European lamb on the table at Hibiya Palace, Tokyo
On 24 June 2025, a group of 18 professionals from Tokyo’s food scene gathered for a lunch event at Hibiya Palace, a well-known restaurant located in the heart of the city. Organised as part of the Exclusive Lamb & Goat from Europe campaign, the goal was to give guests a first-hand experience of the qualities and versatility of Agnei Ibérico lamb.
Connecting with local professionals
The event was designed to bring the European product closer to Japanese professionals and food-aware consumers. The group included chefs and other high-level guests who could later bring this product into their own kitchens and businesses. The small format encouraged direct conversation and feedback, helping to build interest and trust.
Agnei ibérico, interpreted by chef Ayaka
The tasting was led by Chef Ayaka, who developed a menu combining Japanese culinary aesthetics with premium European lamb. The first dish was a shoulder tartar, slow-cooked on the bone and served with herb salad and lemon. This was followed by a navarin-style lamb leg medallion with early summer turnip, and finally a grilled French rack with eggplant, maitake mushrooms and a citrusy-spicy sansho pepper sauce.
Each dish was prepared in the venue’s kitchen and served hot, giving guests a chance to enjoy the texture, flavour, and versatility of European lamb in real time.
Reinforcing key messages
Throughout the experience, guests were reminded of the values behind the product. The campaign’s messages around traceability, EU origin, and responsible production practices were introduced naturally during conversations and printed materials. The event helped position European lamb as a refined, trustworthy option for the Japanese market.
Promotion programme to inform about the European Lamb and Goat sector
EXCLUSIVE LAMB & GOAT FROM EUROPE is a three-year promotion campaign supported by the European Commission and launched by two national lamb and goat associations with the main goal of raising awareness among sector professionals and consumers about the qualities of the European lamb and goat sectors.
Find more information about the project here: https://exclusivelambandgoat.eu/