Jackson, Mich. (WKHM) — The students at Cascades Elementary and Sharp Park Academy had the opportunity to eat something a little different for lunch with Jackson Public Schools’ Japanese Street Food events featuring Chef John Sugimura.

Chef Sugimura is an American-born, Japanese-raised, 2nd-generation professional chef who is the Corporate Executive Chef for Taher, Inc. He discussed the feature items that were on the lunch menu including a Tsukimi Moon Burger and a popular Japanese beverage.

Chef Sugimura says that he enjoys being able to help the students expand their tastes, and that nutrition is about more than the standard and/or packaged food options that people might normally think of when it comes to school lunches.

He takes pride in being able to provide a meal for kids who may have never tried Japanese food, and to those who are familiar with it, but usually do not get to see it during school meals.