The most famous (or infamous) dish at The Araki so far, the newly opened and the most expensive sushi restaurant in Europe. Fatty tuna from Ireland, that had been chopped in advance, was mixed with soy sauce, mayonnaise ( whisked in front of you) and generously shaved over with white…

This was certainly not my favourite tempura I’ve ever had (my all-time favourite is 7 Chome Kyoboshi), but still better than any tempura outside of Japan. I love how Japanese are able to perfectionize anything from growing melons to frying vegetables in some batter, which actually end up tasting so…

Chef Oshima Manabu is one of the most charming and nicest chefs I’ve met in Tokyo. He runs steakhouse Shima (9〒103-0027 Tokyo, Chuo, Nihonbashi, 3−5−12, 日本橋MMビルB1; tel. +81 3-3271-7889), located in an office building basement and difficult to spot even when you have a precise map. Different than other steak powerhouses…

Butagumi ( 2-24-9 Nishiazabu, Minato, Tokyo 106-0031, tel. +81 3-5466-6775 ), a tonkatsu paradise 5 minutes walk off the main Roppongi road, is where all the best pigs of Japan go when they die. Think of a double-sided menu, all dedicated for pork fillets and sirloins from various Japanese regions. Good pork…

To paraphrase the old saying, if the sea won’t come to a Japanese sushi chef, the sushi chef will go to the sea. This is certainly true in the case of 3 Michelin starred chef from Tokyo Toru Okuda, who just opened an intimate, “Edo-mae” style sushi- ya next to…

Ibai (Calle de Getaria, 15, 20005 San Sebastián, Spain; tel. +34 943 42 87 64 ) is one of those little known, “gem” restaurants, foodies dream to discover one day. With no Michelin stars and hard to book, Ibai is considered by some, as one the best, if not the…

Rice with lobster at Ex Xarcu (Cala Porroig, Sant Josep, 07839 Ibiza, Spain; tel. +34971 18 78 67 ). Scraping the burnt and crispy rice from the edges of the pan is an important part of the whole pleasure. Some of the most memorable gastronomic experiences in my life have…

Sushi gods have been particularly gracious to the Parisians recently. We have 3 Michelin star chef from Tokyo Toru Okuda, who last autumn opened a kaiseki restaurant near Champs Elysees (the omakase meal also includes a sushi course), we have Jin, high end sushi shop run by a young chef…

Summer is not really the season to make cheeses with black truffles, but one shop in Saint Tropez does it right no matter if it’s hot or cold outside. The tiny fromagerie behind the fish market produces one of the best brie cheeses with black truffles I’ve ever had and…

A lazy summer lunch on the French riviera isn’t quite complete without a glass (or, usually, more) of cold rosé wine. Var region is especially famous for rosé wines and my latest coup de coeur comes from Château Barbeyrolles, organic vineyard located near Gassin village. The estate is owned my madame…