MADRID | As we reported earlier this week, Grant Achatz’s in January. Achatz will temporarily close his restaurant, Alinea, and relocate his entire team to the Spanish capital for a five-week pop-up.
The idea of escaping the confines of a fixed residency to embark upon a more nomadic path is seemingly the next step in the evolution of the world’s top restaurants and is something that Achatz’s has continually championed over the years.The break from the routine of the flagship restaurants will no doubt allow for important work and refurbishments to take place, while the food is delivered to a fresh audience in the Spanish capital. https://website.alinearestaurant.com
LONDON | Sexy Fish held its VIP launch in Berkeley Square, with Kate Moss, Rita Ora and Matthew Williamson in attendance, last night. As we reported last month, the restaurant officially opens its doors on 19 October, serving Asia seafood by Ben Orpwood.sexyfish.com
Acclaimed Japanese chef Yoshihiro Murata opens Tokimeitē on Conduit Street in London this month. Owned by Zen-Noh Group, great things are expected of Tokimeitē with chef Murata achieving seven Michelin stars across his three restaurants in Tokyo and Kyoto.
Joining other Michelin-starred restaurants The Square and Sketch on this Mayfair strip, Murata’s menu will focus on his contemporary style of washoku (which translates as traditional dietary cultures of the Japanese), which joined French cuisine on UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013.Set over three floors, the impressive 70-cover restaurant will feature an open kitchen, Josper oven and robata grill in addition to a chef’s table in a private dining space. tokimeite.com
Also in London, Anthony Demetre has been busy with Les Couilles du Chien at his Michelin-starred restaurant Arbutus, launching next week. The bar will take shape within a section of the restaurant, offering a bar menu and wine pairings. Expect Demetre’s flair for stylish but unpretentious dishes, such as warm pig’s head with spiced mayonnaise or the cheekily titled dish ‘A Load of Bollocks’, featuring crisp lamb testicles and tripe.
Wines and cocktails will be impressive, with bottles including Condreiu ‘Chaillet’ a Viognier from the Rhone Valley and Andromeda Pinot Noir by Devil’s Gulch Vineyard, California, and experimental drinks such as the Give Peas a Chance, made from fresh pea and basil-infused Reyka vodka, Lillet blanc, and lemon peel.arbutusrestaurant.co.uk
NEW YORK | One block from the Chelsea Market, Mario Batali opens La Sirena at The Maritime Hotel in New York this month, taking over the space previously occupied by La Bottega, which closed in January 2015. The first new restaurant in nearly a decade for Batali and business partner Bastianich, La Sirena will feature a40-foot marble bar connectingtwo dining rooms. themaritimehotel.com
FOUR North America Rising Star, Ignacio Mattos and his business partner Thomas Carter will open their second restaurant in New York, Café Altro Paradiso. Likely to open in December on Spring Street in Soho, the restaurant will focus on Italy and offer a more traditional style of menu to Estela.http://estelanyc.comestelanyc.com
Washington, D.C., | Sean Brock’s (McCrady’s) former chef de cuisine, Jeremiah Langhorne, opens his first solo venture, The Dabney this month. Opening in Blagden Alley, Langhorne’s mid-Atlantic cuisine will focus on ingredients sourced from the region. One of the most exciting restaurants to launch in D.C., (quite possibly ever), The Dabney will focus on small dishes and a personalised menu with the flexibility to change depending on what’s available.thedabney.com
AMSTERDAM | Following the launch of W Amsterdam last month, the hotel’s THE DUCHESS restaurant has also opened as a dining, tearoom and bar. Focusing on light Niçoise cuisine, the dining room is stunning and, while good food is important, as with everything about the W brand, the emphasis is on fun and frolics. The centrepiece is the custom-made Molteni kitchen with indulgent dishes such as foie gras donuts with fig jam, crunchy zucchini with fresh truffles and hand crafted pasta with braised short ribs featuring on the menu. Located in the former KAS Bank, the restaurant’s interior is a sight to behold.the-duchess.com
PARIS | The Four Seasons Paris opened Le George yesterday. Serving light Mediterranean dishes, designed for sharing over lunch and dinner, Le George is a more informal option to the hotel’s two-Michelin-starred Le Cinq restaurant. Designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon, the interior is chic and classic, with vaulted ceiling and artwork by contemporary artist Junior Fritz Jacquet.fourseasons.com/paris/dining/restaurants/le_george/