********** Yoshinori Ishii Executive chef of Japanese restaurant UMU in London ******************

------------------ 英国の日本料理店 UMU 総料理長 石井義典 のつれづれなる話 ------------



Friday 25 January 2013

New addition to UMU. UMUの新しい仲間



At the end of last year, Mr Kazuya Ishida, an up-and-coming young ceramic artist from Bizen (one of the hometown of Japanese earthenware), who currently resides in London to polish his skill and widen his field of activity, personally delivered a huge vase specially made by him for Umu.
The vase is fully decorated with his speciality skill, which technique I was blown away by when I observed for the first time while he was teaching me potter’s wheel skill few months back, and was made up to be a very powerful piece.
Unlike the standard ceramic vases for Japanese-style drawing room, Mr Ishida had to consider many requests and restrictions creating this particular piece, however the outcome was an outstanding, beautifully finished vase which is yet practical. After only 1 month of being part of the restaurant, the vase is already blending in perfectly to create the Umu atmosphere, almost like it has been where it meant to be for many years.
陶芸の故郷、備前から陶芸の技術と共に英国で活動するために滞在されている若手陶芸家の石田和也氏が昨年末、当店のために大きな花入れを製作して届けてくれました。

私の家でロクロ技術を教えてくれた数ヶ月前、彼の持つ特殊技術に驚かされましたが、まさにその技術で装飾が施された力強い作品です。 
日本のお座敷に置かれるのと違ったいろいろな制約がある中での製作をお願いしましたが、大変使いやすく、約一ヶ月が経った今では昔からそこにあったかのようにお店に馴染んでいます。

Wednesday 9 January 2013

Happy new year!!! 今年もよろしくお願いいたします。



With a fresh start of the New Year, I would like to say thanks for the year that has just passed, and sincerely wish you all had a lovely Christmas and a happy new year! 

More than 2 years have passed since I first came to London to be the executive head chef at Umu, and this is my 3rd time welcoming a new year, a new beginning. 

Although things have been very hectic at the restaurant throughout the previous year, due to events, refurbishments and distribution reform, thanks to the cooperation from each and every staff, we survived the year without any complication.  

Whether from our invaluable regulars or precious first-timers, smiles from the guests at the end of their Umu experience have been our priority target. The Umu staff, all together as a team, tried and worked our hardest to achieve this. This year or next year, or even further in the future, to create superb Umu experience which puts smile on everyone’s face will always be our ultimate goal. 

Thank you again to everyone for the wonderful past year.

We sincerely look forward to the day welcoming you at Umu, London in 2013.

 


私がUMUの料理長としてロンドンに来てから2年以上が経ち、3度目の年始を迎えました。
昨年はお店の中の改革やイベントで大忙しな一年でしたが、全てのお店のスタッフの協力のおかげで無事過ごす事ができました。

いつもいらしてくださる常連様も、一見様も、皆様の笑顔を見ることが全ての到着地点としてUMUスタッフ一同頑張ってきました。今年も、来年も、いつまでもその目標が変わることはありません。

昨年はどうもありがとうございました。
2013年も、ロンドンのUMUを、どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。