London Restaurant Festival talks to Jun Tanaka, executive chef of Pearl Restaurant,about eating in London.
LRF: What was the last London restaurant you ate at?
JT: Polpo - fantastic Venetian tapas in a buzzy atmosphere.
LRF: Which London restaurant is your favourite and why?
JT: La Petite Maison. The restaurant serves French Provencal sharing dishes. This is the kind of food I would be happy to eat every day. It is simple but elegant, light but full of flavour. Raphael is an extremely talented chef. If I could choose one restaurant to work in for a day it would be La Petite Maison.
LRF: Who has been the biggest influence on the way you cook and why?
JT: Joel Antunes and Eric Chavot are the two chefs who influenced me the most. When I worked for Joel at Les Saveurs, after each dinner service he would stand in front of the kitchen black board thinking about the tasting and de jour menu. It would change every day and his creativity and flair was an inspiration. He also showed me that a top quality kitchen could be run effectively without having to be a tyrant. I was Eric’s sous chef for two years and I remember creating dishes for him to taste. He would take it apart removing all the elements of the dish that were unnecessary and focus purely on the flavour. It was an invaluable lesson.
LRF: What is your signature dish?
JT: Scallops with parsley puree, garlic and herb crusted chicken oysters.
LRF: What’s it like to work in your kitchen?
JT: Before any chef starts work in my kitchen I always make a point of telling them three things; no arguing, respect each other; and everyone starts and leaves the kitchen together. This sets the tone of the kitchen.
LRF: What do you most like to cook in your spare time?
JT: I never cook at home because I’m never at home!
LRF: What restaurants do you rate in your neighbourhood?
JT: For me, Eastside Inn is the best restaurant in my neighbourhood. When you enter the restaurant you feel like you are walking into Bijorn and Justine’s home. The service is warm and attentive and the food is elegant, delicious but accessible to everyone. My recommendation to anyone who goes there is to let Bijorn cook a surprise menu for them. Also, what makes Eastside Inn stand out is that Bijorn is a little crazy … in a good way!
LRF: Who is your ideal dinner companion?
JT: Pierre Herme – just to get his Macaroon recipe!
LRF: Which restaurants would you recommend to a tourist with one day to spend in London and why?
JT: All of the above for those reasons.
LRF: Which London farmers market, food shop or suppliers would you recommend?
JT: Real Food Market Covent Garden and Whitecross Street Market for tasty food on the go. There is a new Foodlovers Market on Rupert Street in Soho which is worth checking out. For the freshest fish go to Applebee’s in Borough Market and for the best seasonal vegetables you can’t beat The Wild Mushroom Company – when I shop there I always speak to Tony because he knows more about fruit and veg than anyone that I know.
Jun Tanaka’s mobile StreetKitchen will be popping up across the capital during London Restaurant Festival 2010
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