YUZU RAMEN with PORK CHASHU and NITAMAGO by Masaki Sugisaki, head chef at Dinings SW3may well be the best ramen I’ve had in London and one of the best outside Japan. When living in Tokyo, Masaki-san spent years researching how to make the perfect ramen — full of flavour, but…

Written by All Nippon Airways and Luxeat for a project We Are Japan. I first met Yoshinori Ishi at 2 Michelin-starred restaurant Umu. One of the best Kaiseki masters in Europe, he was the former head chef at this London mecca of Japan cuisine for 11 years. Originally from Saitama,…

There is something beautiful and irresistible when Salt meets Fat. A perfect pairing to stimulate the deep appetite. When done well, there is a warmth, a total engagement of the palate, a consensus between texture and taste. Think of the Anchovy. Best consumed most simply, on rustic bread, a slash…

Hidden in an ordinary residential street in Tokyo’ Shinjuku ward, Ken’s Cafémakes the most extraordinary gâteau au chocolat in Japan and the best-molten chocolate cake I’ve ever had. It is also the most difficult to get too. If you buy it directly from the shop where it’s made, the waiting…

British architect Charlotte Skene Catling and her partner, artist Adam Lowe, know something about structure and space. They also know about representation and taste. She is the co-founder of the architectural firm Skene Catling de la Peña, while he re-imagines and materializes physical sites using digital technology with Factum Arte…

Soupe au pistou Soupe au pistou, traditional warm Provençal soup, usually eaten in summer as it requires three kinds of fresh beans as well as other local vegetables best at their prime. Red, coco and flat beans are cooked with zucchini, tomatoes, carrots, basil leaves as well as raw and…

One of my favourite restaurants in South of France, La Merenda is a tiny, 20 seat restaurant in the old town of Nice. Before taking it over 25 years ago, its chef-owner Dominique Le Stanc used to run Michelin starred kitchens in Nice and Monaco. He now cooks traditional Provençal…

Three of my favourite traditional French tarts by Richard Wilkins, the head chef of 104 Restaurant in London. Ingredients below. Apricot Tarte Fine Puff pastry:560g bread flour150g milk140g water10g salt56g melted butter in dough456g butter to laminate To finish:Apricot jam Fresh apricots Bake for 30 min in 180 C oven.…

Perfect tortilla from my short trip to Spain this week. Light, with the runny center from La Primera in Madrid. La Primera potato tortilla 1 kg potatoes (chopped) 12 eggs Onion (chopped) Olive oil Salt Fry onions in olive oil until golden. In a separate pan, fry potatoes for 15…

The legendary La Viña cheesecake and its recipe from “Basque Country”, Marti Buckley’s book, with whom I had a chance to share my first meal of 2019 (and that was THE cheesecake!) You can buy this brilliant Basque recipes book on Amazon. Yesterday was La Viña’s last day of operation…