Posted on 11/21/2009 12:25:58 AM PST by bruinbirdman
TOKYO — The Epicurean king who oversees the Michelin Guide fears he may be banished from France.
His shocking crime?
Awarding Tokyo more three-star restaurant ratings than Paris, thereby crowning the Japanese metropolis the new gastronomic capital of the world.
“Trust me, they’ll wait for me at customs there,” Jean-Luc Naret, director general of the famed guide to exceptional eateries, joked Thursday at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan. “Because they’ll say how dare could you have more three-stars in Tokyo than in Paris?”
Michelin’s latest Tokyo edition goes on sale in Japan on Friday, and Naret has been in town this week promoting what many consider to be the bible of culinary skill. This time, Michelin’s undercover team of inspectors has bestowed its highest three-star rating to 11 restaurants in Tokyo, one more than in Paris.
Tokyo also beats Paris in the total number of stars received—261 awarded to 197 establishments.
That’s 34 more than when the venerable guide made its Asian debut in Japan in 2007.
Michelin’s ranking system considers the quality, consistency and value of a restaurant’s food, with three stars designating “exceptional cuisine, and worth the journey,” without taking into account the service or ambiance, according to the guide.
The first Tokyo edition sold 300,000 copies—150,000 of which were snapped up in the first 24 hours. Since then, Michelin has released guides for Hong Kong and Macau, as well as Osaka and Kyoto in western Japan.
Not everyone in Japan was pleased that Michelin had landed in Tokyo. Critics attacked its culinary selections. Some chefs said they didn’t want to be in the book. Others questioned how a group of foreigners could judge Japanese food.
To mollify naysayers, the company used only Japanese inspectors for the 2010 Tokyo edition, Naret said.
Placating his fellow Frenchman may be another matter.
“Forget everything that you know about Japanese food,” Naret said he would like to tell Parisians. “Just go to the other side of the world, and you will understand what Japanese food is all about.”
Naret added that statistically speaking, it’s not really a fair contest. Tokyo is home to 160,000 restaurants, compared to 60,000 in Paris.
And France still wins the country count with 25 three-star establishments nationwide to Japan’s 18.
Allez cuisine!!!!
This place is GREAT!! ;-)
And Japanese food is probably only 1/3rd of it. (OK I exaggerate, but you can get good, authentic food here from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, and everything in between.) Particularly French and Italian, is out of this world.
I thought Osaka was the gourmet capital of Japan.
Ping.
Yes, I have made the point before (even here on Free Republic) that any list of great food cities which does not include Tokyo is ludicrously incomplete. I am glad to see that Michelin has recognized this.
What's a tire company know about gourmet food anyway?
Agreed! Plus there's Raj Mahal in Shibuya, Bazoku ramen in Asakusa, Sometaro okonomiyaki in Asakusa, Katchan tonkatsu near Kinshicho.
The list goes on...
日本＊ピング＊ (kono risuto ni hairitai ka detai wo shirasete kudasai : let me know if you want on or off this list)
Best German meal I ever had was in Osaka.
I’ll be in Japan next spring, but probably won’t be going to any of the 3 tire restaurants...I can’t imagine how expensive they are.
Arigato.
I thought Osaka was the gourmet capital of Japan.Osaka is great for trying out new inventions in the Japanese kitchen. They have a big amusement district in the center where there is one restaurant next to another, and more restaurants above and below them. They constantly invent new dishes or ways to prepare stuff. Paradise if you like Japanese kitchen.
Sooooo many places in Tokyo are great, it seems unfair to single out a few of them.
Izakaya FTW!
Based on when I lived there, figure at least 5,000 yen per person for anything other than fast food.
Dining in Tokyo is expensive, but no matter where you go, you’re going to get great food. If you stick to the healthy stuff like sashimi or sushi, you won’t gain weight either.
My late wife turned the most unique shade of green after eating authentic Indian curry in Shinjuku. Maybe she thought it was going to be like Japanese/Indian curry.
However, my experiences with Chinese food in Beijing -vs- Japan leads me to believe that if there are authentic Chinese food restaurants in Japan, I missed them all.
I’m finding hotels are pretty reasonable so far ($160/night for 4 stars). $50+ per meal seems pretty high...might be sticking to 7 Eleven.
Tokyo ha giritaware. (you go bankrupt from exchanging favors and gifts).
Kyoto ha kitaware (you go bankrupt buying clothing).
Osaka ha kuitaware (you go bankrupt from eating).
My favorite, however, is Kobe, because you have the class of both next door Osaka and Tokyo without the crowds.
I am half Japanese and if I had a choice between Sushi or Chicken Fried Steak and Mashed Potatoes, my choice would be the Chicken Fried Steak and Mashed Potatoes.
I had sushi for lunch the other day....and loved it.
Probably been 40 years since I had a chicken fried steak...if ever.
I do like mashed spuds though.....
: )
I rather have Macallan Single Malt. I like Japanese food, I just did not grow up eating it. No Rice, Miso Soup or Fish for breakfast for me, I rather have Chipped Beef on Toast. My Chopstick manners are so not there but I am an tour de force with a Knife and Fork.
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