Suntory Whisky Takes London on a Japanese Journey at London Restaurant Festival 2015

This October, award winning Suntory Whisky will bring a myriad of flavours from The Land of The Rising Sun to London, with The Japanese Journey: a culinary odyssey through some of the city’s best Japanese venues.

As part of the London Restaurant Festival, diners will be taken on a whirlwind tour of Japan’s culture and food in one weekend, visiting six of London’s best ramen bars, sushi restaurants and Japanese lzakayas. Each venue will offer a range of specialist Japanese dishes, each perfectly paired with the new Hibiki Japanese Harmony whisky: a meticulous and subtle blend of the finest whiskies from the House of Suntory.

In Japan, whisky has always been distilled with the express intention of complimenting the delicate palate of Japanese food – where as in the west, wine is typically chosen to pair with a meal. Even traditional Japanese cocktails like the highball are created to enhance the experience of the meal. A Japanese highball is typically made with a refreshing blend of whisky and soda over ice, balancing the complex flavours of Japanese cuisine while cleansing the palate.

The six participating restaurants in the Japanese Journey this year are:

· Shoryu Ramen: 3 Denman Street, London, W1D 7HA
From the team behind Japan Centre, Michelin Guide recommended Shoryu Ramen specialises in Hakata tonkotsu ramen from the Hakata district of Fukuoka.

· BÓ Drake: 6 Greek Street, London, W1D 4DE
Bó Drake is an East-Asian BBQ restaurant, creating dishes with East-West influences.

· Tonkotsu: 1 Dunston Street, London, E8 4EB
Tonkotsu East specialises in ramen with home-made noodles that you can watch being made on a traditional machine imported from Japan.

· Chisou: 4 Princes Street, Mayfair, London W1B 2LE
Chisou Knightsbridge, tucked away in a converted townhouse, has been serving authentic Japanese food since 2010.

· Kurobuta: 312 King’s Rd, London SW3 5UH
Kurobuta takes its inspiration from the Izakayas
 of Japan, where tapas-style plates are served to accompany drinks in a casual setting.

· Yashin Ocean House: 117-119 Old Brompton Road, London, SW7 3RN
Yashin Ocean House is an exciting, modern Japanese restaurant led by head chef Yasuhiro Mineno who combines classic dishes with modern techniques.

Visit londonrestaurantfestival.com/events/japanese-journey to purchase your Japanese Journey tickets and receive your journey ‘passport’ for the weekend. Choose from October 10 & 11, 17 & 18 or 24 & 25 for £63.30 per person.