[Novotel Nara] Nara and the Silk Road Meet: "Uzbekistan x Nara Early Summer Ethnic Buffet" to be Held

Novotel Nara (Location: Nara City, Nara Prefecture) will host the "Uzbekistan Fair Buffet" starting in June 2026, featuring a fusion of Nara Prefecture ingredients and traditional Uzbek cuisine.

We will offer a special buffet that can only be experienced here, blending the rich food culture of Uzbekistan, which flourished as a key point on the Silk Road, with seasonal ingredients from Nara.

We have prepared a lineup that can be enjoyed by a wide range of guests, adding hotel-specific arrangements to Uzbek dishes that utilize the aroma of spices and the umami of ingredients.

■ Why Uzbekistan? The Story of Nara and the Silk Road Connection

This fair is inspired by the connection between Samarkand, an ancient city in Uzbekistan, and Nara, an ancient capital of Japan.

In 2022, Nara City and Samarkand City signed a sister city agreement.
Samarkand, which prospered as a trading hub on the Silk Road, and Nara, said to be its eastern terminus, have long exchanged culture, technology, and food.

At this fair, chefs who have actually visited the region will express the charm of Central Asia with Nara's unique sensibility, based on its historical background and the flavors they encountered locally.
You can easily enjoy the food culture of the distant Silk Road in Nara.

■ Diverse Menu Weaving Nara Ingredients and Uzbek Cuisine

We offer arranged menus based on representative Uzbek dishes, incorporating Nara ingredients.

Dishes that evoke the local food culture include "Achichuk Salad" with the refreshing acidity of tomatoes and fragrant herbs, salads that utilize the umami of vegetables, and richly spiced soups.

In addition, main dishes using domestic beef and Nara's brand pork offer deep flavors enhanced by the aroma of spices and butter.

Furthermore, hotel-original arranged menus such as pasta with refreshing lemon acidity and pizza incorporating Uzbek elements are also available, allowing you to enjoy a variety of flavors.

Achichuk Salad

A classic tomato salad popular in Uzbekistan.
This dish features the refreshing aroma of herbs and spices spreading through the fresh vegetable umami.

Frantsuzskiy

A popular salad in Uzbekistan made with beets, cucumbers, and potatoes. The vibrant color of beets and the richness of homemade mayonnaise enhance the flavor of the ingredients.

Yaponskiy

A Japanese-style salad enjoyed in Uzbekistan. This familiar dish combines the flavors of soy sauce and sesame, giving it a touch of Japanese essence.

Shorva

A traditional Uzbek soup that slowly brings out the umami of meat and vegetables.
This dish represents local home cooking, offering a rich and gentle flavor.

Plov ~Uzbek-style Pilaf~

Uzbekistan's representative dish, finished with the sweetness of carrots, the umami of rice, and the aroma of spices.
Simple yet deeply flavorful, this dish allows you to experience the local food culture.

Yamato Pork Homemade Salsiccia Uzbek Style

A hotel-original arranged pizza incorporating Uzbek essence.
This satisfying dish harmonizes fragrant dough with the aroma of spices.

Domestic Beef Pie Wrapped ~Uzbek Samsa Style~

Domestic beef umami and spice aroma are sealed and baked in pie dough.
Inspired by the traditional Uzbek dish "Samsa," this dish offers a fragrant buttery aroma and an exotic taste.

Baaku Pork Uzbek Style Gorgonzola Sauce (Weekend Lunch / Dinner Only)

Rare Nara brand pork "Baaku Pork," carefully raised with special feed, is fragrantly grilled over charcoal.
This special dish, available only for weekend lunch, combines sweet fat and rich umami with a rich gorgonzola sauce.

Beef Steak Salsa di Mone Parmesan (Weekend Dinner Only)

A dish combining fragrantly grilled beef with refreshing herb-scented salsa verde sauce and Parmesan cheese.
The umami of the meat, light acidity, and richness of the cheese are exquisitely balanced, making it a luxurious main dish available only for weekend dinner.

Uemura Farm Milk Halva

A traditional sweet popular in Uzbekistan.
This simple yet profound dish features the gentle sweetness and richness of Uemura Farm milk.

■ Samarkand Direct Wine, Feeling the Blessings of the Silk Road

At this fair, we also offer wines produced in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

This region, which flourished as a key point on the Silk Road since ancient times, is known as a wine-producing area with a large temperature difference between day and night, suitable for grape cultivation.

This time, we offer unique wines from the local winery "Bagizagan."