Iron Chef Sakai of Japan to Prepare Gourmet Dinner in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Iron Chef Sakai LIVE, a dinner experience featuring a multi-course gourmet meal prepared by Japan's most famous chef, Hiroyuki Sakai, better known as "Iron Chef Sakai," will take place at the InterContinental LA Century City at Beverly Hills, 2151 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, Calif., on Sat., Dec. 8, 2012, at 7:00 p.m.  Iron Chef Sakai will prepare three courses of the gourmet dinner and the InterContinental's executive chef, Jonathan Wood, will work side-by-side with Iron Chef Sakai to prepare two additional courses.  Master Pastry Chef Orlando Maldonado will collaborate with Iron Chef Sakai to create the dinner's dessert.  Tickets are limited to 230 and the cost is $450.  The dinner event is presented by Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc. and the InterContinental LA Century City at Beverly Hills.  American Airlines is serving as the event's official airline sponsor.  Proceeds will benefit the Japan America Society of Southern California, an organization established to build meaningful relationships between Japanese and Americans.

"We are thrilled to bring Iron Chef Sakai to Los Angeles," says Tomo Mizutani, president of Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc.  "We feel this is an outstanding way to foster relationships between Japanese and Americans, as well as express our appreciation to the region that has welcomed our business and our products."

Iron Chef is a popular television cooking show produced in Japan by Fuji Television Network, Inc.  "Iron Chef Sakai LIVE" will be Fuji Television's first-ever official Iron Chef event outside of Japan and guests will enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime dinner experience.  As each of the six courses are prepared, large screens will air live video of Iron Chef Sakai in the kitchen.  Chef Sakai will also greet guests and introduce each course.  

For more information, to make reservations for Iron Chef Sakai LIVE, or to learn about sponsorship opportunities, visit www.jas-socal.org or call Kay Amano at (213) 627-6217, ext. 207.

About Iron Chef Sakai
Hiroyuki Sakai is a well-known Japanese chef who specializes in French cuisine.  Chef Sakai is most famous for being on Fuji Television's cooking competition show, Iron Chef, appearing for six years beginning in 1994.  He was named "King of Iron Chefs" after winning the show's grand finale.  Chef Sakai is known for the presentation of his dishes, which feature a Japanese kaiseki-style.  He is also the owner and head chef of Tokyo's prestigious restaurant, La Rochelle, named after the seaside city in France that Chef Sakai visited in his youth.  In 2009, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare presented Chef Sakai with the Gendai no Meiko (Contemporary Master Craftsmen) award, which honors Japan's foremost artisans in various fields.

About Nitto Tire
Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc. develops performance tires for all uses, including racing, off-road and street. Using state-of-the-art manufacturing and testing facilities in both Japan and the United States – Nitto provides innovative and high-quality performance tires for the most demanding automotive enthusiasts. For more information about Nitto or its products, visit the company's web site or contact the company directly. Nitto is a registered trademark of Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc., located at 5665 Plaza Drive, Ste. 250, Cypress, Calif., 90630.  www.nittotire.com

About InterContinental LA Century City at Beverly Hills
The renowned landmark of the InterContinental LA hotel is just minutes away from Beverly Hills, major entertainment studios and sun-drenched beaches.  The hotel features 361 spacious guestrooms including 148 suites, all offering panoramic views of Hollywood, Beverly Hills and the Pacific Ocean.  Guests can dine either in the Park Grill Restaurant or in the elegant Lobby Lounge that offers tapas style shared plates.  InterContinental LA offers 16,650 square feet of meeting space, including the newly renovated Grand Salon with more than 4,000 square feet of divisible space.  The InterContinental brand is located in more than 60 countries, operating 138 hotels worldwide.  www.intercontinentallosangeles.com   phone (310) 284-6500

About American Airlines
American Airlines, American Eagle^® and the AmericanConnection^® carrier serve 260 airports in more than 50 countries and territories with, on average, more than 3,500 daily flights.  American's award-winning website, AA.com^®, provides users with easy access to check and book fares, plus personalized news, information and travel offers.  American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld^® alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business, enabling them to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own.  Together, its members and members-elect serve more than 900 destinations with more than 9,000 daily flights to 150 countries and territories.  American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation. AmericanAirlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection, AA.com, and AAdvantage are trademarks of American Airlines, Inc. AMR Corporation common stock trades under the symbol "AAMRQ" on the OTCQB marketplace, operated by OTC Markets Group.   www.aa.com

About Japan America Society of Southern California
The Japan America Society of Southern California (JASSC) was founded in 1909 to build economic, cultural, governmental and personal relationships between the people of Japan and America.  It has grown to become the West Coast's premier educational and public affairs forum dedicated to the United States–Japan relationship by offering unique opportunities to become involved in the business and cultural relationship between the two countries.  JASSC is a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit, charitable and educational organization and it is supported by 135 Japanese and American corporate members and more than 2,000 individual members.  www.jas-socal.org  

Contact:
Douglas G. Erber
President, Japan America Society of Southern California
Office: (213) 627-6217 ext. 208; Mobile: (213) 220-6569
[email protected]

Judy Johnson
GolinHarris
Office: (213) 438-8796
Mobile: (213) 200-5577
[email protected]

SOURCE Japan America Society of Southern California