There are tasting menus that make you wish for a bed to fall into, followed by a glass of detox juice in the morning. Ishikawa’s made me feel more awake, the food so expressive that I felt like they were drawing me into a conversation.
Category: Tokyo
[Tokyo] Abysse
There are probably few other restaurants in the world that dedicate their attention as unwaveringly to seafood as chef Kotaro Meguro’s Abysse in Tokyo. The 30-year-old chef forgoes meat dishes entirely on his menu, turning an unwavering focus to the fruits of the ocean.
[Tokyo] Florilège
Over the course of an evening at Florilège, I witnessed a truly fearsome combination in Chef Kawate’s cooking: a clear and precise vision of what each of his plates is meant to evoke in us, an astute understanding of what flavors to call upon to evoke those feelings, and the impeccable skills to make each of those flavors do exactly what he tells them.
[Tokyo] 深町 Tempura Fukamachi
Tucked away in a quiet alley in the busy Ginza area, Tempura Fukamachi is one of Tokyo’s best tempura restaurants. What it lacks in aesthetics, it makes up in spades with flavor.
[Tokyo] Sushi Tokami 鮨とかみ
Despite a few hiccups during appetizers, my meal at Sushi Tokami was a solid one. The signature tuna hand roll was indeed spectacular. Chef Sato was very welcoming and quite chatty – in a good way – which is not so easy to find in Japan if you don’t speak Japanese.
[Tokyo] L’Effervescence
With his Japanese heritage and European training, Chef Namae manages to strike a balance between French flair and Japanese simplicity. His unassuming restaurant tucked in a quite alley in Nishi-Azabu pays homage to both the traditions and techniques of French cuisine, and the spirit of Japanese cuisine that allows the natural flavors of ingredients to speak for themselves.
[Tokyo] 25 Moments in Tokyo
5-day, 7 restaurants, 10 Michelin stars, as well as a number of cafés and shops. Here’s a quick look at all of them.
journeys of a gourmand 