ガレットブルトンヌ
I knew that this place opened last year, but for some reason I didn't feel like going there. It seemed very dignified and imposing. It's about a 5-minute walk from the Nishi-Azabu intersection, in an area close to Minami-Aoyama with barely any shops around. The restaurant is located in the basement of a building. When I opened the door, there were counter seats and semi-private rooms. I had made a reservation for two on this day, but the chef warmly welcomed us to the counter seats saying, "It's reserved just for you today." Chef Morishita, who had been at Robuchon for a long time, greeted us with a friendly smile and chatted with us throughout the dinner, making the experience very enjoyable. The name of the restaurant "TAIAN" means "waiting hut," which is a tea room of Rikyu. The concept is to create a "men's hideaway." Chef Morishita mentioned that many male customers tend to visit the restaurant, and I could see why. He is aiming to go in the direction of Japanese cuisine, but initially, the tableware was set up in a Japanese style, however, the dishes presented were traditional French cuisine without the intricate details similar to Robuchon, served in a simple and minimalistic style. The dinner course for 18,000 yen included: 1. Blancmange with Purple Sea Urchin, Caviar, Apple Caramelized with Cheese, in a ceramic dish. It looked like a Japanese dish at first, with vinegared rice, sea urchin, hairy crab, caviar, but it was actually blancmange with apple and gold leaf. A beautiful start to the meal. 2. Marinated Iberico Ham with Fatty Tuna, Fig, Italian Melon, Roquefort Honey Vinegar, and Anchovy. It had a perfect balance with the flavor of Roquefort cheese tying everything together. 3. Chicken and Jiro Enoki Mushroom Black Truffle Butter Soup with Ramen noodles. It had a rich and comforting flavor, resembling a ramen soup. 4. Wild Ayu Sweetfish and Kamonasu Eggplant with Basque Pork Chorizo, Pickled Chili, Plum Juice Sauce. The saltiness of the chorizo paired well with the sweetfish. 5. Lobster Blue Pate de Foie Gras with Mango in a Vanille Sauce. An indulgent and delicious dish. 6. Roasted Lamb from Limousin with Romaine Lettuce and Watercress Salad in Bone Jus Mustard and Sea Salt Marinade. The lamb had no gamey taste and was perfectly cooked. 7. Rizotto with Rock Dove from Lacaune, Corn, Parmesan, Black Truffle. The dove was glazed with honey and soy sauce. 8. Musk Melon and Vanilla Ice Cream Sauternes and Champagne Jelly. The meal ended with a glass of red wine, Chateau Margaux 2015. The chef's originality shines through with the use of soy sauce as a secret ingredient and creating dishes that resonate with Japanese diners but are interpreted in a French style. Chef Morishita, who comes from a family of a traditional Japanese cuisine restaurant, had no intentions of entering the culinary field at a young age, but after trying French cuisine for the first time and falling in love with it, he called Robuchon without any formal training and was hired based on his determination. Despite years of working in the kitchen, the chef was very friendly and engaging in conversations, and the casual atmosphere pleasantly surprised me, breaking the stereotype of a formal and imposing restaurant. It was a delightful experience to witness Chef Morishita's passion for culinary arts and his ability to create extraordinary dishes based on his unique perspective and influences.