COPENHAGEN: Noma will set foot in Japan for a second time, this time in the city of Kyoto. The 10-week pop-up will take place between March 15 and May 20 at the Ace Hotel, Kyoto. And the foundations are being set for the transformation of noma as we know it in 2024. René Redzepi said that for the past two years, they had been studying, travelling and researching the city of Kyoto and the Kansai region, in particular kaiseki cuisine. “This spring, we return to the place where so much of our own journey began.” René Redzepi, chef of noma, one of the most influential restaurants in the world said it is incredibly inspiring for the team to have the opportunity to explore this unique tradition in the beautiful city of Kyoto during the height of the sakura (cherry blossom) season. “We cannot wait to pack our bags - a group of 95 people, from apprentices to owners - and live in a new corner of the world, to meet new people and to learn from a different culture and see things … [Read more...]
Archives for October 2022
Dine with Italian winemakers is a series of dinners organised by Racines Bruxelles
BRUSSELS: Ugo Frederico and Francesco Cury has invited winemaker Alessandra Divella for a special dinner at Racines in Brussels, Belgium. The Italian wine maker who is known as the queen of bubbles on Gussago Hill in Franciacorta will be presenting a selection of her cuvées on Thursday 20 October in a first in a series of dinners being organised by the restaurant with winemakers present. There will be two options during each evening. The first is to taste a classic Racines 4, 5 or six course menu with the possibility of a unique Divella wine-pairing where Alessandra will be present throughout the evening to guide guests through her selection of wines. The second is a dinner with the winemaker which is a more intimate and exclusive experience on the same night. Here a private table will welcome 12 guests who will have the opportunity to dine with Alessandra and taste older vintages accompanied by a special menu created specifically to Divella's region of origin. In total, … [Read more...]
“Time dictates what we do. We cook with time” – Fatih Tutak
ISTANBUL: The decision for Fatih Tutak to return to his home and open TURK after spending the best part of his career outside Turkey was vindicated this week when he was the first ever Turkish restaurant to clinch two Michelin stars when the French guide released the first ever guide for Turkey. Born in Istanbul in 1985, Fatih may have learned his trade in Turkey and worked in some of the country's best hotels and restaurants including the Ritz-Carlton Cam in Istanbul under famed chef Paul Pairet. it was here that he decided he needed to expand his horizons and get out of his comfort zone. He headed East for what you could call a culinary odyssey going to kitchens in China's Qingdao and Beijing before heading to Singapore. During this time, his drive and evident talent earned him a four month training in Tokyo under Seiji Yamamoto at three Michelin-starred Nihonryori Ryugin, before he was presented with a unique opportunity to join René Redzepi at the much celebrated Noma in … [Read more...]
Pekarna Ana, Ana Roš’s new project in Ljubljana
LJUBLJANA: Ana Roš, the Slovenian chef who has managed to put Slovenia on the global gastronomic map thanks to her culinary work at Hisa Franko has embarked on a new project opening a bakery in the Slovenian capital Ljubljana. Pekarna Ana is a new boutique bakery which opened its doors earlier this month as Ana Roš offers a glimpse into her world of creativity at Kobarid and Hisa Franko. In this project, she has joined forces with one of the prominent representatives of modern European bread baking Nataša Đurić and Anže Kranjec the young pastry master, trained at the prestigious Ecole Bellouet Conseil. At Pekarna Ana, the trio serve sourdough bread and pair it with assorted sweet and savoury pastries. “Opening a new venue is never an easy decision,” said Ana Roš. “The idea came about when Hiša Franko’s amazing baker Nataša Đurić shared with me her readiness for new endeavours. Nurturing her incredible talent and potential, we’ve decided to design a new project together and … [Read more...]
The reinvention of Mélisse, a Santa Monica institution
LOS ANGELES: The Last Days of Roger Federer: and other endings by Geoff Dyer is what came to mind when I came across the story of Mélisse, Josiah Citrin and Ian Scaramuzza. It is about endings, about choosing the best moment to step back and let the future take over. We very rarely know when it is the time to stop, when it is time to move on, when it is time for a big change. More often than not, and that has been the case in sports, in top-level careers, in art and even in restaurants, many don’t judge the moment to stop. But Josiah Citrin managed to avoid that with his once two-Michelin-starred restaurant Mélisse in Santa Monica. Since last year, he has put Scottish chef prodigy Ian Scaramuzza at the helm of a project that changed completely. The restaurant was an institution on the US West coast culinary scene but it needed a refresh and that has come in the form of a new opening in June 2021. The restaurant has 5 tables, an open kitchen and got back its two Michelin stars from … [Read more...]