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Endo at the Rotunda to reopen
Endo Kazutoshi will reopen his eponymous omakase restaurant in Notting Hill next month after a period of refurbishment and “culinary reflection”.
The eatery, part of Creative Restaurant Group (which also includes Humo, SUMI, and the short-lived 20 Berkeley), is housed in what was once the BBC Television Centre.
The Michelin Guide describes the restaurant, which holds one star, as a “stylish space on the top floor that boasts a beautiful, 200-year-old hinoki wood counter”, and notes that Kazutoshi explains “each well-crafted, subtly flavoured element of the omakase in an engaging, charming way”.
Having been closed since March, on 17 September Endo at the Rotunda will reopen with an interior designed by Kengo Kuma, who previously worked on the Japan National Stadium for the Tokyo Olympics.
Supposedly the new design is centred on the Japanese concept of ‘Omotenashi’, or hospitality.
Among the new features is a woodscape lounge area, intended to echo the undulating paper ceiling, and a hinoki sushi counter made of stacked layers of cedar. The latter, which seats 10, reportedly now permits guests to more closely interact with Kazutoshi, and the use of mobile phones and cameras has been discouraged. The kitchen has also been upgraded.
These aesthetic alterations have also been complemented by changes to Kazutoshi’s culinary approach.
Another Japanese concept is cited in the press release announcing the reopening – ‘Onkochishin’, or looking to the past for inspiration for the future.
Kazutoshi, a third generation sushi master, will be drawing inspiration from his grandfather’s recipes and techniques, which are preserved in notebooks, especially for some of the new nigiri dishes he will be serving.
“The Rotunda is my home and I want my guests to have an unforgettable experience that feels authentic to my culture and true reflection of our imagination,” commented Kazutoshi. “This space grows alongside me as a chef and as a person. I look forward to welcoming the public with an open heart.”
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