On this rainy Memorial Day, I found myself watching the new Devil Wears Prada sequel at the theater. Seeing the brilliant Anne Hathaway on screen instantly brought back a rush of memories from the day I actually met her back in 2023, where I shared my signature fruit mochi recipe at a major Shiseido launch event here in New York City.
(Fun fact: I actually just discovered this Vimeo recap video today! It beautifully captures a few quick moments of Anne and me together at the booth).
The event took place at the then-brand-new Virgin Hotel. The indoor event floor was stunning, featuring an interactive stage and sleek anti-aging cosmetic booths. Just outside, on a beautiful open balcony, was my specialty mochi and tea station. Because the event organizers knew Anne had fallen in love with fruit daifuku during a past trip to Japan, they commissioned me to create a dedicated, luxury fruit-wrapped mochi experience just for her.
Slicing Fresh Daifuku: The Fruit Mochi Recipe Anne Hathaway Loved
When she walked up to my booth, she completely caught me off guard. She smiled warmly and said, “Hi, very nice to meet you. My name is Anne.” I couldn’t help but smile—as if the entire world didn’t already know exactly who she was! She was incredibly gracious, even paying me a lovely compliment on my appearance.
Together, I showed her the traditional technique of slicing fresh strawberry mochi using thread (糸). We split it down the middle, cheered, and tasted it together. To balance the sweetness, I served her a warm, nutty buckwheat tea (そば茶), which she absolutely loved.
Crafting the Shiseido Event Menu: Mini Japanese Rare Cheesecakes
Beyond the VIP booth, my team and I crafted a curated menu of high-end finger foods for the guests, pulling inspiration from Shiseido’s iconic camellia flower motif:
Finding Motivation and Breaking Barriers in the Culinary World
Looking back, it remains one of the most memorable days of my culinary career. Anne is close to my own age—a fiercely hardworking, talented woman. Every time I see her on screen, it recharges my own motivation to keep pushing forward.
New York City’s culinary and business worlds are intensely competitive, and even in this modern era, navigating the gender gap as a woman in leadership can be daunting. But movies like that, and milestones like this event, remind me of why I do what I do. They give me the energy to keep building, creating, and honoring my craft.
Want to recreate a taste of this star-studded event at home?
- Try my step-by-step guide for Fresh Fruit Daifuku (Mochi) to master the thread-cutting technique yourself.
Bake a batch of my light, elegant No-Bake Japanese Rare Cheesecake
