Czech gastronomy writes another milestone
At the end of March this year, two restaurants in Tokyo were awarded Czech Specials certification in recognition of their authentic Czech cuisine. This is the first ever award for this brand outside of Czechia.
"It's great to see that Czech cuisine is finding its place even in a demanding market like Japan. It is here that it is confirmed that authenticity, quality and a strong story have universal value in gastronomy. We see the award of the first Czech Specials certification outside Czechia as an important milestone and a great motivation for further development of the project abroad," says Lenka Nováková, who presented the Czech Specials award on behalf of the Czech Tourist Authority – CzechTourism.
The ceremony took place at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Tokyo. It included a press conference focused on Czech gastronomy and the Czech Specials project. The programme included a presentation of Czech cuisine and the project itself, a speech by the Czech ambassador and the presentation of the Czech Goodwill Ambassadors award for the promotion of Czechia abroad.
Czech Specials: the brand that defines Czech cuisine
Czech Specials is a joint project of the CzechTourism agency and the Association of Chefs and Confectioners of the Czech Republic. The certification is open to restaurants and pastry shops that offer quality Czech cuisine, both in traditional and modern form.
The aim of the project is to support excellent Czech restaurants while strengthening the development of Czech culinary culture. Currently, there are approximately 80 certified restaurants and 18 patisseries and cafés in Czechia.
Japan as the first step on the global stage
Japan has become the first ever foreign country to introduce the Czech Specials certification. This step reflects not only the growing interest in Czech gastronomy, but also the high demands of the Japanese market, which is one of the world's top.
Why Beer? – Czech classics in the heart of Tokyo
"Our restaurant is located near Yoyogi-Uehara Station and specializes in Czech beer and Czech cuisine. Our head chef, Ms. Tsukamoto, gained her experience at Dvore Perlová voda, a Bib Gourmand award-winning restaurant in Michelin Guide, as well as at the popular Pilsen-based Lékárna. She further developed her skills under the guidance of chef Leoš Kastl from the Czech Embassy. We are proud to serve authentic Czech food based on this experience. We offer our guests 3–4 types of Czech draft beer, including Pilsner Urquell, which is tapped by a certified Pilsner Urquell tapster ("Tapster") who has undergone professional training and passed the necessary tests in Czechia. We also have exceptionally fresh beers imported by air. In addition to beer, we also offer a wide selection of Czech wines, whiskies, liqueurs and other Czech beverages. Please come and enjoy our carefully selected Czech beers and delicious Czech cuisine! We look forward to your visit,“ says Kosuke Shida, owner of Why Beer.
Pilný Piják Tokyo – Czech tradition in Japanese rendition
"One of the distinctive features of our restaurant is its name - "Pilný Piják". We chose it to put a smile on the face of Czech visitors, and we are pleased that it really does. Since 1991, we have been cooperating with various Czech beer brands for a long time. Over the years we have gradually deepened our relationship with Czechia, learning from Japanese citizens connected to Czechia – both from those living there and those in Japan – as well as directly from Czechs. Thanks to these contacts, we were lucky enough to have a Czech chef, who himself worked in a Michelin-starred restaurant in Prague, pass on the basic rules and essence of Czech cuisine to us for several months during his stay in Japan. We stay true to these basics and try to approach our work with care and commitment, in the spirit of being "diligent". We cordially invite you to visit and taste the dishes that we believe will satisfy even Czech guests,“ adds the owner of the second award-winning restaurant Ryosuke Yonehara.
Czech cuisine has global ambitions
The entry of Czech Specials into Japan confirms that Czech gastronomy has the potential to succeed even in the most demanding markets. The brand opens up space for further expansion abroad and strengthens the perception of Czechia as a destination that offers not only quality service, but also a strong and authentic gastronomic experience.