The Epicurean Best Of Paris Meets The Epicurean Best Of Tokyo At The Imperial's 120th Anniversary Culinary Showcase

Tokyo's legendary Imperial Hotel is celebrating its 120 Anniversary this October 28th through November 3rd with a gala gastronomic festival at its award-winning French dining room, Les Saisons, and at other venues, co-hosted by the fabled Ritz Paris. Featured at Les Saisons will be an opulent selection of best-selling dishes from the Ritz Paris revered Restaurant L'Espadon created by Ritz Paris Executive Chef Michel Roth, who was awarded the title of Meilleur Ouvrier de France in 1991 as well as the Chevalier de l'Ordre de la Legion d'Honneur in 2006 by President Jacques Chirac. Luscious desserts by the Ritz Paris head Patissier Sebastien Serveau will also be offered at Les Saisons, the Rendez-Vous Lounge in the Main Lobby and at the Gargantua gourmet delicatessen.

The Ritz tasting menu offerings during lunch feature a choice of courses from �9,000, �11,000 and �13,000 per person, with service from 11:30 a.m. through 2:30 p.m. Lavish full course dinners at Les Saisons, served from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., are �23,000 or �31,000 per person, with additional service charges. Guests at Les Saisons will be able to enjoy either the complete tasting lunch or dinner menu. They can also select individual dishes from the tasting menu.

The Ritz Paris menu at Les Saisons during luncheon service will include dishes such as Golden Browned Scallops with Orange-Scented Shellfish Jus and Rosette of Lamb with a Herb Jewel Box Zucchini Cannelloni and Artichoke. Dinner temptations will include Sauteed Duck Foie Gras with Green Apple Mousse; Baked French Sea Bass with Imperial Hotel, Ltd. Asparagus and String Beans, with Jaune Wine-Scented Shellfish Jus; Filet of Japanese Beef flavored with Truffles and Potato Puree Cappuccino, among numerous other selections.

The Rendez-Vous Lounge in the Main Lobby will offer classical Ritz Paris pastries by Patissier Serveau, whose pastries will also be available for take-out at The Imperial's Gargantua food shop. Gargantua is located on the Lobby Floor and is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The Rendez-Vous Lounge is in the Main Lobby, and open daily from 9:00 a.m. through 11:00 p.m. (last order at 10:30 p.m.). Les Saisons on the Mezzanine of the Main Building is open daily for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and for dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. On the evening of Wednesday, November 3rd, The Imperial Hotel's Chef Thierry Voisin will join forces with Chef Roth of L'Espadon in the kitchens of Les Saisons to produce an ultra-opulent Anniversary Dinner to celebrate the exact day of the opening of The Imperial in 1890, with seating for only fifty guests. This very special nine course dinner with wine is �55,000 per person, with additional service charge. A coat and tie are requested for gentlemen.

As Tokyo's oldest western style luxury hotel, The Imperial has enjoyed a lengthy association with the Ritz Paris, starting in 1928 when The Imperial's future 8th Executive Chef Bunjiro Ishiwatari spent a year studying under Auguste Escoffier at the Ritz Paris and brought back to Japan numerous recipes for French cuisine. The Imperial's renowned 11th Executive Chef and culinary celebrity, the late Nobuo Murakami, also trained in the kitchens of the Ritz Paris, as have many other Imperial Hotel chefs.
The Imperial opened its doors in the year 1890 at the direction of Japan's imperial family, aristocrats and leading financial and commercial leaders of the time, and has traditionally served as the hotel of choice for visiting heads of state, royalty, celebrities and business leaders. Enjoying a similar reputation, the Ritz Paris opened eight years afterward, in 1898, and has since become synonymous with the world's most luxurious standards of cuisine and hospitality.

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