We seldom start a restaurant review like this but considering the food, drinks, service and views at Ritz-Carlton Tokyo’s pride and joy, Azure 45 deserves not just 1 Michelin Star but at least 2 and the following will show you why. Situated on the 45th floor of this uber luxury hotel, thus the name with gorgeous bespoke furniture plus views of Tokyo Tower and it’s surroundings will surely mesmerized one and all.
Azure 45
Service standards held and executed by the well trained, knowledgeable and professional staff are some of the very best in the city. Begin your meal with some wine and the expert sommelier suggests Les Arums de Lagrange Blanc vintage 2016 from Bordeaux France, a white wine with green almost lime like flavour that is easy to drink and made from Sauvignon Blanc – Semillon grape blend.
Snacks
Freshly baked wheat and rye bread is served table-side with salted butter from France to get your stomach juices going for the dishes to come. Snacks include delectable Foie gras terrine covered with chestnut candy and powder, delicious fresh salmon topped with roe and citrus yuzu cream as well as savoury tomato cracker with a very light and almost fluffy mozzarella plus a touch of pepper.
Barely Risotto, White Truffle
As decadent as it looks, the freshly shaven white truffle on a base of healthy barely risotto is a match made in heaven. Both are delicate ingredients and masterfully put together by the experienced kitchen team lead by Chef de cuisine Shintaro Miyazaki to construct a well balanced course. Chef Miyazaki place fresh, seasonal and sustainable produce as of high importance in his creations.
Kinki, Eggplant
The prized Kinki, a Japanese fish is elevated with tantalising yuzu miso drops in this well plated course. The fish is first steamed and then lightly grill on the skin side before being served with olive oil caviar flavoured with wasabi. On the side that looks like an eggplant drawing is a lovely textured eggplant cream. Paired brilliantly with the oaky and crisp Comtes Lafon Macon Milly-Lamartine Chardonnay.
Yamaguchi Smoked Wagyu
The star of the night has to be the Smoked Wagyu from Yamaguchi in Japan’s Chugoku region with beef jus and rocket lettuce paste. Accompanied with potato and onions, garnished with fresh lettuce and edible flowers. Divine when eaten with Sito Moresco, Langhe vintage 2016 from Italy, ruby in colour with a very elegant and balanced body brimming of dark berries like cherries.
Meringue
For desserts, the Meringue is a served on a salted crust base with yuzu cream (made from a Japanese citrus), flambéed with Cointreau a flavoured triple sec liqueur produced in Saint-Barthélemy-d’Anjou, France that adds a touch of orange bitter notes to offset the sweetness, finished with edible gold leaf. This dish is simple looking yet an amazingly good conclusion to your gastronomic experience at Azure 45.
ADDRESS:
Japan, 〒107-6245 Tokyo, Minato City, Akasaka, 9 Chome−7−1 東京ミッドタウン
PHONE: +81 3-6434-8711
WEBSITE: https://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/japan/tokyo/dining/azure-45