First, he went to Valencia, Spain, to eat local delicacies while attending a Spanish language school, and then moved to the Basque Country, located between Spain and France. He then moved to the Basque Country between Spain and France, where he got a chance to work at one of the most popular bars in San Sebastian, Zazpi. Compared to the classic French cuisine he had studied up to that point, the world of Basque cuisine was extremely free and fun," he says.

Takasugi was fascinated by the way of life of people who love gastronomy and the unique Basque food culture, including fresh and refreshing wine chacorri, open sandwiches, pintxos, and Basque cheesecake. San Sebastian was safe for me to walk around alone at night, and the fact that there were so many dishes other than paella to choose from was very appealing.

I wanted to bring back to Kyoto not only the recipes for the dishes, but also the culture of enjoying dishes made with local ingredients with friends," he says. Many of the dishes, including the hearty chuleta that appears as part of the evening course, are worth eating, so be sure to invite your family and friends to visit.