Although it has been years since I’ve traveled in mesmerizing Tokyo, my memories are as vivid as though they had been sparked yesterday—pleasures aswirl in unique flavors and noises, creativity and ingenuity. So when luxury publisher Assouline released the new book Tokyo Chic, I dove into its 312 lush-paper-stock pages, with more than 200 photographs and illustrations, which are bound in an outsize (10-by-13-inches, 6.4-pound) format—a hefty hardcover wrapped in silk. The brainchild of Andrea Fazzari, whose deft imagery and words are love letters to the inimitable capital, Tokyo Chic showcases a massively enthralling—yet strikingly intimate—city. Currently based in Tokyo, Fazzari is a James Beard Award-winning photographer, author and restaurant maven with notable backgrounds in fashion and film. Born in New York City, she has lived in France, Hong Kong, Italy, Spain and Thailand—and speaks four languages. What a sophisticated guide to have at your armchair traveler’s fingertips! Indeed, this coffee table tome would make a treasured holiday gift for those who have already vacationed in Japan or simply dream of doing so.
Willamette Valley’s “50 Best” Restaurant Ōkta Launches “Cloud And Forest” Winter Tasting Menu
02.12.2023 - 00:19 / forbes.com
“We are very lucky to have Matthew Lightner back in Oregon.” That’s the refrain I said to myself course after exquisite course at ōkta, Chef Lightner’s fine dining restaurant in McMinnville, Oregon, in the heart of Willamette Valley wine country.
Nebraska-born Lightner first moved to Oregon to attend culinary school in Portland. Then, after enviable stints abroad at two of the world’s most revered avant-garde kitchens—René Redzepi’s Noma in Copenhagen, and Mugaritz in Spain’s Basque country—the young chef returned to Portland as Executive Chef at Castagna.
In 2011, Lightner left the Pacific Northwest again: this time to helm Atera in New York City, where he nabbed two Michelin stars and a rave three-star review from Pete Wells in The New York Times. Four years later, he moved on from Atera to explore new projects, including restaurant consulting.
After spending so many years cooking in the world’s most awarded fine dining destinations, it may have surprised some that Lightner chose to return to Oregon, opening ōkta in 2022 in the Tributary Hotel in McMinnville. But in the year and a half since, the awards have followed the chef to Willamette Valley, with ōkta landing on best restaurants lists for both Esquire and The New York Times.
Increasingly over the past four decades, Willamette Valley has been awarded the wine world’s top honors for its pinots and chardonnays. But at ōkta (inside the luxe Relais & Chateau Tributary Hotel), Chef Lightner is showing the world just how thoughtful and refined a culinary experience celebrating Oregon’s culinary treasures can be.
Oregon Bounty
From wild truffles and chanterelles foraged from the forest floor of Willamette Valley, to briny samphire, miner’s lettuce, Dungeness crab, and razor clams gathered at the coast, Oregon has an abundance of bounty year-round. Lightner takes advantage of Oregon’s countless culinary delights supplied by local purveyors, but the vast majority of the produce is grown at the restaurant’s own farm just seven miles away.
Some of the chef-curated crops of vegetables, herbs, fruit, and edible flowers from the farm arrive on guest’s plates fresh and raw, mere hours after they were plucked from the Willamette Valley soil. But many are given time for their flavors to intensify and evolve, either preserved in Lightner’s extensive larder—or in its fermentation lab, which undoubtedly takes some inspiration from his time at Noma.
Ōkta’s Seasonal Menus
I had a chance to visit ōkta’s farm during their Summer Solstice Event earlier this year, and to preview the restaurant’s summer Seasons menu.
Starting with a dish called “Friendship” (chrysanthemum flower custard with peas and blossoms), continuing to “Soil” (black truffle, seaweed, and
Night trains and border crossings: Europe’s best new rail routes
Warsaw has just moved closer to Munich, Berlin nudged towards Paris, and Aachen slipped nearer to Salzburg. These are just three examples of city pairs that are newly linked, as of this week, by direct night trains. None of these city pairs currently has direct daytime trains, so the overnight options create a web of opportunities. As always in December, rail operators across Europe are introducing new schedules, along the way creating tantalising links where none existed before.
31 Best Walking Shoes for Travel: The Sneakers, Boots, and Slip-Ons Our Editors Always Pack
Finding the best walking shoes for travel can be tough. You want something comfortable enough to get you through a full day of wandering around, but not so comfortable that it screams “I'm a tourist!” And since nobody wants to tote around a bag (checked or otherwise) filled with shoes, the ones that do make the packing list cut need to be versatile enough to wear with multiple outfits.
33 Best Food Gifts 2023: Sweet, Savory, and Saucy Gifts
Food and travel are an inseparable pair—one bite can bring back a rush of delicious memories. Whether it's memories of a special trip, a city once called home, or a bucket list destination, there's no doubt that an edible gift can do more for its recipient than taste delicious. Fortunately, shippable options abound. Bagels from a classic New York deli can create the brunch of holiday dreams, small-batch chocolate can add sweetness to someone’s day, and home cooks will find delight in luxe kitchen ingredients and so much more in between. This list isn't just for the holidays, either: Bookmark it for those future special occasions—birthdays and “just because” days included.
The Perfect Four-Day Massachusetts Road Trip For Art, History, and Culture
As the seasons change, there’s no better time to escape the busy city life and take a road trip. The New England region has a rich history, culture, and natural beauty, making it an ideal destination for scenic drives. If you’re in the northeastern United States looking for an escape, here’s an extended weekend guide sharing the best places to visit on a road trip through Central and Western Massachusetts, including small towns, historical landmarks, mountainous terrain — all with a stunning backdrop.
Holiday Gift Guide 2023: The Best Mail-Order Caviar And Oysters
I recently put caviar on an extra-toasty Cheez-It, and I’m obsessed. I took my inspiration from Alexis Cervasio, proprietor at hip Boston market EBO & Co. and proponent of putting caviar on everything,
Cozy Retreats for a Winter Getaway
The season of mittens and hot chocolate is upon us and if you’d rather spend a tranquil afternoon beside a fire than brave the crowds at a big ski resort, these snowy getaways are for you. Picture yourself in a luxury treehouse in the woodlands of Vermont, or a quiet cottage in the Catskills, or a retro motor lodge near Grand Teton National Park. Consider a new boutique hotel in Rhode Island from which you can tour Gilded Age mansions trimmed for the holidays. Or check into a statelynewcomer in Germany and browse Christmas markets in places you thought existed only in fairy tales. From Bavaria to Wyoming, winter wonderlands await.
Kiki Club Launches Social App for Renting in New York City
Top of this Thursday morning to you, readers! It’s not news, but I found these funny and relatable Airbnb stories amusing.
How WFH Helped Make Sacramento a Great Restaurant City
On a recent evening in a dimly lit Japanese restaurant, nearly a dozen diners watched rapt from across the bar as a chef blowtorched a sliver of sturgeon until it was kissed with char. He topped the nigiri with crisped fish skin and a spoonful of caviar.
Haute retreats clinches top honors for best luxury villa rental and accommodation service in Europe, 2023
In a groundbreaking triumph, Haute Retreats, renowned for curating unparalleled luxury travel experiences, has been crowned the winner of the Best Luxury Villa Rental and Accommodation Service in Europe for the year 2023 by Luxury Lifestyle Awards.
Pegasus Airlines is establishing Silicon Valley-based Technology Innovation Lab
Pegasus Airlines has taken the first steps in establishing a Technology Innovation Lab operating in Silicon Valley in the USA.
Why Café Carmellini Will Be Your New Favorite Restaurant In New York
“He’s in here, in the kitchen every night and he’s smiling. He’s so happy to be doing this,” explains one of the managers of Café Carmellini. He is chef Andrew Carmellini, well known around New York the past 15 years for his respected but more casual restaurants Locanda Verde, Lafayette, The Dutch, Carne Mare and Bar Primi. This restaurant, which opened November 1st in the new Fifth Avenue Hotel, marks his return to fine dining with reinterpretations of French and Italian classics and as his most personal restaurant is the first one that bears his name. It’s been packed since opening night and looking around the Gilded Age style dining room with its oversized bronze and seeded glass chandeliers suspended from double height ceilings, plush blue banquettes and sculpted trees in the middle of the floor, the chef isn’t the only one smiling.