World's first vegan wagyu beef wows Japanese chefs

original: https://vegnews.com/2020/7/world-s-first-vegan-wagyu-beef-surprises-japanese-master-chef

Note: The translation is for reference only.

WORLD’S FIRST VEGAN WAGYU BEEF SURPRISES JAPANESE MASTER CHEF

World's first vegan wagyu beef wows Japanese chefs

“My first impression was this was real wagyu beef,” said California Roll inventor Chef Hidekazu Tojo of the new vegan “Waygu” teriyaki strips.

When to review new vegan treats“ Waygu”（“ "Wagyu") teriyaki beef fillet, the inventor of the California roll, Tojo Hideie ( Hidekazu Tojo） The chef exclaimed: “It’s just real Wagyu beef, that was my first impression. ”

by ANNA STAROSTINETSKAYA

author: ANNA STAROSTINETSKAYA

JULY 19, 2020

2020July 19

The world’s first vegan alternative to wagyu beef was recently unveiled by Top Tier Foods (TTF), a Canadian manufacturer that specializes in plant-based options for the sushi industry. TTF worked with Japanese manufacturers to create soy-based Waygu Plant-Based Teriyaki Strips using traditional Japanese cooking methods and spices such as soy sauce, rice wine, garlic paste, and ginger. The result is a vegan meat that can be used in a variety of dishes in place of sliced beef.

canadian manufacturer Top Tier Foods（TTF）（“ Top Foods, a company that specializes in producing a variety of plant-based alternatives for the sushi industry, recently launched the world’s first vegan gourmet alternative to Wagyu beef. Top Tier Foods The company has cooperated with some Japanese manufacturers to use traditional Japanese cooking methods and seasonings, such as soy sauce, rice wine, garlic and ginger, and carefully create soybeans as the main raw materials. Waygu Plant-Based Teriyaki Strips（“ Wagyu brand plant-based teriyaki beef tenderloin"). The newly developed vegan meat can be used to replace beef slices in a variety of dishes.

“With our plant-based Waygu, we wanted to create a product that honors and celebrates wagyu beef and does so respectfully but do so for a very different clientele, one who for various reasons is moving away from animal protein in their diet,” TTF President Blair Bullus said. “Japanese wagyu beef is the world’s most respected beef for flavor and texture and that is the reason why we challenged ourselves to replicate wagyu beef rather than any other type. Its unique tender qualities and subtle flavors were a huge challenge to develop with plant proteins but our Japanese-Canadian collaborative efforts have proved it can be done … Waygu is a plant-based alternative to wagyu beef that can surprise even some of the world’s most respected Japanese food chefs.”

“we develop Waygu Plant-based meat is about creating a product that respectfully pays homage and admiration to Wagyu beef, but has a completely different customer base. Our products are aimed at consumer groups who are eliminating animal protein from their diets for various reasons.” TTF Company President Blair Burroughs ( Blair Bullus） said. “Japanese Wagyu beef is the most revered beef in the world for its outstanding flavor and texture, which is why we challenged ourselves to replicate Wagyu beef, not any other meat. Developing the unique tender nature and subtle flavor of wagyu beef using plant-based proteins is a huge challenge, but our Japanese-Canadian teamwork has proven it can be achieved…… Waygu（ Plant-based meat) is a (delicious) plant-based alternative to Wagyu beef that could wow even some of the world’s most renowned Japanese chefs. ”

Vancouver-based Chef Hidekazu Tojo—a Japanese Cultural Ambassador who invented the California Roll in the 1970s and has cooked for Hollywood celebrities and British royalty—was among the first to sample the new plant-based meat. “I thought I was eating real wagyu beef, I didn’t believe it was made from plants,” Chef Tojo, who was formerly skeptical of meatless meats, said. “My first impression was this was real wagyu beef. It was incredibly tender, similar to wagyu beef, and seasoned very well. I am very impressed. It’s very close, it’s very difficult to tell the difference.”

Celebrity chef Hideo Tojo in Vancouver, Canada ( Hidekazu Tojo） was a Japanese cultural ambassador who invented the California roll in the 1970s ( California Roll）， He has also demonstrated his cooking skills for Hollywood stars and the British royal family. Hideyoshi Tojo also participated in the first taste test TTF The company’s new plant-based meat product. “I thought I was eating real wagyu beef, and I didn’t believe it was made from plants,” says chef Tojo, who had previously been dismissive of all kinds of vegetarian meat. “It's just real wagyu beef, that was my first impression. It's incredibly tender, similar to wagyu beef, and exceptionally seasoned. I was deeply moved. It's so close (to Wagyu beef) that it's hard to tell the difference. ”

TTF recently began distributing Waygu to restaurants in Japan and is gearing up for large-scale production of its innovative plant-based meat in August.

TTF The company recently started supplying to various restaurants in Japan Waygu Plant-based meat products, and is preparing to launch large-scale production of this innovative plant-based meat product in August.

TTF is also known for its other innovative vegan products, including Tosago (a seaweed-based alternative to masago fish roe); Cavi-art (an alternative to caviar); and Sushi Quinoa (a sticky quinoa that can be used in place of rice in sushi rolls).

TTF The company is also known for producing other innovative vegan products, including Tosago（ A substitute for pomfret roe made from seaweed), Cavi-art（ caviar substitutes) and Sushi Quinoa（ A sticky quinoa treat that can be used in place of rice in sushi rolls).