideas. It blends ingredients, flavors and know how
of both countries. "What I want is to help French people discover
the whole culinary richness of Japan, which I adapt to French habits
and produce." |
| Example
of wa-fumi: grilled salmon with soy sauce,
a seaweed salad with olive oil, "magrets de canard" with
shoyu flavoring (a Japanese soy sauce), sushi and salmon in salad,
figs with Port and oshiruko sauce. Mariko is blending French products
and Japanese products she finds in France. She says this new cuisine
has to be easy to make and "harmonious" because "wa"
also means "peace, communication, harmony." |
| Addresses
in Paris to discover Wa-Fumi |
La
Grande Epicerie of the Bon Marché,
on the Left Bank, is selling a selection of traditional Japanese
products as well as dishes prepared by Japanese chefs.
To discover wa-fumi : La Grande Epicerie de Paris 38, rue de Sèvres.
75007. Mo Sèvres-Babylone Tel: 1 44 39 81 00. |
| Salon
de Thé Toraya. Toraya, the tea
salon at the corner of the rue Saint Florentin and rue du Faubourg
Saint-Honoré, serves some of Mariko Ueno's wa-fumi dishes
and pastries. The only Japanese tea salon in the city. Is a must.
10, rue Saint Florentin. 75001. Tel: 1 42 60 13 00 Mo Concorde,
Madeleine |
| La
Maison de la Culture du Japon The Japan
House is regularly offereing lectures on Japanese traditional cuisine.
101bis quai Branly. 75015. Mo Bir-Hakeim Tel: 1 44 37 95
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Epicerie
Kioko. A great Japanese grocery store.
46, rue des Petits Champs. 75002. Mo Pyramides |
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Caves
Fuji. A great place to find sake, the
Japanese rice alcohol. 8, rue Thérèse. 75001. Mo Pyramides
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| Centre
Culturel franco-Japonais. The cultural
center offers Japanese cooking lessons. 8, passage Turquetil. 75011.
Tel: 1 43 48 83 64 Mo Nation. |
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Grande
Epicerie du Bon Marché. A fabulous
food emporium for all kinds of produces from all over the world.
38, rue de Sèvres. 75007. Mo Sèvres-Babylone. |
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