02 February 2010
Pierre Gagnaire restaurant to open at ANA InterContinental Tokyo
World renowned chef continues his culinary journey with new restaurant in Tokyo
Tuesday 2nd February 2010, Tokyo, Japan - Three Michelin-starred Chef Pierre Gagnaire will be taking his inimitable global culinary journey to the ANA InterContinental Tokyo. Opening in mid-March 2010, ANA InterContinental Tokyo will be home to the highest Pierre Gagnaire restaurant in the world, where guests can enjoy the iconoclastic chef's creations with the stunning Tokyo metropolis as a backdrop.
Said Fergus Stewart, Regional General Manager, "Since the co-branding, ANA InterContinental Tokyo has gone through a significant repositioning in the last two years. The addition of Pierre Gagnaire to our diverse collection of restaurant and bars is an important component in the evolution of the hotel into a five-star landmark and will help to set us apart as a destination for exceptional dining. We are very pleased to be collaborating with Pierre, and I have no doubt his passion and vision will translate into unforgettable experiences for our guests."
Pierre Gagnaire's only restaurant in Tokyo will be located on the 36th floor of the ANA InterContinental, which is ideally situated in the prestigious Akasaka area. The restaurant over looks the heart of Tokyo city - with a view that includes the iconic Tokyo Tower - and the renovated contemporary décor will provide the setting for Gagnaire's hallmark cuisine.
Known for his attention to detail and culinary creations that feature unexpected juxtapositions of flavours and textures, Gagnaire's other signature is to serve multiple dishes within each course. This will feature throughout the lunch and dinner menus. Gagnaire will also personally design and launch each menu with the change of each season. The chef will be spending a considerable amount of time on site at the hotel. The Tokyo kitchen brigade additionally features a number of his team from Paris.
Gagnaire's passion for best-quality produce and creating unprecedented tastes follow a heartfelt philosophy of using food to communicate and incite emotion. The 59-year-old three Michelin-starred chef is credited with the creation of modern French fusion in conjunction with Herve This. He heralds from a restaurant background, and as the eldest of four children he took over the reins of his parents' restaurant when they retired.
Gagnaire spent the first 10 years of his career working in restaurants in Paris and Lyon with a brief spell in the United States before returning to St. Etienne in central France to work with his father, who also had a Michelin star.
Gagnaire currently operates seven restaurants globally: Las Vegas, Dubai, Paris, Seoul, Hong Kong, Courchevel and London. Pierre Gagnaire Tokyo will be his second partnership with an InterContinental hotel, the first being Reflets par Pierre Gagnaire at InterContinental Dubai Festival City. Gagnaire's Paris restaurant was ranked third in the world's 50 greatest restaurants by Restaurant Magazine UK in 2008.
Pierre Gagnaire Tokyo will open March 19th 2010 at ANA InterContinental Tokyo.
For further information, please contact:
Sayuri Koga
Director of Public Relations and Communications
ANA InterContinental Tokyo
Tel:(81-3)3505 1698
Fax:(81-3)3505 3110
[email protected]
Notes to Editors:
About Pierre Gagnaire
1950 Born in Apinac, France. 1968 Commis at "Tante Alice ". 1969 Charbonnières les Bains. He becomes roast cook and learns to spit roast before the clients. 1970 Cook admiral on the Surcouf... 1973 Commis at the Intercontinental Hotel. 1974 The year of the "Duck Ranavallo" at Lucas Carton. 1976 After two years spent roving the world, particularly the new world, he returns to the Clos Fleury, the restaurant run by his father near Saint Etienne. 1977 He retains the Michelin star. 1981 He decides to go solo and opens a restaurant in the center of Saint Etienne. 1986 He is awarded a second Michelin star. 1989 Chefs the Heads of State lunch at the Arche de la Défense during François Mitterrand's presidency. 1992 A new Art Deco decor reinterpreted by contemporary artists. 1993 The Michelin guide awards his signature cuisine a 3rd star. 1996 The Saint Etienne gamble has not paid off. The Michelin stars are returned to their owner. He leaves for Paris. 1997 Two stars. 1998 Back to the three star level. 2001 Beginning of a strong partnership with Hervé This, Collège de France professor and father of Molecular Gastronomy. 2002 Opening of Sketch in London with Mourad Mazouz. Receives the distinction Commandeur des Arts & Lettres. Publication of his second book Gagnaire "Sucré-Salé". 2004 Takes on the management and kitchens of the Gaya Rive Gauche restaurant in Paris. 2006 Opening of the restaurant "Pierre" in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong. Chevalier de la légion d'honneur. Book "La cuisine, c'est de l'amour, de l'art, de la technique" with Hervé This. 2007 Book "Lucide & Ludique" with Jean-François Aubert and photos of Peter Lippman. Book "Alchimistes aux fourneaux" with Hervé This. Photos Rip Hopskins. December: Pierre Gagnaire in charge of the restaurant of Hôtel "Les Airelles" in Courchevel. 2008 june, opening of the restaurant "Reflets par Pierre Gagnaire" in Dubaï, design Christian Ghion. November 2008, Opening of the restaurant "Pierre Gagnaire à Séoul" design Olivier Gagnère. December 2009, opening Pierre Gagnaire at the Mandarin oriental Las Vegas. 2010 opening Pierre Gagnaire in Tokyo and Moscow.
About ANA InterContinental Tokyo
ANA InterContinental Tokyo is located in the Tokyo's vibrant business and commercial districts and only a short distance from some of the most renowned spots such as Ginza, Roppongi and Shibuya. It boasts of 843 comfortable and contemporary rooms including 43 suites, over 20 meeting venues for up to 2,000 delegates in cocktail style and endless dining choices in 11 restaurants and bars. Newly opened the Club InterContinental with Tokyo's largest Club lounge on the 35th floor offers new world class facilities, exceptional service and breathtaking views of Tokyo's major landmarks and Mount Fuji from high above the bustling metropolis below.
About IHG
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is the world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms. IHG owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, nearly 4,400 hotels and over 640,000 guest rooms in 100 countries and territories around the world. The Group owns a portfolio of well recognised and respected hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites® and also manages the world’s largest hotel loyalty programme, Priority Club® Rewards with 47 million members worldwide.
IHG has 1,500 hotels in its development pipeline, which will create 140,000 jobs worldwide over the next few years.
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales.
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