RESOBOX Hosts Premium Sugimoto Shiitake Dinner Party at Third Kingdom
RESOBOX hosted the second annual “Sugimoto Shiitake Dinner Party” on July 7th at Third Kingdom, New York’s premier all-mushroom restaurant. With approximately 50 guests filling the venue to capacity, the evening was filled with energy and proved to be a resounding success.
Partnership with Sugimoto Shoten
Sugimoto Shoten (https://sugimoto.co/en/) is a heritage manufacturer specializing in premium dried shiitake from Japan’s Takachiho region in Kyushu, renowned for its highest-grade “Hana Donko” and shiitake powder.
Our partnership traces back to an online business matching event connecting New York and Japanese companies, facilitated by a Kyushu prefecture organization during the pandemic. Impressed by our service at that initial meeting, the leadership at Sugimoto Shoten reached out to establish a long-term partnership that has now spanned several years.
Our commitment to introducing Japan’s finest food ingredients into American food culture—and integrating them meaningfully into diverse culinary traditions—aligns perfectly with RESOBOX’s mission. Shiitake, in particular, possesses remarkable versatility across global food cultures, making it an ideal ingredient for RESOBOX’s core philosophy: blending Japanese culture with other cultures to create entirely new culinary expressions.
From Last Year’s Event to This Year
Our inaugural event on September 16th of last year provided mushroom enthusiasts the opportunity to experience Japan’s finest “donko” and shiitake. Many guests were surprised to discover that such world-class quality shiitake exists in Japan, making the event a valuable moment of cultural discovery.
This year’s event built upon that foundation, delivering an even more enriched experience.
Collaboration with Third Kingdom
Third Kingdom is New York’s first and only all-mushroom restaurant, an innovative plant-based dining concept operated by Overthrow Hospitality.
We committed to building relationships with restaurants that could regularly feature Sugimoto’s shiitake, working closely with Third Kingdom’s leadership to establish this partnership. The restaurant’s profound appreciation for Sugimoto Shoten’s premium shiitake products made this event possible.
Executive Chef Juan Pajarito’s Special Menu
Executive Chef Juan Pajarito of Third Kingdom is a pioneering figure in plant-based cuisine, renowned for his work at Avant Garden.
During the event, Chef Pajarito prepared the “Sugimoto Shiitake Special Menu”—dishes crafted with meticulous care specifically for this occasion. Working alongside our staff, he welcomed each guest and created an environment where diners could fully savor his innovative creations. His passion for shiitake and culinary ingenuity made each course a moving experience, touching the hearts of guests with every plate.
Future Direction and Cultural Significance
Following the event’s success, RESOBOX and Third Kingdom have committed to deepening their partnership. Weather permitting Sugimoto’s schedule, we aim to host an annual pop-up dinner at Third Kingdom, showcasing Sugimoto Shoten’s premium shiitake products.
What makes this event particularly significant is how it demonstrates Japanese ingredients transcending the boundaries of Japanese restaurants and deeply integrating into other food cultures. In a city like New York—where diverse culinary traditions converge from around the world—introducing Japan’s finest ingredients across multiple restaurants creates cultural mashups that generate something entirely new. When Japanese food culture fuses with other traditions, something innovative emerges. This creative process lies at the heart of why we organized this event, and it represents a core focus area for RESOBOX.
Moving forward, RESOBOX remains committed to actively creating new value through the fusion of Japanese and New York food cultures.