A new dining experience is coming to Vancouver next month courtesy of a first-of-its-kind collaboration between Aburi Restaurants’ Miku and the Iwate Prefecture of Japan that will offer diners the opportunity to taste Japan’s most acclaimed wagyu beef, Iwate Gyu. 

As Japan’s highest-grade brand of beef and an unprecedented 11-time winner of the top prize at the Tokyo Meat Market, Iwate Gyu is widely considered to be the pinnacle of Japanese beef. In addition to having the best taste and texture of any beef produced in the country, it’s also worth noting that Iwate Gyu has received recognition for its sustainable circular farming practices.

“Iwate Gyu is simply the most prestigious and exquisite wagyu I have ever tasted, especially because of its perfect balance between umami and sweetness,” explains Miku executive chef Kazuhiro Hayashi. “For the menu, we definitely wanted to highlight the natural flavours of the wagyu with ingredients that complement the melt-in-your-mouth nature of the beef.”

Chef Hayashi’s seven-course menu will highlight Iwate Gyu in a multitude of ways, including wagyu tataki with sous vide lobster, braised abalone, and applewood smoke, dashi-poached ribeye with nikiri ponzu and cured spring onion, and wagyu steak with charred cipollini onion, potato pave, and blistered heirloom gem tomato. 

Miku’s Iwate Wagyu Kaiseki menu will be available from March 9 to 19. Many of the tasting menu items will also be available à la carte during the aforementioned timeframe. Reservations are required and can be made online.