「ミシュランガイド東京2020」と「炭火割烹 白坂」
今年で13年目を迎える「ミシュランガイド東京2020」が11月26日に発表された。東京は世界で一番星付きが多いグルメ都市で226軒に及ぶ(ビブグルマンは238件)。三つ星は13年連続の3軒(カンテサンス、かんだ、ジョエル・ロブション)を含む計11軒が評価されたが、「すきやばし次郎本店」「鮨さいとう」は現在一般予約が不可になり、三つ星のみならずミシュランガイド掲載対象外となった。二つ星は計48軒で、なかでも久々に高い評価を受けたのは唯一のイタリア料理「プリズマ」。一つ星は計167軒。
そのうちの1軒、港区赤坂にある『炭火割烹 白坂(しろさか)』(2014年11月にオープンしてから一つ星は2回目)に触れたいと思う。黄昏時になると、少し奥まったところに佇む和風建築の入口に白い暖簾が掛かる。足元の灯篭を頼りにお香を聞きながら石畳を一歩づつ前に進み結界を超える。そしてとびらをガラッと開けると目の前に「静寂閑雅」と、白木のカウンターの向こう側にシェフともどもほっこりとした暖かさが融合する明るい空間が広がる。目の前で完成される料理は、火入れをはじめに絶妙なタイミングで仕上げた懐石風。ジャンルを超えていいとこ取りした旬の海や山の幸が約10品、最後のデザートに至るまで感動の嵐は止まない。
それはオーナーシェフ井伊秀樹氏の背景にあり、特にニューヨーク滞在中の経験は大きいという。東京で日本料理を学び研鑽を積み、シドニーの有名店でシェフをつとめたその後、食の外交官ともいわれ、同時に日本の文化を伝える重要な役割を担う、ニューヨーク国連大使の専属公邸料理人を拝命する。2010年秋から2年半にわたり、次席大使と(その家族)、宗教上の規律やマナーの違いをもつ各国の要人との公的な会食に対して、メニュー決めから食材の仕入れ(日本から空輸することもあったが、人種のるつぼであるニューヨークは食材が豊富で大抵のものは事欠かなかった)、当日の調理、そして予算管理に至るまで一連の作業を1人でこなしてきたことから多くを学んだという。井伊氏は、ギッシリと予約の入ったノートを抱え、「ニューヨークにまた行きたいなぁ」と最後に呟いた。
Michelin Guide Tokyo 2020 and Charcoal Cooking Shirasaka
“Michelin Guide Tokyo 2020”, which is celebrating its 13th year this year, was announced on November 26. Tokyo is the world's most starred gourmet city with 226 properties (238 Bib Gourmands). Three stars were evaluated for a total of 11 resturants, including three for the 13th consecutive year (Quintessence, Kanda, Joel Robuchon). However, Sukiyabashi Jiro Main Store and Sushi Saito are not open for general reservation anymore because of this, disappeared from not only three stars but also Michelin Guide. There are a total of 48 two-star restaurants and the Italian dish that has been highly evaluated after a long time is Prisma. There are a total of 167 one-star.
I would like to touch one of them, charcoal cooking Shirosaka at Akasaka in Minato-ku, which received one star the second time since opening in November 2014.
At dusk, a white curtain is hung at the entrance of a Japanese-style building that stands a little behind. Follow the stone pavement step by step while listening to incense by relying on the lantern at your feet and cross the line(Kekkai)between secular and sacred area. when you open the door, you will see a bright space in front of your eyes, where "Quietness and elegance" and the warmth of the chef on the other side of Shiraki counter unite.The dish that is completed right in front of you is a kaiseki style that has been finished with exquisite timing, such as burning. Approximately 10 dishes of seasonal seafood and mountain food which only choose best ingredients as like ‘skim the cream’ beyond genres . impressive storms do not stop until the last dessert.
these things are behind owner chef Hideki Ii’s especially his great experience in New York. After studying and studying Japanese cuisine in Tokyo and working as a chef at a famous restaurant in Sydney. And then, He is appointed an official residence cook of the United Nations Ambassador to New York, which called food diplomat and plays an important role in conveying Japanese culture.
During the two and a half years from the fall of 2010, for the dinner with junior ambassador (their family) and key figures from different countries with different religious disciplines and manners, the menu selection, the purchase of ingredients (some are by air from Japan, but the racial crucibles New York is abundant, and most of the ingredients were there), cooking of the day, budget management, He has been working alone and learned a lot of things.
Mr. Ii held a notebook with full of reservations, and muttered at the end “I want to go to New York again."