So Tokyo is the most Michelin-starred city in the world. Hands up who saw that coming?
Incredibly, every one of the 150 restaurants listed in the Tokyo guide has been awarded at least one star and Joel Robuchon, who has a deep-rooted relationship with Japan’s capital, bagged six.
This will no doubt result in debate on the subject of which country holds the much-fought title of gastronomic capital of the world.
My money has always been on France, despite protestations from Spain and of course, Old Blighty, as I believe it’s hard to argue with France’s culinary heritage.
But as Michelin director Jean-Luc Naret rightly points out we perhaps overlook the heritage of countries a little further afield.
“[It is thanks to] Tokyo’s incomparable quality of the products and cooking techniques used, and to the heritage and culinary traditions handed down from generation to generation, that the Tokyo Michelin Guide has given stars to all restaurants," declares Naret.
Of course, this also presents an interesting twist in “Star Wars” (the battle between Gordon Ramsay and Alain Ducasse to be the most starred chef in the world). Joel Robuchon now proudly boasts 17.