This month, CNN’s ‘Food for Thought’ travels to Tokyo, the city that many refer to as the culinary capital of the world.
Tokyo has held its reputation as the city with the most Michelin stars in the world with over 200 exceptional dining locations, and now 12 top Tokyo restaurants have a Michelin Green Star in recognition of their dedication to sustainable ingredients and methods of cooking. In this brand-new 30-minute program, CNN visits five Michelin Green Star establishments, meeting the creators behind exquisite food with an environmental conscience. ‘Food for Thought’ explores what food trends like plant-based food, sustainable fishing, and food waste reduction look like for high-end fine dining.
The biggest problem related to CO2 emission in the culinary world is growing livestock, says Kotaro Noda, Executive Chef of FARO, who aims at providing fine dining through vegan dishes minimizing the emission of carbon dioxide. The Italian-Japanese restaurant won its first Michelin star with Noda at the helm in 2021, going on to win a green Michelin star the following year for its commitment to local, seasonal produce and a wide array of vegan dishes, such as potato spaghetti, vegan panna cotta made with soy milk and asparagus, and even a vegan cheese board. In charge of desserts is Italian-trained pastry chef, Mineko Kato, whose stunning creations look more like modern art than food.
Next, CNN hears from legendary Japanese chef Yoshihiro Narisawa who has developed a signature style all his own. In reverence to the power of local ingredients, he embraced Japan’s “satoyama” culture — “a place where people and nature coexist in harmony with forests and the sea”. Narisawa calls his culinary approach “innovative satoyama cuisine”, channeling Japan’s traditional regenerative farming system in dishes such as Soup of the Soil and Bread of the Forest.
CNN visits Florilège, a Michelin two-starred restaurant that has gained a Michelin Green Star thanks to head chef and owner Hiroyasu Kawate‘s dedication to using ingredients that are simple and sustainable. Kawate uses those ingredients to create unique dishes for his guests seated around a large open kitchen. Here they have ringside seating for the preparation of his spectacular tasting menus, which he and his chefs present with the story behind each dish.
Food for Thought trailer: https://bit.ly/3ilqVIT
Food for Thought images: https://bit.ly/3X1KPrt
Airtimes for 30-minute special:
Saturday, January 14 at 1:30 pm HKT
Sunday, January 15 at 12 pm HKT
Monday, January 16 at 6:30 am HKT
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SOURCE: CNN International
