Gordon Ramsay may raise living hell in the kitchen but his eponymous restaurant in the Conrad Tokyo on the 28th floor offers a taste of heaven on earth in the form of modern French cuisine that fully indulges every taste, texture and sensory perception, with portions and seasonal ingredients calibrated to leave you supremely satisfied, yet not overly sated.
In the detailed curation behind each dish, Chef de cuisine Shinya Maeda—who returned to Tokyo in 2007 after working with Chef Ramsay in London—shows clearly why Gordon Ramsay at Conrad Tokyo has been awarded a Michelin Star for two consecutive years since 2008; a fact which Chef Ramsay himself predicted—or perhaps, decreed—when his first restaurant in Asia was left out of the debut Michelin Guide for Tokyo in 2007.
The six-course Prestige Menu, designed by Chef Maeda and approved by Chef Ramsay, starts with pressed foie gras and confit de canard coated with Madeira and fine pepper jelly. This delicately layered cube of rich, velvety deliciousness packs a punch well above its weight and size to immerse your taste buds with a collaboration of flavors and textures hitherto unknown.
Moving on to flavors from the sea, the tortellini of lobster poached in light bisque with lemongrass and chervil velouté offers a herb-accented parcel that catches the light of seaside Italy in summer—without the carbohydrate loading, and with a touch of Southeast Asia; reflecting Chef Maeda’s international experience as a chef, spanning from a sushi chef in Australia to various cities in Europe and New York.
But the piece de resistance must be the roasted fillet and slow braised shin of beef, which you are requested to inhale first before ingesting as the waiter pours a clear light brown bone marrow truffled infusion over the choice beef from a transparent pot—just by breathing in you can almost taste the full flavors of the tender beef fillet.
Do leave room for the desserts—yes, that’s two courses of sweets. The Gianduja chocolate soufflé with banana and lime ice cream is at the same time rich, yet refreshing, while the caramelized apple tarte tatin with clotted cream is a slice of heaven.
If you have time to part your gaze from the edible art on each plate, the 7-meter high floor-to-ceiling windows offers a view of Shiodome’s skyscrapers—perhaps one of the few imperfections, but the sense of spaciousness more than offsets any feeling of stress that may permeate from the neighboring offices.
Gordon Ramsay 1-9-1, Higashi-Shinbashi, Minato-Ku, Tokyo, Japan tel: 03 6388 8000
