Club Takemiya now features new menu, facility renovations

IKEGO, KANAGAWA, JAPAN

05.15.2013

Story by Joseph Schmitt 

Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka

IKEGO, Japan - Club Takemiya on Fleet Activites, Yokosuka Ikego Housing Detachment reopened after a ribbon cutting by Luis Peña, Club Takemiya manager, and Commander Fleet Activities, Yokosuka Capt. David Owen, May 15. The club is reopening after extensive renovations.

“The building was completed in 2000 and since then we have not had a major renovation,” said Peña. “So, to match restaurant trends that have been going on in the states we changed the look of the club and also made significant updates to our kitchen and equipment. We also changed our menu to match the changes we made to rest of the club.”

Some of the renovations we visual like the new layout, new décor, new seating and new color scheme. The new items also pay homage to the club’s cultural roots.

“The club is named after Mr. Takemiya, a former liaison between the military and the city of Zushi who served for 33 years,” said Peña. “With him in mind, we wanted some of the feeling from both Japan and America. So, on the walls we have gorgeous photos from different places in Japan and an Amish company in Iowa makes the furniture from wonderful dark walnut. So, it’s a really nice place to sit down and have a meal.”

The seating has also been changed to include more and larger booths allowing six people to sit together and it brings the seating capacity up from 54 before the renovations to 64 afterwards.
Seating and art do a lot for the club, but to complete the renovations the kitchen was also significantly changed. One of the new features is a "combi oven."

It’s a combination of a traditional convection oven and steam that uses high heat, steam and pressure to quickly cook items. The oven allows the chefs at the club to cook faster and to cook new items for the menu.

“Now, we can offer meals to go. Someone can call in or stop by and place an order for a full chicken or pizza and we can get it done in a few minutes,” said Peña. “It’s really about serving the military families we have out here. We understand that you might be on the way home from work on the ship and you don’t always have time to cook. This way, you can call in an order and pick it up on the way home to your family.”

For more information on Club Takemiya’s menu, hours and specials visit their section of Morale, Welfare and Recreation Yokosuka’s website at http://mwryokosuka.wordpress.com/club-takemiya/.

• Date Taken: 05.15.2013
• Date Posted: 07.10.2013 03:31
• Story ID: 109934
• Location: IKEGO, KANAGAWA, JP