Stuffed Whole Turnip with Kuzu Ankake Sauce

Shojin Ryori

精進料理

– Nourishing Stillness –

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Dates:

Friday 13th June

2025

Time:

6:30pm

(2 hours duration)

Price:

$130

($110 for in-house guest)

After two successful dinner events with Rieko, we are excited to respond to the many requests from our vegetarian and vegan guests.
This time, we proudly present a Shojin Ryori–themed dinner: “Nourishing Stillness.”

Throughout this dinner, Rieko embraces the principles of 五味五色五法 (Five Tastes, Five Colours, Five Cooking Methods).
This carefully crafted menu will surprise and satisfy not only plant-based eaters but also meat and seafood lovers, with its deeply layered umami flavours that nourish both heart and body — all without relying on heavy ingredients.

What is Shojin Ryori (精進料理)

Shojin Ryori is the traditional plant-based cuisine of Japanese Buddhism, developed to nourish both body and spirit through seasonal, natural ingredients.
Rooted in the philosophy of balance and harmony, it follows the principles of:

五味 (Five Tastes) — sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and spicy (with umami regarded as an important sixth sensation)
五色 (Five Colours) — white, black, red, green, and yellow
五法 (Five Methods) — raw, simmered, roasted, steamed, and fried

By weaving these elements together, Shojin Ryori creates beautifully balanced meals that celebrate nature’s bounty and encourage mindful eating.

Shojin Ryori – Nourishing Stillness Menu

1. Appetizer Plate (五味五法)

A celebration of seasonal vegetables, showcasing all five tastes and cooking methods:

White Radish Ume-ae (sweet-sour) — raw (生)
Simmered Burdock & Carrot in Soy Broth (umami, salty) — simmered (煮)
Grilled Eggplant with Walnut Miso (bitter, salty) — grilled (焼)
Seasonal Greens Shira-ae (tofu and sesame dressing) — steamed (蒸)
Lotus Root Chips with Aonori Seaweed (crispy, rich) — fried (揚)

2. Black Sesame Tofu (黒胡麻豆腐)

A deeply nutty and silky version of Rieko’s signature sesame tofu, created through 30 minutes of patient hand-stirring

3. Stuffed Whole Turnip with Kuzu Ankake Sauce (蕪の葛餡掛け)

Steam-braised whole turnip, hollowed and filled with buckwheat kernels, Maitake mushrooms, and walnuts, finished with a clear Kombu & Maitake Kuzu-based sauce and a hint of Yuzu-kosho.

4. Fried Shojin ‘Fish’ with Nori + Zōsui + Pickles

“Fish-style” Gisei Dofu (擬製豆腐): Okara and tofu wrapped in nori, lightly fried, and served with Yuzu-shichimi
Seasonal Mushroom Zōsui: Light Japanese rice porridge full of umami
Pickles: To balance and refresh the palate

5. Koji Nutella

A playful and surprising finish — a rich, chocolatey sweetness created without dairy or refined sugar, using Koji-fermented cocoa powder and roasted hazelnuts.

Dietary Information

This menu is vegan and gluten-free, including the fried course. Please note:

Contains sesame, soy and mushrooms – these ingredients are essential to the meal and cannot be removed.
For guests with buckwheat allergies, we can adjust the stuffing in Course 3. However, due to shared kitchen equipment, we do not recommend this meal for those with severe buckwheat allergies.

For our special dinner event, we’ve carefully curated a menu using the finest seasonal ingredients. Please note that the menu is subject to change depending on availability to ensure each dish is as fresh and delicious as possible.

Rieko Hayashi

Born and raised in Japan, now based in Melbourne.
Studied nutrition at university in Japan, and became a chef and a Barista in Australia.
I host cooking classes, workshops, and ChefsTable events, centered on the themes of ‘温故知新-Onko Chishin’ (learning from the past to create something new) and ‘手前味噌-Temae Miso’ (nothing beats homemade).”
Healthy food is delicious! Let food be your medicine!

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Rieko’s previous work:

Traditional Dining Experience

For our guests staying with us, we offer two dining options: Traditional In-Room Dining or Dining-Room Service. The experience is made even more intimate—dinner can be served in the privacy of your room, allowing you to savour the flavours of the season in a peaceful, personal setting.

Please inform us of your preferred dining option in advance or discuss your preference upon arrival.

Traditional In-Room Dining:

Experience an authentic Japanese meal on traditional tatami mats within the comfort of your room.

Dining-Room Service:

Should sitting on the floor be uncomfortable, we are pleased to offer dinner served in the dining room.

Drinks

Shizuka Ryokan is fully licensed. A selection of boutique local wines, Japanese beers, Japanese sake and specialized liquor is available for guests to enjoy in their rooms, with dinner or to take away. A comprehensive wine list is available in each guest room and at reception. BYO wine is welcome ($10 corkage).