Nov 26, 2017

Japanese haute-cuisine in Zurich | Rive Gauche

Good news for all lovies of Japanese fusion cooking: A team of the well-known top chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa makes a pit-stop at Rive Gauche for one week (every year), before heading to Badrutt’s Palace in St. Moritz for winter season.

Nobuyuki Matsuhisa owns 32 restaurants around the world, known as « Nobu » and « Matsuhisa ». For the eleventh year in a row, the Matsuhisa Mykonos team spoils and acquaints guests at Rive Gauche with the wide range of subtle and unique flavours of finest Japanese cuisine, paired with South American and Western influences. This culinary spectacle started from 17th November 2017 and lasted till the 25th of the month. The famous hotel Baur au Lac’s fine-casual dining restaurant Rive Gauche offers an Omakase, a 6-course tasting menu. Omakase is the Japanese tradition of letting a chef choose your order.

We were fortunate to have a quick look behind the scenes to learn more about the concept of Nobuyuki Matsuhisa. Nikos Skamnakis, head chef of Matsuhisa Mykonos, warmly welcomed us in the Baur au Lac kitchen and told us more about the philosophy behind Nobu’s cuisine, which is based on the reinterpretation of traditional Japanese food. We had the chance to taste some freshly prepared appetisers, while Nikos explained us the meaning behind every dish. We enjoyed different style of special sushi, morsels of scalops and some A5 quality wagyu beef cuts. We were also pleasantly surprised, when they brought us a selection of drinks with unusual and extraordinary aroma combinations. We have no words to describe this exclusive, incomparable and unique savour. Everything just tasted fantastic.

The first course of the Omakase was a thinly sliced, seared salmon with yellow Japanese mustard miso and unagi sauce. It continued with a large platter of Chef’s premium sushi selection followed by a baby spinach salad with olive oil, yuzu juice, truffle and dry miso. The next course was the popular Cod fillet marinated in sweet miso, grilled till perfection, with Den miso and Hajikami pickle, which is a signature dish of Nobuyuki Matsuhisa. It has been copied many times but the quality and charisma of the original cannot be matched. For the fifth course, grilled tenderloin of Japanese wagyu beef with white truffle and teriyaki sauce was served and makes all meat lovers heart beat faster. Last but not least, a Nobu style chocolate fondant with green tea ice-cream rounded off this perfect dinner.

A masterly food composition and outstanding cooking performance by top chef Nikos Skamnakis and his team, which does justice to the master himself. Incredible product quality and great love for the detail. For all connoiseurs and lovies of Japanese food, who want to get a different and unique impression of Japanese cuisine, the Matsuhisa pop-up at Rive Gauche is an essential destination.

Many thanks to Joshua and Mr. Luxem, General Manager of Baur au Lac, for this unforgettable experience and wonderful evening.

Reservations:

Early reservations recommended, 2 seatings per evening (6pm and 9pm)

Prices:

Omakase (excluding beverages) 160 CHF / Person

Cocktails between 19 CHF - 23 CHF

Address:

Rive Gauche

Talstrasse 1

8001 Zürich

Phone: +41 44 220 50 60

E-Mail: info@agauche.ch