The Alpina Gstaad to Welcome Megu

Authentic Japanese Cuisine for Newest Luxury Hotel in Swiss Alpine Resort

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. May 09, 2012

GSTAAD, Switzerland - May 9, 2012 - The Alpina Gstaad, the newest luxury hotel to open in 100 years in this Swiss Alpine village, will welcome the acclaimed MEGU and its superb modern Japanese cuisine this December. MEGU, “blessing” in Japanese, will introduce a new era of dining to Gstaad.

Antique kimonos, Alpine fir wood and accents of vermillion, will give MEGU, the Swiss outpost of the Japanese restaurant, a sense of both Alpine cultures. In designing one of The Alpina Gstaad's three restaurants, Noe Duchaufour-Lawrance was inspired by traditional houses and temple architecture in Japan. For MEGU at The Alpina Gstaad, he adapted some of the principles of Japanese design to the Swiss Alpine environment playing with filter, frame and composition, with nature as the common thread.

The designer borrowed the concept of different levels found in traditional Japanese homes to create an open, yet more intimate space. The sushi bar is on one level and a few steps above is the dining area with a large communal table. Still another level extends up and out to a terrace where diners can take in the gorgeous Alpine views.

Acting as a transparent “screen” between the bar and the dining area, narrow “blades” of fir wood hang from the ceiling dividing the space and creating a cozy ambiance. Yet diners will still see the dramatic views outside. A bas relief of Japan's Mt. Fuji etched on the wooden blades is juxtaposed with the view of Gstaad's mountains beyond the window. Duchaufour-Lawrance has covered the other side of the blades with antique kimono fabric, with red, the signature color of MEGU, dominating.

• A huge round marble stone greets guests as they enter. The circular bar is topped with a dark brown marble slab and the sides are covered with dark gray shingles of sycamore like the church roof in Gstaad.
• A long white communal table for ten is surrounded by vermillion lacquered chairs. Designed by Duchaufour-Lawrance, they recall torii the gates of Shinto shrines.
• Above the table, a dramatic chandelier of bronze and artisanal glass has mirrors reflecting the small lanterns suspended from its center. Elsewhere, rectangles of blue glass filled with LED hang from the ceiling adding shimmering light.
• The carpet - in varying shades of gray - has a pebble-like texture inspired by Japanese rock gardens.
• Family crests in gold leaf of the craftsmen involved in the restaurants construction will adorn the white washed walls, a design element of MEGU's outpost in midtown Manhattan.

"I was suspended between two worlds - the Japanese sensibility of MEGU and the mountain setting of Gstaad,” said Noe Duchaufour-Lawrance. “These two come together to create a unique place,” he added.

MEGU's Cuisine
MEGU's sophisticated dining experience offers dazzling dishes that are artfully presented. The cuisine is a modern take on authentic Japanese cuisine designed to bring out the best of the high-quality ingredients the chefs use.

What sets MEGU apart is its focus on sourcing the most pristine and most unusual ingredients. The chefs like to say, the ingredients are the stars. In its search for the finest and rarest fish, Kobe beef, fresh produce and unique condiments, MEGU's team of chefs traveled throughout the 47 prefectures of Japan meeting farmers, fisherman and artisanal purveyors. Satsuma beef from Kyushu in Japan, smelts from the Mukawa River in Hokkaido and hand-made tofu from Saga prefecture are some of the prized ingredients in MEGU's creations.

The story of kanzuri, a chili paste, from Arai in Niigata prefecture is an unusual one. Select chili peppers are left on snow to “cure” for four days and then are aged for three years. Kanzuri adds a touch of fire to Crispy Kanzuri Shrimp and the Hamachi Carpaccio, two of the restaurant's signature dishes.

The wasabi comes from the Amagi district in Izu Peninsula in the Shizouka prefecture whose cool climate is ideal for cultivating this indigenous herb. Flown in weekly, it is hand grated at the table with a same-gawa, or sharkskin grater. Bincho-tan, a special charcoal with purifying elements is harvested from the Ubamegashi tree, a white oak tree found only in Kyoto, in southern Japan. The charcoal imparts a distinctive flavor to grilled dishes like the Kobe Beef Slices 'Ishiyaki.' Zunda, a sweet bean paste made from the coveted Dadacha Edamame from the Yamagata prefecture, is used in the Emerald Edamame Soup. Lovers of sweets will be in for a treat. The restaurant will have an excellent selection of desserts including Creme Brulee with yuzu and a Green Tea Crepe which has a delicious green tea filling between 21 paper-thin layers of crepe. Not only are MEGU's dishes appetizing, they are artistically presented. Crispy Okaki Asparagus are rolled in kakinotane, a spicy rice cracker from Niigata prefecture and come served on wooden spears set in a wooden block. Kagero Beef Steak comes to the table seared on a hot lava stone from Mt. Fuji.

MEGU has won awards for its wine list and has an unusual collection of sakes. A special sake will be produced for The Alpina Gstaad. As with other MEGU restaurants, original tableware has been created by Japanese craftsmen who are considered “living treasures.”

“We are excited to be part of this prestigious project,” explained MEGU President, Koichi Yokoyama. “MEGU at The Alpina Gstaad is surrounded by nature and the beautiful Swiss mountains. As our Japanese ancestors say, what we eat should always harmonize with nature and the seasons. We are confident that our vision will be shared by those who appreciate the best in Japanese cuisine,” he said.

“Knowing how both the people in Saanenland and its visitors enjoy sushi and Japanese cuisine, I suggested MEGU for The Alpina Gstaad,” said Onno Poortier, Owner's Representative and Advisor. “MEGU's sophisticated cuisine and its emphasis on presenting the most authentic and highest quality ingredients is right in line with our philosophy for The Alpina Gstaad. The restaurant will bring a new level of Japanese cuisine to Gstaad,” he continued.

For more information and high resolution images of The Alpina Gstaad, please visit www.thealpinagstaad.ch and for further information about MEGU, go to www.megurestaurants.com.