parisjunko
Four Seasons Hotel Marunouchi Tokyo, Bistro "MAISON MARUNOUCHI". The chef is Daniel Calvert from the UK. After honing his skills at New York's "Per Se" and Paris' "Epicure", he became the head chef at the Hong Kong French bistro "Belon" in 2016. After achieving the remarkable feat of ranking 4th in "Asia's 50 Best Restaurants" in 2020, he took on the role of chef at "MAISON MARUNOUCHI" and the French restaurant "SÉZANNE" on the same floor at a Japanese Four Seasons Hotel. The interior was designed by renowned architect Andre Fu from Hong Kong.
Today's lunch, "MENU DU JOUR". I chose the short course for a long-awaited lunch with my colleagues. [Appetizer] "Jambon Beurre", which translates to ham and butter. Instead of French bread, it uses puff pastry with layers of ham, Gruyère cheese, and pickles, resembling a croque monsieur. The sandwich is layered like a mille-feuille, with a crunchy texture of the puff pastry and the robust flavor of the roast ham melting with the cheese. [Bread] "VANER Sourdough Bread" made by a baker trained in Norway using Norwegian wheat. The crusty and slightly tangy crumb is soft and chewy. It is served with "Bordier Fermented Fresh Butter", known for its rich flavor produced using the traditional hand-kneading method called "Malaxage".
[Main Course] "Seared Mackerel with Piperade, Country Bread, and Polenta". Thickly seared mackerel with a refreshing piperade sauce. The dish combines the savory flavors of Basque paprika and tomato-based ratatouille-like piperade sauce, complemented by anchovy parsley oil on the surface. "Polenta" made from cornmeal and cheese, cooked into a smooth puree, served as a side dish to enhance the delicate flavor of the fish.
[Dessert] "Gâteau Opéra", named after the Opera House. A rich dessert with layers of biscuit, coffee-flavored buttercream, chocolate ganache, chocolate, glaze, and coffee ice cream. The luxurious sweetness embodies the essence of the opera.
[After-Dinner Drink] "Iced Tea". The ice in my glass is made of tea, while my friend's iced coffee has coffee ice cubes, ensuring that they do not dilute the drink. The newly appointed chef, despite his young age, delivered a stable and refined culinary experience. The bistro-class portion sizes left us both satisfyingly full, almost worried about the afternoon's work. The chef's experience shines through, fitting for a chef at the sophisticated "Four Seasons Hotel", where we enjoyed a global and refined dining experience.