Sophisticated French cuisine of Michelin one star in Hiroo

"Hiramatsu (ひらまつ)" is one of the representing French restaurant in Japan. Mr. Hiramatsu, owner and chef who has won Michelin one star both in Paris and Tokyo runs various restaurants all over Japan. Hiramatsu is also succeeded as a listed company for the first time as an individual French restaurant. Their head restaurant is located in Hiroo (広尾), high-class residential area.

Hiramatsu

Dining room

Amuse (salty cream puff and cookie) 

Cream pumpkin mousse

Bread

Terrine of foie gras

Foie gras wrapped by cabbage (specialty)

Roasted canard

Birthday cake!

Peach compote with peach sorbet (specialty)

Petit four and herb tea 

The restaurant since 1988 is not new but well maintained. The ground floor is reception and cloak, the first floor is for private rooms and the second floor is main dining room. The main dining room is not so large, but many staff was there to provide elegant and sufficient service. Staff was professional and friendly so that guests could feel relaxed.  

Their cuisine was definitely delicious. Minimum and sophisticated. All flavorful essence was presented in the minimum appearance. Nouvelle cuisine doesn't make heavy stomach. From amuse to petit four, the balance was surely calculated. Most of all, conversation with friendly staff was fun and memorable. Such communication made the taste much better. 

The above photos are of set meal of JPY6,000 (excluding tax and 15% service charge) at lunch. Considering the wonderful time, it was reasonable. One thing to improve is narrow space between tables. My rating is 4.8 out of 5. Gochiso-samadeshita!

Hiramatsu (ひらまつ) http://www.hiramatsu.jp/hiroo/  

Nice view buffet at Ritz-Carlton Tokyo in Roppongi

On a beautiful sunny day, I had a lunch with a colleague at Ritz-Carlton Tokyo (リッツカールトン東京) which is located in the Tokyo Midtown （東京ミッドタウン） in Roppongi (六本木).　The lobby and a restaurant named "TOWERS GRILL (タワーズグリル)" are located on the 45th floor. On such a nice day, we can enjoy the nice view of Tokyo. As we sit on a window seat, Tokyo Tower was just in front.  

Lobby (45th floor) of Ritz-Carlton Tokyo

TOWERS GRILL (45th floor) 

Inside

Window seat

Tokyo Tower!

Buffet (starter)

Buffet (dessert)

Starter (I shouldn't have put such a big portion at once...)

Saute of cod fish with peppers

Roasted chicken with various mushrooms

Dessert

Tower's Grill offers buffet for starter and dessert. We can select a main dish from various menu of meat or fish. The taste is not so impressive, but definitely at more than average level as a luxurious hotel. One person costs JPY4,500 for this set meal. Not so cost-effective. Even so, it is very nice to spend relaxing slow time over seeing the nice view. My rating is 3.6 out of 5. Gochiso-samadeshita!

http://www.ritz-carlton.jp/restaurant/towers_grill/

GONPACHI, model of Kill Bill

If I receive overseas friends, some of them are always fan of "Kill Bill(キルビル)", an action and black comedy movie directed by Quentin Tarantino. So, I have accompanied such friends several times to "GONPACHI Nishi Azabu(権八 西麻布)", an izakaya restaurant whose interior is the model of the battle scene of Kill Bill (I thought the movie was taken in this restaurant for real, but to be precise, a movie set was allegedly created based on the GONPACHI's interior because the authorization to film here was not given).  

Entrance of "GONPACHI Nishi Azabu"

Inside of "GONPACHI Nishi Azabu"

Japanese rolled egg

Grilled chicken wing

As usual, there were many customers and the atmosphere was very livery even at 21pm of Sunday. As the ceiling is high, we can enjoy a sense of release. Moreover, we can form the picture scenes in our mind over eating casual Japanese dishes. It makes eating more fun!

The taste of dishes are nice and quite adequate as izakaya. Because of many customers, sometimes service is not so quick, but acceptable. Many celebrities such as U.S. President Bush also visited this GONPACHI, but the price is reasonable maintaining the average of usual izakaya. The price setting could be highly appreciated in spite of the fame.

                    
                                                    Trailer of "Kill Bill"

My rating is 3 out of 5. If you are interested in Kill Bill or go to Roppongi for being clubbing, why don't you visit GONPACHI? Gochiso-samadeshita!

"GONPACHI(権八)"　http://www.gonpachi.jp/