fter three years of anticipation, The Chairman and 102 House once again joined forces in Shanghai at the end of this August, marking their third collaboration. The first time was at The Chairman in Hong Kong, the second at Den in Tokyo, and this time at 102 House Shanghai with the theme of Huangpu River-inspired Cantonese Flair.
The inaugural world’s 50 best hotel list surely results in frenzy among hoteliers and luxurious experience fanatics despite the wanting of novelty in view. The palpable optimism in Guildhall to celebrate the growth of post-COVID hospitality industry in mid-September will surely continue for some while. Yet the true impact of this collective, and formative collage of accommodations elected by critiques remains uncertain.
If Disfrutar is the pioneer of modern Spanish cuisine, bold, avant-garde and experimental, then Compartir, which means "to share" in Catalan, allows the chefs to set aside their focus on innovation and use modern techniques to trace back to traditional Spanish cuisine. Each dish is served à la carte, encouraging people to share and leisurely savor the culinary artistry of the three chefs. What remains unchanged is Compartir's equally high standards for excellence.
Kuwakino feels closely connected to the land she treads on. For her, the pleasure of being able to pick up ingredients right from her own garden and cook them herself is unrivalled. "If I lived in the city, none of this would happen," she shares. Her farm-to-table philosophy is not just a popular style of cooking, but an emotional and philosophical approach to food.
This journey was undertaken to attend the World's 50 Best Restaurants awards ceremony in Valencia, Spain. In the scorching heat of June, I drove through the remote town of Denia, heading towards the hidden gem of a Michelin three-star restaurant - "Quique Dacosta." After an one hour journey, all fatigue vanished as I beheld the scenery and anticipated the forthcoming gastronomic delights.
I rarely use the word "legendary" to describe a restaurant, as it carries a heavy weight. However, the three-star Michelin restaurant El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain, can certainly wear this crown.
The opening of Bulgari Hotel is a major highlight in Tokyo after the pandemic. Not only is it the first Bulgari hotel in Japan but also the 8th ‘gem’ of the Bulgari Hotel & Resorts Collection. Occupying from the 40th to the 45th floor of the Tokyo Midtown Yaesu, an ultra-skyscraper in the Yaesu 2-Chome North District, the hotel overlooks the quiet premises, fascinating history and natural environment of the lmperial Palace Gardens. From a distance, the red brick Tokyo Station and the glass-curtain building behind it may seem juxtaposed, but Bulgari Hotel seamlessly blends the fusion of Japanese traditional cultural aesthetics. It is at this moment that I visited Tokyo once again.
An advocate of sustainable business for many years, three-starred Italian chef Norbert Niederkofler has been living his Cook the Mountain beliefs and promoting them through various events. Now his followers are also practising the philosophy of cooking with nature at the mountain tops of the Dolomites along the Italian-Austrian borders.
With the Torres brothers' vision gradually coming to fruition, each dish proves the power of food in uniting, inspiring, and creating unforgettable memories. Therefore, step onto the kitchen island, embark on a culinary journey that goes beyond a mere meal – it is an immersive experience that stimulates the senses, sparks intellect, and leaves a profound impression.
Tokyo's Michelin two-starred restaurant Florilège has been temporarily closed since this 20 July and will be moving to a new location. For many people, this would be a reluctant farewell to the delicious memories they have had here. At one of the most beautiful counter-style seating restaurants, Chef Hiroyasu Kawate has earned two Michelin stars for his culinary prowess and Florilège was ranked number three on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2022. Florilège has created many unforgettable flavours for its diners and is a proud flagship in bringing French cuisine to Asia.
