The jiggly pancakes that took social media by storm are here; Japanese souffle pancakes have finally arrived in Houston! Powered by Rice HTX is a private chef service that started serving the fluffy dessert in June 2019 as part of a dining experience. At the beginning, it all started at his own home.
About Powered by Rice
Powered by Rice consists of two members: Owner-Chef Yusuke Motozawa and Chef-Consultant Ryota Matano. Owner-Chef Motozawa was born in Sanuki City, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan and moved to the U.S. as a teenager. As an adult, he spent 10 years working in Japanese restaurants in Houston and Dallas. Chef-Consultant Ryota Matano consults the joint project remotely while running his own izakaya restaurants in Japan. Together, they develop recipes for this project. To them, Japanese food is so much more than just sushi; their desire is to share the diversity of Japanese cuisine with the multicultural city of Houston!
The Menu
Powered by Rice serves authentic savory Japanese dishes you won’t find in your everyday Japanese restaurant such as okonomiyaki, omurice curry, hamburg steak, and authentic Sanuki udon. They are planning to add classic izakaya dishes to the menu in the future.
The standard pancake course comes with 2 pancakes topped with homemade whipped cream, original hazelnut cream and berries. Chef Motozawa says that now that the base is perfected, they have room to experiment with different toppings.
Powered by Rice has quickly attracted the eyes of Instagrammers by being one of the first to serve souffle pancakes permanently on their menu. Chef Motozawa spent the last 6 months developing his original recipe for the pancakes. He states he spent countless nights tweaking, cooking, and eating the pancakes himself. “I thought they would be easy to make; I was wrong. I’m embarrassed to even show you what the first batch looked like. It makes me appreciate the craft even more now.” The process was tough, but it drove him even further to be able to produce the quality of the food that he is happy with.
How to get a Taste
Powered by Rice will post an Instagram story announcing time slots and menus. If you are interested you, send him a message on Instagram or fill out the application form on his website. After confirming, chef will send you the location which will be in Houston. Carpooling will be recommended since he only hosts the event at a private residence with limited parking.
Customers have the option of selecting a brunch, lunch, or dinner when the option is available. Chef Motozawa has planned menus from friends wanting to try souffle pancakes to anniversary dinners and is also available to bring the dining experience to your home or venue as a private chef. Powered by Rice will work with you to accommodate the needs of your party.
Book your party today! Whether it’s a casual get together with friends, birthday, or anniversary, Powered by Rice is waiting to serve you. Currently, openings are only available on the weekends, but they are aiming to accommodate more guests. Business has taken off much faster than expected and was surprised to have people reserving a month in advance. Follow their Instagram for the latest updates and availability.
