The Reverie Saigons R&J Lounge & Restaurant, one of the citys premier Italian fine dining venues, will host a very special culinary event on June 13 - 14 as part of the “Fine Dining Lovers by S. Pellegrino and Acqua Panna” series.

The series brings renowned chefs from the best dining destinations around Asia to provide top-notch epicurean experiences to diners. Appearing at R&J on this occasion will be Chef Taku Tabuchi from the restaurant Saccapau in Tokyo. He will present his creative Japanese take on modern Italian flavours.

Chef Taku studied Italian cuisine for five years in Osaka and at the age of 23 went to Italy to train in restaurants around the country for six years. He then opened the Italian restaurant, I Vigneri, in Hamburg, Germany. Finally, after 15 years abroad, he returned to his native land for the launch of Saccapau.

By treasuring culture, Chef Taku believes he can present creative dishes based on Italian cuisine with the theme “Food to experience in the here-and-now, regardless of preconceived ideas.”

Chef Taku's creative dishes include slow-cooked Scottish salmon with fennel and orange granite and crispy capers; USDA beef tenderloin with Carnaroli rice, 50-month-old Parmigiano Reggiano and black truffle; roast New Zealand lamb with cream of porcini mushroom and summer truffle sauce; and Pistachio di Bronte gelato with cream of ricotta cheese, sabayon and Vietnamese cocoa.

The five-course set menu is priced at VND1,588,000++ and VND2,788,000++ with paired wines.

The Fine Dining Lovers Guest Chef Series is an original initiative by fine-dining water brands San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna that began in 2011 as part of their ongoing effort to bridge the best of the best in the culinary world.

R&J Italian Lounge & Restaurant is located at B1, Ground & Mezzanine Level - Times Square Building, on 22-36 Nguyen Hue and 57-69F Dong Khoi Streets, in HCM Citys District 1. For reservations, call (028) 3823 6688. — VNS