Ministry to toast chefs at missions

The Foreign Ministry has launched an award to honor chefs for their excellent work at official residences such as embassies and consulates general, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.

The inaugural award ceremony will be held Monday.

"We hope the system will serve to encourage chefs who work at official residences," a ministry official said. "The award also will raise the profile of such chefs, who might want to open a restaurant or take on a new role after returning to Japan."

The ministry also hopes the award will make it easier to secure outstanding chefs to work at official residences overseas, by rewarding those who take up the challenge.

The award is only open to those who have finished their stints at official residences. Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura will present awards to 21 chefs chosen from about 60 chefs who returned from overseas postings this year.

The award criteria includes the chefs' skill and the originality of their menus.

Chefs who work at official residences are contracted by an ambassador or a consul general to prepare daily meals as well as overseeing catering for diplomatic events. Currently, about 160 chefs are working at Japanese official residences overseas.

In some cases, it is difficult to get chefs to work in developing countries and conflict-affected regions where working conditions are difficult.

The Foreign Ministry also is backing a scheme in Thailand that prepares local chefs to work at Japanese official residences.