Takayuki Kitagawa, Consul-General of Japan in Bengaluru, is doing his bit to promote Japanese food and culture in the city. Taking a step forward in that direction, the affable and welcoming, Consul-General, Takayuti Kitagawa has appointed Chef Sunita Khatri from Darjeeling, as the Consul-General’s chef at his residence. Chef Sunita is the first Indian female (and second Indian national) to be a chef of any Consul-General of Japan in the world. After many months of training, Sunita is now adept at cooking authentic Japanese cuisine, not just for the Consul-General in the city, but also for his many honorary guests and dignitaries from the world over.
The Consul-General of Japan in Bengaluru, Takayuki Kitagawa states, “In the Japanese Foreign Service, we have 223 ambassadors and Consul-Generals and the proportion is 180 Ambassadors and about 40 Consulate Generals, i.e. Head of the Diplomatic Mission. We are entitled to hire an official chef, who is normally trained in 5-star hotels for three to five years. After an extensive training, they are appointed by the Foreign Minister to the Head of the Diplomatic Commission. In Sunita’s case she started her Japanese food journey way back in 2009 as a domestic help to a Japanese family and later went on to be trained by Chef Okano of Matsuri in Hotel Chancery and Chef Shimomura of Yataii in Hotel Shangri-La before being appointed as the official Chef. Even when I was posted in Chennai, Sunita was my personal chef and she has also worked in many Japanese Diplomats, but not in official capacity. She was my personal chef and I liked her style of cooking and since I knew her from before I decided to give her formal training and appoint her as my official chef. She was quick to learn the Japanese style of cooking at Matsuri and Yataii and is now the first Indian woman to be the official chef of the Consul-General of Japan in Bengaluru.”
He adds, “I have hosted quite a few Japanese dignitaries and officials who have appreciated Sunita’s cooking. She can make excellent Sushi and Maki and her desserts are also liked by my guests. I plan to invite a few Japanese guests staying in Bengaluru for a Sunday brunch to promote Japanese language and culture.”
