True to his creed, ‘Life resides in cooking that is free of affectation’, the chef strives to serve food that is honest and down-to-earth. Paying close attention to the strength of his cooking flame, he sources the flavours of each season—bamboo shoots, pike conger, matsutake mushrooms, and puffer fish—and slow-cooks them over charcoal. Indian-ink paintings behind the counter depict lotuses in each season. In the language of flowers, the lotus represents a pure and chaste spirit. The chef’s honesty and respect for foodstuffs are reflected in his carefully pared-down creations.