Bertrand Larcher has created a concept that transcends the traditional idea of a crêperie. With a buckwheat farm, the Otonali hotel, and a Japanese-inspired restaurant in Cancale, he offers the spirit of Brittany intertwined with the refined elegance of Japanese culture. Time-honored Breton crêpes are reimagined with subtle Japanese inflections to create an outstanding gastronomic union and a true testament to the harmonious blend of diverse food traditions. The Breizh Café crêperies were founded by Bertrand Larcher in Japan in 1995 and have since blossomed across France, from Cancale to Saint-Malo and Paris. The menu celebrates this fusion and every ingredient is selected for quality and seasonality. Signature dish the 'galette complète' merges the earthy crispness of buckwheat with the hearty flavors of good ham, a perfectly-cooked egg, and the sumptuous melt of Comté. The sweet crêpes feature inventive combinations like Okinawa black sugar, velvety matcha ice cream, and Kinako soybean powder, maintaining the Breizh Café ethos of simplicity and creativity. Larcher's vision reaches far beyond his crêperies. His ambitious goal is to create a Franco-Japanese food network that spans the globe. This means that Breizh Café stands as a cross-border cultural liaison, and we can all enjoy a taste of this culinary exchange at one of its many locations.

The outbreak of mad cow disease in 2001 was a pivotal moment for Tuscan cuisine because it threatened to kill bistecca alla fiorentina, the region’s most prized dish. At the time, Dario Cecchini, who comes from a line of Panzano butchers, carried out the symbolic gesture of burying the very last steak he could have sold, marking his deep commitment to the tradition of bistecca, and demonstrating that he was ready to return to it five years later when the sought-after Chianina cattle were available once more. Known as the ‘Michelangelo of Meat’, Cecchini is the founder of Solociccia and Officina della Bistecca, two must-visit restaurants for meat lovers that celebrate the bistecca alla fiorentina, Tuscany’s culinary showstopper, in all its glory. For €40 to €50 a head, both restaurants immerse guests in the exhilarating world of bistecca, serving a simple menu of authentic cuisine wrapped up in a warm atmosphere and complemented by carefully selected wines. Customers come from all around the world to enjoy up to 30kg of meat, because with Cecchini, a meal becomes a feast. He has transported his "Carna by Dario" concept all the way to the UAE, demonstrating the universal reach of his culinary vision and his ability to enchant palates well beyond the gentle Tuscan hills.