A day for fireside cooking

Today, and June 8th annually, is Fireside Cooking Day 炉ばた焼の日 (Robatayaki no Hi) in Japan. Robatayaki, often called "robata" for short, literally means fireside grilling. In English, some people call it fireside cooking.

It refers to a rustic style of cooking where chefs grill fresh seafood, vegetables and skewers over charcoal right in front of guests. Diners sit around a counter, watching ingredients and being served directly from the grill. The grill is really a a raised square hearth, called an "irori" in Japanese. Traditionally, "irori" were on the ground, like the one in the photo, where I got to experience "robata" like in the days of yore!

Robatayaki Day is a celebration of flavor, craftsmanship, and the joy of gathering around the grill. The anniversary was created by the company behind the Rikimaru group of robatayaki restaurants. They chose June 8th as the anniversary because it 6/8 reads as "ro (6) ba (8) ta", making a fitting day to honor this traditional style of Japanese dining.