Tokyo Confirmed as World’s Culinary Capital with 36 More Michelin Stars

In the 2009 selection:- Ishikawa joins the three star selections.- 14 restaurants join the selection of two-star and 35 restaurants join the one-star.- With 227 stars in all, Tokyo strengthens the position of world leader in gourmet dining with more “stars” than any other city. This is 36 more stars than the 191 awarded to Tokyo last year. Michelin updates MICHELIN guides every single year in order to provide readers most reliable information possible. All the restaurants and hotels selected in 2008 edition are reexamined, and establishments which are not selected and which could be interesting for Michelin readers are also inspected. Just after the launch of 2008 edition, specially assigned inspectors, both Japanese and European, full-time employees of Michelin, have been anonymously evaluating restaurants and hotels.

The Peninsula Tokyo and Conrad Tokyo were amongst the hotel’s to have restaurants awarded stars. The Peninsula Tokyo’s Hei Fung Terrace was been awarded a Michelin star, one of only seven Chinese restaurants to receive this prestigious honor. The restaurant offers authentic Cantonese cuisine in a Suzhou garden setting, reiterating the hotel’s proximity to the Imperial Palace Gardens. Set lunch menus at Hei Fung Terrace start from just JPY 4,280.
In awarding Gordon Ramsay at Conrad Tokyo one star the Michelin Guide particularly noted its “striking” open kitchen and Chef’s Table. Conrad Tokyo’s China Blue restaurant was also awarded a Michelin star for the second year running. “There are very few Chinese restaurants in the Guide”, noted Michelin Director Jean-Luc Naret. “We only deal with the absolute best of the best in each category so the Chinese restaurants that appear in this 2009 Guide are outstanding”. Gregor Andréewitch, the Conrad Tokyo’s General Manager, said the prestigious accolade “reaffirmed the standard of excellence upheld at China Blue and recognised an enormous investment by the team at Gordon Ramsay at Conrad Tokyo over the past year. “Tokyo is fast building a reputation as the ‘dining capital of the world’. At the Conrad Tokyo, we are proud to be at the heart of this – providing a unique experience in design, space and culinary excellence”. Gordon Ramsay, the multi-Michelin starred chef said he was delighted to receive the award. “Tokyo is one of the most amazing cities in the world in terms of restaurants and produce and therefore a great source of inspiration for a chef. This recognition from Michelin is wonderful news and I am very proud of my team there led by the talented head chef Shinya Maeda”.
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