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travels for friends, food and wine - in exactly this order
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San Sebastian, Spain
Born
July 21
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Restaurants
- Gerhard Huber added a new meal Dinner at David Toutain at David Toutain
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- Gerhard Huber added a new meal Dinner at Watabe (わたべ) at Watabe (わたべ)
Watabe is a highly regarded eel (unagi) restaurant located in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward. Known for its exceptional unagi dishes, Watabe has earned a Bib Gourmand designation from the Michelin Guide, indicating high-quality food at a good value. The restaurant prides itself on using meticulously selected eels from trusted suppliers, ensuring a rich and flavorful... More
Watabe is a highly regarded eel (unagi) restaurant located in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward. Known for its exceptional unagi dishes, Watabe has earned a Bib Gourmand designation from the Michelin Guide, indicating high-quality food at a good value. The restaurant prides itself on using meticulously selected eels from trusted suppliers, ensuring a rich and flavorful dining experience. The preparation process involves skewering, partial grilling, and final char-grilling over charcoal, with a secret sauce that has been perfected over decades. The tranquil atmosphere and attentive service further enhance the dining experience, making Watabe a popular destination for both locals and tourists seeking authentic Japanese eel cuisine
At Watabe, the Usaku dish features grilled eel served with a vinegar-based sauce. This dish offers a unique and refreshing flavor profile, contrasting with the traditional kabayaki style where eel is typically coated in a sweet soy-based sauce. The vinegar sauce enhances the natural taste of the eel, providing a delightful culinary experience
The Shirayaki is another notable dish at Watabe, consisting of eel grilled without any sauce. This method allows diners to savor the pure, unadulterated flavor of the eel. Shirayaki is often served with a side of soy sauce and wasabi, enabling guests to season it to their liking. This simple yet refined preparation highlights the quality of the eel and the skill of the chefs, making it a favorite among eel enthusiasts
Together, these dishes showcase Watabe's dedication to traditional Japanese culinary techniques and its ability to innovate within these traditions, offering diners a diverse and enriching gastronomic experience. Less
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- Gerhard Huber added a new meal Lunch at Sushi Shunji at Sushi Shunji (鮨しゅんじ)
Sushi Shunji in Azabujuban is a renowned sushi restaurant led by a top disciple of Sushi Saito. Relocated to Motoazabu in March 2023, it offers an omakase course that showcases the freshest seasonal ingredients. The dining experience is enhanced by a minimalist decor and counter seating, allowing guests to watch the chef's meticulous preparation. Known... More
Sushi Shunji in Azabujuban is a renowned sushi restaurant led by a top disciple of Sushi Saito. Relocated to Motoazabu in March 2023, it offers an omakase course that showcases the freshest seasonal ingredients. The dining experience is enhanced by a minimalist decor and counter seating, allowing guests to watch the chef's meticulous preparation. Known for exceptional quality and an intimate atmosphere, Sushi Shunji combines traditional Edo-style sushi with innovative touches. Its connection to Sushi Saito and the chef's expertise make it a standout destination for sushi enthusiasts. Less
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- Gerhard Huber added a new restaurant list “Destination Restaurants 2024” selected by the Japan Times
Destination Restaurants express the land of Japan
Presented by The Japan Times since 2021, Destination Restaurants is a list of “the best restaurants in Japan, selected by Japanese experts with international diners in mind.” For this year’s list we welcomed back the judges who have guided this project since its inception: Yoshiki Tsuji, Naoyuki... More
Destination Restaurants express the land of Japan
Presented by The Japan Times since 2021, Destination Restaurants is a list of “the best restaurants in Japan, selected by Japanese experts with international diners in mind.” For this year’s list we welcomed back the judges who have guided this project since its inception: Yoshiki Tsuji, Naoyuki Honda and Takefumi Hamada. Together they have selected 10 establishments from across the nation. Restaurants of any genre and in any location outside major cities are eligible. We are often told that Tokyo has the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the world; this list’s focus is on Japan’s regional areas. Selections are based on three principles: that the true expression of Japan’s land and climate is to be found in its regional areas; that it is important to unearth unique talents that might otherwise get lost in regional areas; and that Destination Restaurants is different from the many other popular restaurant rankings that exist.
In 2023, spending by visitors to Japan hit a record high of ¥5.3 trillion ($35 billion). The number of visitors was 25.06 million, or 80% of the pre-COVID level in 2019. Digging further into the data, we can see that foreign tourists are shifting their spending toward unique experiences, including accommodations, rather than goods. And what better experience is there than fine dining in regional Japan? The culinary experience on offer at our Destination Restaurant of the Year 2024, Elezo Esprit in Hokkaido, is sure to delight even the most traveled epicures. With the chef overseeing a fully integrated system spanning meat production to processing and cooking, the restaurant proves the saying that “to eat is to receive life.” Through experiences such as these, Destination Restaurants helps visitors engage fully with Japan’s climate, traditions, culture and spirit.
SELECTION COMMITTEE
Yoshiki Tsuji
Headmaster of Tsuji Culinary Institute and president of Tsujicho Group
Yoshiki Tsuji heads schools in Osaka, Tokyo and France that groom would-be food professionals, sending over 140,000 graduates into the food service industry in Japan as well as abroad. At the G20 Osaka summit in 2019, he served as executive producer of a dinner for heads of state. He has contributed to the development of food culture, serving on a committee screening nominees for the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ Ryori Masters (Masters of Cooking) award program. He has also lectured in various places in Japan and overseas. Tsuji was awarded France’s National Order of Merit in 2018.
Naoyuki Honda
President CEO, Leverage Consulting Inc.
Based in Hawaii and Tokyo, Naoyuki Honda leads a life under the motto of mixing business with pleasure, traveling around regions across Japan and Europe, as well as other parts of the world. He has written over 75 books, which sold over 3 million copies. Notable titles include “Naze Nihonjin Shefu wa Sekai de Shobu Dekita noka” (“Why These Japanese Chefs Have Been Globally Successful”). He daily pursues food, whether it is from street stalls, local cuisine or dinner at three-star restaurants. Honda has produced events such as Dream Dusk, featuring multiple leading chefs, and Inspire by Relux, an event in which participants stay at a luxurious ryokan Japanese-style hotel.
Takefumi Hamada
CEO, Access All Areas Inc.
Takefumi Hamada is the No.1 ranked restaurant reviewer for three consecutive years as determined by the OAD (Opinionated About Dining) Top Restaurants, having dined at the best restaurants in 120 countries and regions around the world. He is an advisor to businesses in entertainment, food and hospitality, as well as an investor in food technology startups. Takefumi has a background in finance, starting his career as an investment banker before moving on to private equity. He holds a B.A. magna cum laude, with distinction in Political Science, from Yale University.
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- Gerhard Huber added a new meal Dinner at Kibun at KIBUN
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- Gerhard Huber added a new meal Dinner at Sushi Saito at Sushi Saitou (鮨 さいとう)
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- Gerhard Huber added a new meal Dinner at Otomezushi at Otome Zushi (乙女寿司)
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- Gerhard Huber added a new meal Dinner at Sakai at Sakai
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- Gerhard Huber added a new meal Lunch at Kataori at Kataori (片折)