Kamimura invited to prestigious HK club

YUICHI Kamimura, founder of Niseko's famed Kamimura restaurant, has been invited to Hong Kong to work as a guest chef at the Aberdeen Marina Club in Hong Kong from November 15-22.

The Marina Club is owned by the Shangri-La Group and is among the most prestigious private clubs in Hong Kong.

Kamimura restaurant manager Michael Phipps and sous chef Motoya Otokozawa will also be travelling to Hong Kong to complete Kamimura's 'A Team'.

The event has been arranged to celebrate the one year anniversary of the refurbishment of the club's luxurious main dining room.

Kamimura-san's appearance was arranged by club member who dined at Kamimura last winter and was blown away by the experience.

Kamimura is now on the must-do list of the increasing number of Hong Kong visitors to Niseko, and this visit will expand his international reputation even further.

He will be cooking for invited guests at the anniversary gala night as well as preparing five nights of his famous degustation menu at one of the club's restaurants.

Kamimura will also be conducting a cooking workshop and using the opportunity to promote Niseko and Hokkaido as a culinary destination.

Kamimura-san was eagerly awaiting the upcoming trip when Powderlife caught up with the shooting-star chef in his Hirafu restaurant this week.

We asked him how he was going to source his famous ingredients in Hong Kong.

"Actually I'm still trying to work that out," Kamimura-san said.

"I'm travelling down to Hong Kong this weekend to see what I am allowed to import and what I can source there."

And with his growing reputation in Hong Kong does he think he would ever set up a restaurant there?  

"I'd love to!" he said.

So long as he doesn't leave Niseko, we're OK with it!

Due to this trip the Kamimura restaurant is closed from November 13 but will reopen on December 1 in time for the influx of international skiers for the 2009/10 winter.

Alongside Kamimura, Niseko visitors (and lucky locals!) have an amazing range of world-class restaurants to choose from including Sekka, Kame - Secret Kitchen, Dragon, Bang Bang, A-Bu-Cha and many, many more.

Check out our restaurant reviews and start planning your Niseko dining experience now.