The Hunter Region has long held a firm position on the foodie map.

From Thai to French, modern Australian to Spanish, and Japanese, Mexican, Persian and everything in between, multiculturally inspired dining options are continually sprouting up throughout the inner-city, suburbs and Hunter Valley region.

Nagisa and SUSURU restaurant owner and founder, Taiyo Namba, is amongst the passionate local chefs who’ve set out to offer a genuine cultural experience within Newcastle’s buzzing business precinct.

Taiyo and head chef Chris Schofield have created an authentic homage to Japan’s signature dishes, ramen and gyoza, at SUSURU (which means slurp in Japanese).

The soups bursting with umami taste and noodles cooked to perfection transport visitors to the sidewalks of famous Japanese cities.

But Taiyo wanted to take that experience further. He’s partnered with Jayes Travel Managing Director, Michelle Barker, to take two Novocastrians from slurping fine Japanese cuisine in the in-demand restaurant to seeing the country themselves.

“While we can give our customers the chance to take their tastebuds on holiday every time they visit us, we wanted to offer the real experience,” Taiyo said.

“Jayes Travel and SUSURU are taking foodies on the Journey of Japan and giving two lucky people the chance to win a flight for two to Japan with four nights’ accommodation included.”

SUSURU is giving locals a passport to the restaurant. Every fortnight the restaurant will offer a new ramen special that provides the taste of the authentic Namba family made flavours.

SUSURU’s most recent bowl, the Hakodate Shio ramen, was especially crafted to incorporate the umami flavours of the Hakodate region.

Eating the fortnightly special earns you a stamp on your passport – five stamps gives passport holders an entry into the draw and six gives a bonus double entry.

Michelle said over 2,000 passports have been distributed to locals since the Journey of Japan began.

“Take up of the passports has been huge. It just goes to show how popular Japanese cuisine has become in the Newcastle region, but also how much Japan has grown as a desirable tourist destination,” Michelle said.

“Australia set a new record for tourists to Japan just last year, and much of the drive behind that was the increasing understanding of the broad appeal of the country as a tourist destination.

“We’re really proud to be able to be the travel agent for the lucky winners and ensure they go on a trip of a lifetime.”

All entry passports will need to be dropped into SUSURU before Sunday 2 February 2020, where the winner will be announced on Monday 3 February 2020.

So #remembertoslurp

IMAGE | Travel Specialist at Jayes Travel, Victoria Buckley & Owner of Susuru Ramen and Gyoza Restaurant, Taiyo Namba. (left-right)