东京KKR酒店

‘Circular gastronomy’ from the chef of Mirazur in southern France. Prix fixe menus are composed from four themes—roots, leaves, flowers and fruits—expressing the beauty of nature and the cycle that happens in our world. The fare is modern French woven from Japanese ingredients, but it also beguiles with influences from the chef’s native Argentina, such as tapas and asado. Having stretched out his roots in southern France and budded leaves of creativity, the chef has blossomed in Otemachi.

Novel ideas meet time-honoured craftsmanship. The signature snack is cream croquette of tiger prawn, dressed in a reduction of shrimp miso. Deep-fried items are also offered, bringing a satisfaction rarely found at sushi shops. For its part, the sushi is prepared traditionally: brined, marinated or simmered. In part because of his language skills, the chef was tapped to cater a dinner meeting between the Japanese and American leaders.

The concept is ‘a place that weaves a tale of an encounter between earth and sea’. ESTERRE expresses the terroir of Japan through the supervision of Alain Ducasse, a legend of the gastronomic world. Entrusted with the kitchen is Kei Kojima, who conjures fare that is both healthful and flavourful. Vegetables, selected in the markets of Kamakura, are colourful and fresh. Ingredients wreathed in the fragrance of a charcoal flame display a quintessentially Japanese approach.

Thai culinary culture interpreted through Japanese ingredients. She moved to Bangkok and honed her culinary skills, now offer her cuisine prix fixe. Chopped mix of pomelo and seafood derives from the table of the royal court; rice vermicelli yakisoba is inspired by Bangkok street food. Curries are prepared with fresh-pressed coconut milk. Regional cuisines are reproduced using fermented or matured homemade seasonings. KHAO overflows with inquisitiveness and passion for Thai cuisine.

The dining room incorporates traditional Chinese decorations into a modern, elegant space. An extensive menu ranges from dishes of various regions to creative cookery with the accent on seasonality. Char siu and Peking duck arrive courtesy of the roasting chef, while steamed meat dumplings and soup dumplings are tended by the dim sum chef. Seafood is offered with XO sauce, fermented black beans, chilli sauce or other preparations to suit each guest’s preference—an appealing feature of the menu. Explore the subtlety and depth of Chinese cuisine in all its splendid regional variety.

A ‘sugidama’, a traditional ball made from sprigs of Japanese cedar, hangs from the eaves of a house with a unique green décor. The restaurant is the creation of Milan-based Yoji Tokuyoshi and the concept is ‘Italian food with Japanese ingredients’. To draw out the delicious flavour of ingredients in season, preparations are kept simple. A menu focused on à la carte selections encourages guests to enjoy freely. The richly seasonal menu offers something new to discover on every visit.

Seiji Yamamoto charts the vastness of Japanese cuisine. He handles his knives and tends his charcoal grill with relentlessly honed technique. He elucidates the properties of each ingredient and the best ways to prepare it with a scientific eye, displaying unwavering resolve. His winter menu is replete with fugu items, products of years of experience and passion for Japanese cuisine. Disarming frankness shines in Yamamoto’s favourite expression: ‘I’m a chef because I love cooking.’ From January to March, RyuGin offers only the exclusive fugu course.