YOU BOX is a project in which Nakamura Yu shares the delicious food he encounters on his travels both in Japan and abroad with a smile, aiming to create even more "exceptional" experiences.

He holds events all over the country where he shares stories about the people and dishes he meets on his travels, and even serves up local dishes he learns along the way. This time, we bring you a report from the "YOU BOX Report Session: Georgia Edition," held on December 17th at Table Company in Jingumae, Shibuya Ward!

■ Feeling the atmosphere of the unknown country, "Georgia"

Georgia (formerly known as the Republic of Georgia) is a small country with a population of 4.3 million located in the South Caucasus region, surrounded by Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkey. Located approximately 8,000 kilometers from Japan, Georgia remains a relatively unknown country. Yu was inspired by the idea that "the food is delicious" and "Georgian wine sounds interesting," and so, as usual, he only purchased a round-trip plane ticket and a hotel for the first night before heading off to Georgia.

You can read about his memories of Georgia and the details of his trip in "Sharing the World's Most Delicious Foods: 'YOU BOX' from Georgia!", so be sure to take a look.

The event was conducted through Yu's talk, interspersed with photos and videos. He talked about a wide range of topics, including the city's traffic jams with no traffic lights, the Georgian Orthodox Church, and the mysterious method of brewing Georgian wine, said to be the oldest in the world (natural fermentation in jars buried in the ground!). A taxi driver who likely didn't speak English took us to Jignagi, a wine-producing region in Kakheti Province. We happened upon a grape harvest festival, and the people around us exclaimed, "You've got it all, Yu-san!" Despite some quips from the guests, the atmosphere was harmonious.

■A sudden cooking demonstration! The lively atmosphere was thrilling!

While we were laughing about our travels and reminiscing about Georgia, the cooking demonstration suddenly began. The first dish was "green borsch," which she learned from her first host, Leela Mama, in the capital, Tbilisi. She roughly tore herbs from the table with her hands, smashed them into a coarse paste in a hand mixer, and added them to chicken broth! The soup was ready in no time, combining the aroma of Japanese leafy vegetables like wasabi greens, green onions, and chrysanthemums with the sticky texture of taro and a simple salty flavor for a truly delicious flavor. A line formed in front of the pot, where refills were unlimited, and the food was quickly eaten up.

Afterwards, guests also tried their hand at wrapping khinkali (a type of xiaolongbao filled with meat and spices), creating a lively atmosphere in the venue thanks to the unique event-like elements.

■Extraordinary Attention to Food

YOU BOX's mission is to deliver the "extraordinary deliciousness" that Yu has encountered on her travels. This time, they once again put a lot of thought into the ingredients, serving homemade sangria made with Georgian and natural wines, and using organic vegetables grown in Shizuoka. They combined Japanese and local ingredients with recipes they learned in Georgia to recreate the flavors of Georgia in YOU BOX style.

YOU BOX super chef Mitsuo Kojima, who joined us from the previous event (Spain), was in charge of the food, and the quality was high and everything was exquisite. How could Georgian food be so delicious even though the chef wasn't accompanying us on the trip? When asked about this, Kojima revealed that he developed the direction of the dishes by looking at Yu's recipes and photos from the region. "There wasn't much information about Georgian cuisine online, so I even went to the library to look it up," Kojima said, revealing his struggles. He also considered the water quality, checking the local water's hardness, and, since walnuts are a common food in Georgia, even used walnuts as chips for smoking the meat. His ingenuity in even the most unseen details is truly impressive. "When Chef Kojima recreates the Japanese version, the flavor ends up being very clean, so it was difficult to work with him on how to capture the 'roughness' and impact of a Georgian home," Yu said. The key, he said, was to make generous use of spices, which are frequently found on Georgian dining tables. Even with Yu's input, the pair's dishes retain a power that makes them unmistakably "Georgian."

■How to Enjoy YOU BOX

The menu included "Rusudan's Mysterious Dish," a dish added to Yu's collection of "Grandma's Recipes." It's a truly mysterious dish with a unique texture that's neither meat nor fish. The audience buzzed as they searched for the answer to the question, "What is this dish really?" Guests could discover recipes that would never be found in Japan and are probably unknown even in Georgia, and imagine the grandmother's personality and life through its flavor. Sharing this "one-of-a-kind moment" with many people is one of the joys of YOU BOX.

Following the Georgian custom of toasting multiple times during a meal, we also made multiple toasts at the venue. One guest suggested doing the Amami-style "self-introduction + toast," and someone nominated by Yu introduced themselves and led the toast. The lively atmosphere of the ever-changing movements and the resulting creations was also enjoyable.

During his travels, in search of encounters with people who pursue craftsmanship, Yu met the people of Georgia, who carefully handcraft everything as if it were a matter of course. Seeing them live their daily lives with strength, Yu concluded the event by saying, "It gave me a generous feeling, like I should enjoy the little things."

■The Georgia Edition's splendid conclusion is in Taiwan!

The final YOU BOX Georgia Edition report event will be in Taiwan. "We've held events in Takamatsu, Nagoya, and Tokyo, but the ingredients used in the dishes are different, the story is slightly different, and the customer reactions are completely different," says Yu. Chef Kojima is also excited about finding ingredients in Taiwan and collaborating with local chefs. Why not experience this one-night-only YOU BOX event, which can only be held here? (Sold Out)

■A Georgian "Sharing" Menu Brought to You by YOU BOX

This YOU BOX features a set made with plenty of Georgian spices, produced by YOU BOX chefs Kojima and Masaru, allowing you to enjoy Georgian soul food at home!

◇The first is three types of YOU BOX special "khinkali."

Khinkali are large, soupy dumplings filled with plenty of meat, similar to xiaolongbao. They come filled with a variety of meats, including pork, lamb, beef, and potato, but the key is the herbs and spices that go well with each one. This time, we're bringing you three different flavors.

◇The second is YOU BOX special khachapuri.

Khachapuri is like a baked bread with cheese in between. While its appearance varies depending on the region, it is positioned similar to onigiri in Japan and is a Georgian soul food that can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere!

◇The third item is gelato made in collaboration with gelateria Sincerita.

The Georgia edition of YOU BOX is a collaboration with gelateria Sincerita, which is so talented that it won third place with its "Mernoy" at the International Gelato Competition in 2011. It is a delicious original gelato made using Georgian spices that you won't find anywhere else.

The above three items will be delivered with a Georgia travel storybook for 5,400 yen (excluding tax and shipping included).

*For details on events in Taiwan and ordering YOU BOX, please see the YOU BOX homepage at the link below.