Asia’s 50 Best Restaurant – Roundup
FEB 25th saw the inaugural San Pellegrino Asia’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards. Forget abt the Oscars ..this was THE biggest award as far as we were concerned! As a member of the Voting Academy of World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards, we were given the amazing opportunity to attend the glamorous event at Marina Bay Sands, … Read more
Ginza Okuda ** (by 3-star KOJYU) , Tokyo
Ginza Okuda ** Date of visit : APRIL 2012 Location : at the heart of GINZA Pedigree: By Chef Toru OKUDA of 3-star KOJYU. Ginza Okuda has one of the ‘oddest ‘concept for Michelin restaurants… It’s not technically a branch of Kojyu.. but it has the same concept, serves ‘similar’ dishes that claims to ‘strive … Read more
Kanda *** ( Perennial 3 Star Kaiseki), Tokyo
KANDA*** Pedigree : 3 Michelin Stars ever since the Tokyo red-guide was introduced. Verdict : Exquisite , true-3star Kaiseki. Kanda’s cooking, offers simpler, yet more refined, cooking than its 3-stars counterparts (Ryugin, Kojyu) , whose chefs coincidentally come from the same master at the infamous Aoyagi Restaurant in Tokushima. Retaining the pure taste of its … Read more
Azurmendi *** , Larrabetzu , Spain (2013 : 3-star Michelin receipient)
AZURMENDI – 2013 newly-awarded 3 Michelin Stars!!! Visit Date : FEB’12 Helmed by Chef Eneko Atxa , a former sous-chef of perennial 3-star Martín Berasategui, Azurmendi was a ‘lesser-known’ 2-star establishment in the countryside of Larrabetzu , not far from Bilbao airport. Setting: Must be one of the largest michelin-rated restarants in the world – … Read more
Quintessence *** , Tokyo (1)
Quintessence , 3 Michelin Star Visit Date : September 2011 SFREELIFE Rating : 2 stars Quintessentially, one of the most difficult reservation anywhere in the world. Calls to the single telephone are only taken at 9:30a.m.-11:00a.m. or 3:30p.m .-5:00p.m. (local times). Expect one of the most frustrating wait and inevitably a ‘no tables’ answer, or … Read more
Tokyo Trip 21-25/8 (essentials)
For the first time, think we are ready to proclaim the ‘best of best’ in Sushi and Kaiseki in Tokyo. This, after at least 3 visits to each of the other biggest names in Sushi. “Best sushi in the world” : Sushi Saito We could write a whole lot on Saito but in short, this … Read more
Araki ***, Tokyo
3 Michelin Star Sushi in Ginza For tuna lovers, Araki is certainly THE BEST SUSHI IN THE WORLD. And if you aren’t , Araki is still ONE OF the best sushi in the world. Flashback: In 2010, a sushi-ya little-known to the English-speaking community shot instantly to 3 michelin star status, rubbing shoulders with legendary … Read more
7chome Kyoboshi *** , Tokyo
World’s first and only .. 3 Star Michelin Tempura A word about the misleading name … the restaurant (originated from Kyoto) initally opened at 7chome of Ginza before moving to the current 5chome but the name remains. So be warned … Be warned too … that this is in our opinion, one of ,if … Read more
Kikunoi Akasaka **, Tokyo (Dec’10)
Kikunoi Akasaka ** – “SFREELIFE’S MOST FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN THE WORLD” 2nd visit – December 2010 (stay tuned for upcoming reviews of subsequent meals in November 2011, February 2012). At press time (March 2012), our tasters have visited Kikunoi 6 times , both at Kyoto Honten and most often at Tokyo branch, and each time, … Read more
Sushi Saito ***, Tokyo
3 Star Michelin Sushi in Akasaka. Located next to the American embassy – this is one of the weirdest locations not just for a 3-star michelin restaurant, but FOR ANY RESTAURANT! Literally inside a car-park building, the restaurant itself (if you could call it that!) has a seating area smaller than some restroom cubicle (no … Read more
El Celler de Can Roca ***, Girona
3 Michelin Star San Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurant : #2 (2011) , #4 (2010), #5 (2009) … (In 2009, we had the opportunity to taste the dishes of this highly-acclaimed restaurant in Girona, through the cooking of Jordi Roca who’s actually the pastry chef but representing his brothers at the Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong. … Read more
Sant Pau ***
3 Michelin Star Back in February 2011, we set off for a journey to the world capital of gastronomy that is Spain. On a trip that we would savor the finest dishes from the greatest chefs at the most famous restaurants of the world, Sant Pau , understandably, wasn’t our most highly-anticipated meal. Somehow, even … Read more
Ishikawa *** , Tokyo
3 star michelin KAISEKI , in Kagurazaka (Shijuku-ku) Top-class food, with several excellent dishes (not all). All-in-all , we thought 3 stars were a (just a little) stretched, but that’s only because we certainly would not rate it on the same level as (our all-time favorite nevertheless 2-stars ) KIKUNOI but certainly beat out fellow … Read more
Sushi Mizutani ***, Tokyo
One of 4 3-stars Michelin Sushi in Tokyo, and alongside Sukiyabashi Jiro, Mizutani was the first to get the 3 stars ever since the inaugural guide was published. A protege of JIRO , it is reported that Mizutani obtained all the fish from exactly the same source as his ex-boss. On this rare occasion, we … Read more
Sukiyabashi Jiro*** , Tokyo
For the past 3 years, and most recently in January 2011 (before the tsunami devastation hit Japan) , sfreelife tasters embarked on a ‘sushi journey’ to the reputably ‘greatest sushi restaurants’ in the world (ie. Tokyo). Without a doubt, sushi is a favorite amongst our tasters, who self-admittedly play a part in pushing those rare … Read more
