普尔茨酒店自由丘

The chef is experienced in the gastronomic ways of both Tokyo and Paris. Intent on reaching new heights while broadening the base of French cuisine, he opened a bistro. He showcases his talents with items baked in pie pastry. Beef simmered in red wine and potato au gratin highlight the appeal of regional cuisines. ‘Le Monde Gourmand’ translates as ‘the world of the food lover’, and as the name suggests, this is the place to sample the world of fine dining in a casual setting.

The generously portioned, inventive dishes reflect the chef’s desire to satisfy. The signature Taichi Salad is piled high with over 30 types of vegetable. Whether cut, grilled, steamed or fried, each dish is prepared to bring out the flavour of the ingredients. The seasonal specials listed on the blackboard are also inviting. In summer, fragrant roast corn with butter soy sauce is this restaurant’s speciality. Each season brings a reason to return.

The theme is ‘Cucina Tokyonese’, Italian cuisine in the Tokyo style. The focus is on vegetables from Setagaya and other ingredients from the Tokyo area. In keeping with the belief that what can be made in-house should be, herbs and fruits are grown in the garden and seasonings are prepared on site. The restaurant’s name means ‘we’ in Italian, expressing a desire for diners to enjoy cuisine created collectively by everyone involved, including the producers.

Northern Europe and Japan share comparable climates and have cultivated similar lore in fermentation. Building on his experience in Denmark, the chef cross-fertilised the fermentation cultures of the two countries to create a cuisine bursting with originality. The item simply labelled ‘Tsukemono’ or ‘Pickles’ is a traditional element of Japanese cuisine. Mackerel marinated in vinegar is mated with handmade miso. Ojiya, a kind of rice gruel, derives inspiration from fermented crucian carp sushi, a hometown-cooking favourite. The theme of ‘fermentation’ harmonises avant-garde with tradition.

The name means ‘the abstract alchemist’. Alchemy combines the four traditional elements of fire, air, water and earth; the name expresses gratitude for the opportunity to cook with the bounty of nature. Ingredients arrive from food producers the chef trusts deeply: seafood from Uwajima, vegetables from Yachimata. Drawing on his experience in Emilia-Romagna, a region renowned for pasta, the chef flexes his gastronomic muscles with varieties such as tortelli and tagliolini.

Tempura at its most colourful, drawing from various disciplines in Japanese cuisine. Tempura shrimp is wrapped in nori; bamboo shoots are boiled, then deep-fried. Other ideas are borrowed from kaiseki tradition. Wagyu tempura and ‘Tenbara’, seasoned rice topped with mixed vegetables and seafood tempura, are distinctive offerings. Familiar items such as sillago and conger eel are woven into the mix, varying tone and pace. To ensure lightness of flavour, a blend of sesame oil and rice oil is favoured. Fertile imagination and Japanese elements fuse in this unique tempura approach.

Two people known only as ‘Bamba-kun’ and ‘Bamba-chan’ offer an interlude of fun at this charming patisserie. To heighten the deliciousness of the prix fixe dessert menu, the sweets are preceded by a light, slightly salty meal of soup, salad and sandwiches. French dessert recipes are interpreted through fruits in season and Japanese ingredients. Baked sweets are misted with awamori, wreathing the creation in a sake aroma.