Luke has chosen to do his stage in Japan. He will train at 3 star Michelin Restaurant Nihonryori Ryugin, in Tokyo with Chef Seiji Yamamoto.
Luke will finish working his last week at Dabbous, before competing in the National Chef of the Year competition on 20 June, ahead of flying to Japan, courtesy of Qatar Airways.
Luke is the first scholar to chose Japan as the destination for his winning three month stage. Talking about his choice he said:
“I’ve always wanted to go to Japan, I’m fascinated by the culture, the cuisine, the traditions and the complete respect for quality ingredients. The Roux Scholarship gives me a unique opportunity to train somewhere that is completely out of my comfort zone. I’ve chosen Nihonryori Ryugin in Tokyo and Chef Seiji Yamamoto because it is a small restaurant which offers a wide range of both traditional and modern Japanese dishes. Chef’s ethos is one of total respect for the ingredients and to use almost only what is available in Japan. This will be an amazing chance for me to immerse myself in Japanese culture and learn about the produce, techniques, flavours and style.”
Alain Roux commented: “I’m fascinated by Luke’s choice, a brave and inspirational one that fully exploits the Scholarship opportunity. Luke has chosen one of the finest, most sought after Japanese 3 star Michelin restaurants, a place defined by the rare delicacy of its ingredients and the precision and incredible innovation of its techniques under Chef Seiji Yamamoto. The stage is set to be the experience of a lifetime where Luke will work with a small, elite brigade serving a tiny dining room, only 20 covers. At Restaurant Nihonryori Ryugin, Luke will also discover the real Japan, its culture, food and will fall in love with the unique tableware, as central to the food experience in Japan as the dishes themselves!”
Trevor Blyth who won the Roux Scholarship in 1996 is based in Tokyo and will be a friendly face on hand to support Luke as he settles into the vibrant city which will be his home for the next three months.
When he’s not working Luke is keen to explore Japan and there’s much to discover as the Roux scholars found when they visited on a culinary educational trip in September 2012.
