5 Radishes Chefs Keiko Kuwakino & Lieven Lootens in action in Osaka
Culinary Collaboration in Osaka: A 100% Pure Plant Experience
We’re Smart® is proud to announce a unique culinary highlight at the Belgian Pavilion during the Osaka World Expo on 9 June: a 100% Pure Plant Lunch created by two visionary chefs from opposite sides of the world.
Chefs Keiko Kuwakino (Sanaburi – Niigata, Japan) and Lieven Lootens (’t Aards Paradijs – Merendree, Belgium) will join forces for an exclusive We’re Smart® 4 Hands Walking Lunch. Together, they will present a refined plant-based menu that showcases the creativity, seasonality, and sustainability that define the We’re Smart® philosophy.
This special lunch will be served in the presence of H.R.H. Princess Astrid of Belgium, adding a royal touch to a day filled with innovation and inspiration.
📍 Event Details – 9 June, Belgian Pavilion, Osaka World Expo
Morning Program:
- 09:30 Doors open
- 10:00 Welcome by Bart Buysse (CEO, Fevia)
- 10:15 Introduction We’re Smart World by Gil Dumarey
- 10:35 We’re Smart Future Awards Ceremony by Frank Fol
- 11:20 Keynote by Hein Deprez (Founder, Greenyard Group)
- 11:45 Photo opportunity and interviews
🍽 12:00 – Lunch by Chefs Keiko Kuwakino & Lieven Lootens
Join us for a taste of the future — rooted in plants, inspired by nature, and crafted by culinary excellence.
Chef Keiko Kuwakino is the Chef de Cuisine at Sanaburi, the restaurant of Satoyama Jujo in Japan, where she creates a cuisine deeply rooted in the region’s snow country traditions. Having traveled the world - including Australia and India - to study Ayurvedic philosophy, herbs, and spices, she brings a global sensitivity to her hyper-local, plant-forward approach. Her dishes reflect the rhythm of nature, guided by the seasons and the wisdom of local life.
Chef Kuwakino has received numerous accolades, including a Michelin star (Niigata 2020), the Gault & Millau Terroir Award (2022), the title of Best Lady Vegetables Chef (We’re Smart Green Guide, 2023), and recognition with Two Knives at The Best Chef Awards (2024).
For her, the pure plant kitchen is not just a culinary style — it’s a philosophy of living in harmony with nature, expressed in every dish she creates.
Chef Lieven Lootens is the culinary force behind ‘t Aards Paradijs, a fine-dining restaurant nestled in Merendree, Belgium. Renowned for his innovative approach to vegetable-centric cuisine, Lootens crafts dishes that celebrate the natural flavors and textures of locally sourced produce, herbs, and edible flowers. His commitment to sustainability and seasonality is evident in every plate, reflecting a deep respect for nature’s bounty.
In 2011, ‘t Aards Paradijs was honored as Belgium’s Best Vegetable Restaurant, and in 2018, it received the Best Culinary Flowers Award by We're Smart Green Guide.
Beyond the kitchen, Chef Lootens offers guests a unique experience called the “Quest of the Senses,” where participants embark on a journey through local herb gardens, organic farms, and food forests, culminating in a meal prepared with the gathered ingredients.
100% PURE PLANT
We’re Smart® 4 Hands LUNCH
Belgian Blanc de Blanc (Domaine du Chant d’Eole)
Early Summer Salad
Apricot – Cucumber – Myoga Ginger
by Keiko Kuwakino
with Duc De Montagne Prestige Blanc de Blancs
Chilled Spring Soup
Asparagus – Artichoke – Wakame
by Lieven Lootens
with Duc De Montagne Prestige Rosé
New Seasonal Greens
Green beans – Edamame – Sesame
by Keiko Kuwakino
with Vintense Chardonnay
Vegetable “Foie Gras”
Belgian beer – Vadouvan – Porcini
by Lieven Lootens
with Vintense Merlot
Lotusroot “Takiawase”
Maitake – Shii take – Fuki – Tomato
by Keiko Kuwakino
with Vintense Chardonnay
Belgian “Cookies & Cream”
Vondelmolen – Rombouts – Centho
by Lieven Lootens
Gigi plant-based gelato ‘on the go’ (Greenyard)
