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TIP: Feodor Ivanovich Chaliapin
Category: Nonfiction

A popular Russian opera singer in the early 20th century.

His deep, powerful voice and extraordinary talent gained him praise and renown as the most well-known opera singer of the 20th century. Though he was born in a poor family, he taught himself music until he was good enough to earn roles in an opera company. It is said that his first genuine voice lesson was not until he was age 19. Afterwards, he performed in the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, the Teatro alla Scale in Milan, the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, and other venues. His fame slowly grew and eventually he became a huge sensation.

In 1936, two years before his death, he came to Japan for a performance. During his stay at the Imperial Hotel, he suffered a toothache and requested a tender steak be prepared. Agreeing to the request, head chef at the time, Fukuo Tsutsui created a tender steak by marinating a well-pounded cut of beef in finely chopped onion. Chaliapin is said to have enjoyed the dish immensely.

The hotel named the dish Chaliapin steak, which went down in history as a Japanese-specific steak. Derivative items include Chaliapin sauce, a steak sauce made with onions and garlic; Chaliapin hamburg steak, made with said sauce; and Chaliapin pie, made with meat tenderized with onion.