The other day I was invited to dinner by a friend who introduced me to Hasegawa’s ‘Den’.
I really want to go, but I thought that I couldn’t as fitting their schedule would be really difficult.

While having dinner with Hasegawa, I was surprised at how many different things we talked about, and why there’s an international link between all of them.
About a year and a half ago, I wrote the story of a still-obscure restaurant in Milan, and as a consequence came up with plan to cook with the chef in the kitchen from that same restaurant, and by the end of the year we were talking about going to a restaurant in Peru, for example …

I think food culture is one of the few remaining simple forms of cultural exchange that are in vogue right now, but was able to see for myself how chefs really exchange ideas with each other face to face.

This connected chef really resembles so-called street fashion from the early ‘90s.
While traditionally the backbone, we live at time when leaders exist all around the world, and are directly connected at the same time.
From there on, travelling back and forth between lot of countries, meeting different people, or starting a collaboration, showed not only direct link but a whole range of connections.
I wonder if food culture around the world feels the same way?
Of course, there is a big attraction for every restaurant to have an emphasis on tradition.
But create ‘something’ different, while having respect for it.
‘Den’ is a restaurant like this.
Washoku (Japanese cuisine) out in the world itself, rather than simply promoting Japan. The Japanese restaurant places an emphasis on ‘international’.

Before I went, I received a query of concern, ‘What is Hiroshi’s impression of ‘Den’ and what are his tastes?’
o be honest, I was a little but sarcastic in response and replied “Err, Den-tucky”
and before I had chance to say anything a Den-tucky box appeared right before my eyes … “like this?”
l’d given in at that point, completely engulfed by Hasegawa’s pace and totally defeated by this evenings meal.​ ​
I brace myself for our next meal together and will do my best not to be defeated.

viaTabelog​ ​