He's one of France's most famous chefs and now Pierre Gagnaire will be taking his creative skills to the new centre of international cuisine, Tokyo.

The three Michelin-starred Gagnaire will open his new restaurant at the ANA InterContinental Tokyo in mid-March 2010, and it will be home to the highest Pierre Gagnaire restaurant in the world with the stunning Tokyo metropolis as a backdrop.

Pierre Gagnaire’s only restaurant in Tokyo will be located on the 36th floor of the hotel, which is ideally situated in the prestigious Akasaka area. The restaurant over looks the heart of Tokyo city – with a view that includes the iconic Tokyo Tower – and the renovated contemporary décor will provide the setting for Gagnaire’s hallmark cuisine.
 
Known for his attention to detail and culinary creations that feature unexpected juxtapositions of flavours and textures, Gagnaire’s other signature is to serve multiple dishes within each course. This will feature throughout the lunch and dinner menus. Gagnaire will also personally design and launch each menu with the change of each season. The chef will be spending a considerable amount of time on site at the hotel. The Tokyo kitchen brigade additionally features a number of his team from Paris.
 
Gagnaire’s passion for best-quality produce and creating unprecedented tastes follow a heartfelt philosophy of using food to communicate and incite emotion. The 59-year-old three Michelin-starred chef is credited with the creation of modern French fusion in conjunction with Herve This. He heralds from a restaurant background, and as the eldest of four children he took over the reins of his parents' restaurant when they retired.
 
Gagnaire spent the first 10 years of his career working in restaurants in Paris and Lyon with a brief spell in the United States before returning to St. Etienne in central France to work with his father, who also had a Michelin star.

ANA's Regional General Manager Fergus Stewart said Gagnaire's restaurant will have a major impact on Tokyo's restaurant scene.

"The addition of Pierre Gagnaire to our diverse collection of restaurant and bars is an important component in the evolution of the hotel into a five-star landmark and will help to set us apart as a destination for exceptional dining. We are very pleased to be collaborating with Pierre, and I have no doubt his passion and vision will translate into unforgettable experiences for our guests.”

Gagnaire currently operates seven restaurants globally: Las Vegas, Dubai, Paris, Seoul, Hong Kong, Courchevel and London. Pierre Gagnaire Tokyo will be his second partnership with an InterContinental hotel, the first being Reflets par Pierre Gagnaire at InterContinental Dubai Festival City. Gagnaire’s Paris restaurant was ranked third in the world’s 50 greatest restaurants by Restaurant Magazine UK in 2008.
 
Pierre Gagnaire Tokyo will open 19 March 2010 at ANA InterContinental Tokyo.