KIBOU launches ‘Passport to Japan’; a campaign to showcase regional food & drink

KIBOU Japanese Kitchen & Bar are inviting guests to join them on a culinary trip to Japan with the launch of their new ‘Passport to Japan’ campaign.

Running from May until the end of October, the initiative will see the restaurant focus on a different region of Japan each month, with a range of food and drink specials that tap into each area.

A collage of images of KIBOU's Passport to Japan and artwork.

Known for its diverse selection of traditional and contemporary Japanese hot food, sharers and sushi, ‘Passport to Japan’ gives guests the opportunity to explore the different regional flavours of the country, and the heritage behind a variety of dishes. There is also a matching range of cocktails on offer, courtesy of Japanese spirits group, House of Suntory, along with some top tips of where to visit and what to eat in each area, presented by the restaurant’s own team.

Chefs at each of KIBOU’s restaurants have developed their own range of specials to convey what each region means to them. Kicking off in Tokyo, expect to find regional classics such as:

Tendon - Tempura rice bowls are a popular serve throughout Tokyo, with many restaurants presenting their own twist and signature serve. KIBOU Cambridge will be serving their delicious rice bowls topped with either softshell crab, ebi (prawn), yasai (vegetables) or all three!

Monjayaki - Traditional pan-fried savoury pancake that’s hugely popular on the streets of Tokyo. Similar to the better-known Okonomiyaki, KIBOU Clifton will be serving theirs with bacon, leeks and cabbage, then topped with tonkatsu sauce and spicy mayo.

Unaju - “grilled eel in a box”. Grilled kabayaki eel fillets served with seasoned rice and unagi sauce. This dish originates from one of Tokyo’s oldest eel restaurants, Jubako in Akasaka of Tokyo, and is being lovingly presented at KIBOU Battersea.

Abura soba - “oiled noodles”. Originating from Western Tokyo, this ‘soupless’ ramen dates back to the 1950’s. KIBOU Solihull will be serving their pan-fried soba noodles with tenderstem, pepper and carrot, then topped with king prawns, sea bream and squid in oyster sauce.

Anmitsu - A Ginza classic from the 1920’s, this Japanese dessert is a favourite right across the country. A colourful dish, that includes agar gelatin, sweet bean paste, black sugar syrup, fruit and dango rice dumplings. Dive into our versions of this dessert at KIBOU Cheltenham and Battersea.

A collage of images of Abura soba “oiled noodles”, Monjayaki, Seafood tempura.

These will be served alongside a Tokyo-inspired cocktail, Cool for Lucky Cats – or maneki-neko. A twist on Japan’s famous high-ball, this cocktail features blended Japanese whisky, Toki, which combines whisky from three House of Suntory distilleries: Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita.

There’s also the opportunity to win a Feast of Japan worth up to £300 at each of the restaurants, with a menu that includes a range of the Passport to Japan food and drink specials. To enter, guests can either pick up a physical ‘passport’ in the restaurant to get stamped each time they visit, or log onto the restaurant’s WiFi whilst in the venue to obtain a digital ‘stamp’. The individual with the most stamps over the campaign period will then be selected as the winner at each site.

For more information about the campaign, including details of menus, how to enter the competition and how to book, visit KIBOU's website.