I find it hard to believe myself but I’ve been three times in Nobu over a stay of two weeks in Tokyo. Why go to an international chain when Tokyo has so many exciting local places to offer? Well, the first time I went there was out of plain curiosity.…

During this trip to Tokyo I started with Sushi Mizutani, then Sushi Kanesaka and ended up at Sushiko Honten (6-3-8 Ginza, tel. 03 3571 1968 ). Ironically, my favourite of all the three was the latter, the sushi place that has only one Michelin star, the least from all the…

Since Japan has opened up for foreigners at the end of the 19th century, beef has become a very popular product in Japanese cuisine. In fact, the Japanese are so obsessed about the quality of their beef that when you go to a good teppanyaki or sukiyaki restaurant, they would…

Kaizen (“continuous improvement”) concept is deeply tied not only to manufacturing and business(where it originally comes from) but to Japanese culture in general. Anything Japanese do, they will try to do their best. Whether its service in a hotel, asking directions in a metro station or simply growing vegetables and…

Before going to Sushi Kanesaka, I was preparing to spend my evening in a formal environment with an austere sushi master leading the show. Instead, I found myself in a friendly and vibrant place where the chef Shinji Kanesaka san was chatting with his guests and obviously enjoying doing so.…

Interesting how the concept of gastronomy has changed over time. Before, a gastronomic restaurant would have been unimaginable without foie gras and other products typical to French ” haute cuisine”. Now people travel not to have foie gras but instead experience new and refreshing. “Experience”, “new” and “refreshing” would be…

I know, I know I am a little biased – I speak a lot about Joel Robuchon. I do agree that the venture has become “ a luxurious chain”, but to be honest until now the concept is working perfectly well. One of the reasons for the restaurants’ success is…

5 nights is way too short to discover Istanbul. The capital of three former empires, Istanbul is like a piece of bachlava, many layers of richness and sweetness. The appetite grows by eating it and still, after finishing all the plate, you want some more. I have already posted about…

Can a shashlik kebab be so delicious that your understanding of good shashlik changes forever? So good that you keep thinking of this amazing dish that is melting in your mouth days after your lunch in Köşebaşi Levent and can’t wait to return there and experience that unique feeling? I…

Yves Camdeborde is called “the pope” of “bistronomie”. Years ago he quit his career of “chef étoilé” at Crillon and went for the democratization of gastronomy by opening La Régalade. Since 2005 Yves Camdeborde runs Le Comptoir du Relais ( 9 carrefour de l’Odéon, 75006, tel. 01 44 27 07…