Tokyo – The dinner

I have been knowing the gentleman for quite a while, now. 12 years.

When I informed him I would be in Tokyo for one week, he promised to find some time for us.

So, we receive the invitation and we learn that he is accompanied by a second gentleman, whom I am also acquainted with.

The place is the The Kitano Hotel in Tokyo, a boutique luxury hotel. I hope one day I can afford to stay there while going back to Japan to visit my friends.

https://www.kitanohotel.co.jp/tokyo/en/concept/

The dinner takes place in the sushi restaurant of the hotel. Very, very exclusive.

We are served different starters, then several rounds of sushi.

Tuna, mackerel, cuttlefish, sea urchins, shrimps…

We conclude with miso soup.

To drink, we are proposed 3 kinds of sake, so we have a real degustation.

The etiquette allows to use hands to eat sushi and I follow the example of our hosts. I can clean my fingers on the small wet napkin that appears on the table and it is dedicated on this purpose.

We are also explained that you are supposed to eat sushi as soon as is served, without hesitation, because otherwise it gets warmer and the quality deteriorates gradually.

I believe I will never be able to eat sushi again in a restaurant that is not in Japan. The difference would be too blatant and disappointing.

But it is not just about sushi.

It is about the whole experience. The company of the gentlemen, the smiles of the sushi master, the luxury of the environment, the delicacy of the meal. I feel privileged to have access to it.

The dinner terminates with an exchange of gifts. We brought barolo from Italy, and receive in exchange Japanese whiskey and gin.

The gentlemen order a taxi for us to make sure that we go back to our hotel safely.

Arigato. For everything.