Olivier Rodriguez's New Project Debuts in Aoyama | &éclé

&éclé | AND ECLE

A Modern Neo-Bistro by a Michelin-Starred Chef

Olivier Rodriguez's New Project Launches in Aoyama

&éclé (And Ecle), the first neo-bistro by Olivier Rodriguez, who has earned a Michelin star for seven consecutive years, has opened in Tokyo's Aoyama. Experience Michelin-quality gastronomy in a daily, casual setting.

Text by KUROMIYA Yuzu

The Original "Couliscious" Genre is Born

Olivier Rodriguez was appointed the first chef of "Signature," the main dining room at Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo. Since earning his first star in 2007, he maintained it for seven years until his departure, establishing himself as a highly skilled chef. Now, with "And Ecle," he makes his long-awaited debut with his very first neo-bistro. The restaurant's name is a shortened form of the French word "éclectique" (eclectic), aiming to create a dining space that represents a "new genre of food, transformed and evolved," all encapsulated in a single spoonful.

The signature menu features "Couliscious," an original genre born from gastronomic techniques. It's a healthy, novel menu that blends "coulis," French sauces made with seasonal vegetables, with a unique blend of various types of rice and cereals familiar to the Japanese palate.

Rodriguez's masterful technique of balancing spices, flavors, herbs, and vegetables is the hallmark of his career at the forefront of gastronomy. For dinner, the menu also includes neo-bistro dishes paired with "coulis," such as "Poêlé of Fresh Fish Directly from Hakodate" and "Poached Kiyora Egg."

The wine selection is also extensive, with over six types available by the glass daily, in addition to bottles. The wines are categorized not by origin or varietal, but by taste, allowing guests to choose based on their mood or the dish of the day.

The interior exudes an exotic ambiance, with graphical tile walls and wood floors creating a warm atmosphere. The art direction was handled by Tomomi Iwai, and the opening director was Yoshiko Chris-Webb.