Top chefs to gather in Tokyo for '09 World Summit of Gastronomy

The world's top chefs will gather next February in Tokyo for three days of culinary exchanges, organizers said Monday.

The World Summit of Gastronomy 2009 will be held at Tokyo International Forum from Feb. 9 to 11, with well-known French chef Joel Robuchon and other top chefs from Japan, Spain, Italy, Britain, the United States, Australia and China expected to attend.

"We would like to promote the importance of dietary education since (Japanese) consumers' trust in food safety has been shattered" by a series of food scandals, said Kikkoman Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Yuzaburo Mogi, who is also a member of the food summit's executive committee.

Visiting chefs will be introduced to characteristic Japanese ingredients such as "yuzu," a citrus fruit, and wasabi horseradish.

"We are in discussions about admitting the general public, and at a reasonable fee," said Yukio Hattori, chairman of the executive committee and president and principal of Hattori Nutrition College.

Member of the executive committee include Japanese chefs and affiliates of a French food promotion body.