The Gift of Narisawa

Les Creations de Narisawa

‘A master of French technique and Japanese aesthetic', ‘one of the most influential chefs of all time’ – Yoshihiro Narisawa has been showered with plaudits since he first fixed the global culinary spotlight on Tokyo with the opening of his elegant, cream-coloured fine-diner Les Creations de Narisawa in 2003.
 
After a Michelin star-spangled run (he’s just retained a two-star rating for 2013) that’s also included S. Pellegrino’s World’s 50 Best Restaurant rankings for four consecutive years (currently #27), the maestro’s 10th anniversary year promises to be a culinary tour de force.

Each of the seasonal tasting menu’s 10 courses famously takes its inspiration from an element in nature. The signature ‘Bread of the Forest’ features nutty dough that ferments and bakes at the table in a heated stone pot. A radish and edible ‘soil’ salad constitutes a ‘Gift from the Mountain’, while ‘Gift from the Sea’ courses have in the past featured charred, leek-battered Toba oyster fritters and tender spear squid ‘cooked’ with liquid nitrogen ash.

Carbonised Hida wagyu rump roast is also a ‘Forest’ favourite; its burnt black exterior revealing a perfect, tender pink throughout, and Le Lectier smoked pear with magnolia chips, ice cream and 125% Valrhona chocolate fondant is just one of the indulgent codas to the spectacular gastronomic symphony. This Valentine’s Day, what could be better to give than the Gift of Narisawa?