DINING WITH THE CHEF introduces Americans to the techniques, ingredients and harmony of Japanese cuisine. Hosted by Yu Hayami who cooks alongside master chef Tatsuo Saito, and co-host Patrick Harlan who cooks with chef Rika Yukimasa, with occasional appearances by other guest chefs, the series presents delicious Japanese dishes that can be made at home. Chef Tatsuo Saito, a prominent master of Japanese culinary arts, has served as head chef at the Japanese embassies in Paris and Washington and was an instructor in Japanese cuisine at a Swiss hotel school. He has also prepared tastings for the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. In Tokyo he operates a cooking school and is a prolific author, often appearing on television, in magazines and on the lecture circuit. In DINING WITH THE CHEF, Chef Saito takes us to the heart of Japanese cuisine by demonstrating culinary techniques, explaining ingredients, and showing how to arrange food to bring out its distinctive characteristics. Host Yu Hayami is an international singer and actress who was born in Japan and raised in Guam and Hawaii. Aside from her career and being a mother of two, she is also involved in charity work. Yu is a lover of good food, as well as a fine wine enthusiast.