Harutaka * ( Chef’s Choice Sushi by ex-Jiro Chef) , Tokyo
HARUTAKA * , Ginza, Tokyo. Pedigree : 1 michelin star. (2 stars in 2011) Harutaka is very well known as chef’s favorite sushi ( Ryugin’s Seiji Yamamoto and even fellow sushi-master 3-star Yoshitake-san) , possibly because this sushi-ya opens till late in time for chef’s supper after work! The chef here is also a former … Read more
Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongi ** , Tokyo (so near.. yet so far)
Sukiyabashi Jiro , Roppongi Branch Pedigree : 2 Michelin Stars run by the son of THE LEGEND – Jiro Ono. By now, the man needs no introduction .. just grab the dvd of ‘Jiro Dreams of Sushi’ ! Location : Within the landmark ROPPONGI HILLS complex (side building). In the vicinity are michelin-loaded restaurants like … Read more
Kohaku ** (fusion Kaiseki by 3-star Ishikawa) , Tokyo
KOHAKU ** Location : Kagurazaka , near Shinjuku. Pedigree : Chef Hideki Ishikawa is amongst many great things, one of the most successful restauranteurs , with at least 7 michelin stars to his name (Ishikawa***, Kohaku**, Ren** ) and counting, and a master to numerous superstar chefs who had gone on to establish kaiseki restaurants … 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
Sushi Kimura ** (2013 Debut Michelin 2-star Sushi) , Tokyo
Sushi Kimura ** Tabelog : http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1317/A131708/13026584/dtlphotolst/1/smp0/D-normal/2/ Location : Outside city center. FUTAKO-TAMAGAWA , a relatively new fashionable residential area of the affluent. Pedigree : Debut in the 2013 Michelin Tokyo guide with 2 stars. Considering that the sushi category has been relatively ‘untouchable’ with the likes of Jiro, Mizutani, Saito and constant 2-stars like Sawada … Read more
DEN ** , Tokyo ( Tokyo’s Most Exciting Restaurant! )
DEN – 2 Michelin Star ‘innovative’ Kaiseki Location : Slightly outside the city center of ‘ginza’ in JIMBOCHO district (taxi recommended) … very difficult to locate too as you’d need to walk into a small lane off the main road … the best way is to locate the ’7-Eleven’ store and walk right in… Be … 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
UMI **, Tokyo
UMI ** 2 Michelin Star Sushi in AOYOMA, Tokyo. Not far off the main shopping areas of Omotesando/Aoyama. This lively sushi-ya serves over 30 different selections of fishes, including tsumami (sashimi) and nigiri (sushi). Sourcing seafood from all over Japan, the emphasis is on ‘quantity’ and ‘variety’. That’s not taking away anything from the sushi … Read more
Kodama **, Tokyo
2 Michelin Star Contemporary Japanese Cuisine In an age and particularly in the city where ‘fusion’ is largely frowned upon, Kodama offers one of the most delicious meals one can expect anywhere, anytime in Tokyo. Forget about ‘cha-kaiseki’ or ‘kyo-ryori’ for a second, and just enjoy the very best cooking by self-taught Chef Kodama. Using … 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
Mugaritz – A Natural Science of Coooking
“You don’t have to like something for you to like it .. “ Not often I find a ‘cookbook’ as meaningful, provocative, enlightening as “MUGARITZ – A Natural Science of Cooking” … heck, not just for a cookbook but any ‘book’ period. Highly suggested reading.. for gourmets and non-gourmets alike. When ‘less’ is truly more… … Read more
MICHELIN “HOKKAIDO” GUIDE 2012
SPECIAL EDITION – Michelin Guide “HOKKAIDO” 4 3-Star Restaurants : SUSHI TANABE ( http://sushi-tanabe.com//?page_id=642/ ) 温味 NAKUMI (Kaiseki) Moliere (French) : Michel Bras TOYA Japon “The Michelin Guide 2012 for Hokkaido lists 699 restaurants and hotels, sampling everything from simple noodle restaurants through establishments that specialise in curry dishes, meat serves on skewers, pork “ramen” … 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
