A Bold Blend of Japanese and Indian Flavours For Kinsale

Inspired by The Silk Road - A Bold Blend of Japanese and Indian Flavours For Kinsale

Rare at The Blue Haven in Kinsale and Ichigo Ichie in Cork city — are joining forces for an exclusive one-night-only collaboration on Sunday, January 25th.

Michelin Guide-recognised chefs Takashi Miyazaki (left, above) and Meeran Manzoor will come together to create a seven-course tasting menu with a unique focus on the fusion of Japanese and Indian flavours, designed to showcase the very best of Cork’s food producers and local suppliers. 

Meeran Manzoor, the Executive Head Chef at Rare at Blue Haven, said, “We are very excited to announce this special evening with Chef Takashi Miyazaki. The experience will be a culinary journey bridging India and Japan, inspired by the historical Silk Road, a network that connected cultures, ideas, and flavours across continents. The collaboration is a modern culinary “echo” of that connection, where tradition meets innovation and East Asian flavours.”

The concept positions the dinner as more than a meal. The evening promises to be an immersive storytelling experience, where each dish represents a stop along a journey, a whisper of cultural memory, and a fusion of culinary philosophies.

Ichigo Ichie is a bistro and natural wine bar in Cork city, serving exquisite dishes featuring Japanese culinary craft and art by Takashi. Rare, meanwhile, has become known for Meeran’s signature blend of South Indian heritage and French culinary techniques, producing hyper-local, ingredient-driven dishes.

Takashi Miyazaki of Ichigo Ichie said, “When Chef Meeran approached me about collaborating on a fusion of Indian and Japanese tasting menu, I knew we had the opportunity to create something truly special. I love sharing Japanese food culture in Ireland, and I can’t wait to head to Kinsale via The Silk Road for this event.” 

Meeran and Takashi will create a seven-course tasting menu that celebrates a dynamic fusion of cultures, ideas, and flavours. The experience begins with an amuse bouche of Corn Kakiage with caviar — a delicate Japanese-inspired tempura-style fritter — alongside a rich Beef Tartare. Guests will then explore main courses such as Venison paired with Koshihikari biryani and a silky Japone sauce, or Swordfish served with daikon and yuzumiso dashi - a rich, savoury dashi with miso. The journey concludes with a Gubbeen smoked cheesecake, cardamom ice cream, and petit fours.

Guests will enjoy an exclusive seven-course tasting menu priced at €150 per person, with optional wine pairings available. Sittings are at 5 pm and 8 pm, with bookings made online at www.rare1784.ie or by calling 021 4772 209.

For those wishing to make a weekend of it, accommodation packages are available at both The Blue Haven and Old Bank Townhouse. Packages start from €216 per person sharing, including the tasting menu, overnight stay, and breakfast the following morning. Book the Blue Haven package at www.bluehavenkinsale.com, and the Old Bank Townhouse package at www.oldbankhousekinsale.com. 

Rare at The Blue Haven is located in The Blue Haven Collection, Pearse Street, Kinsale, Co Cork,

P17 NA72. Keep up to date with the latest news by following Rare on social at @rarekinsale