It is with both great pleasure and a significant amount of gastronomic excitement that we’re happy to announce the return of Bistrot le cochon.
Back in 2008 Chef Kazuhiko Kojima opened a small French restaurant in the heart of Kutchan. It was an immediate success and drew a crowd of food-lovers from far and wide.
Chef Kaz had just returned from a few years in southern France studying authentic home-style French cooking – and he learnt well. The food Kaz produces in the kitchen is a testament to French cuisine with rich tastes and subtle nuances, all made from the best quality meats from Hokkaido and around the world – and locally produced farm fresh vegetables.
Kaz is not only a great chef, but an astute businessman – evident in the fact that he immediately teamed up with local restaurateurs Takayo and Brett.
It’s not an overstatement to say that you haven’t experienced all Niseko has to offer in terms of food until you’ve eaten at one of Takayo and Brett’s restaurants.
Together the couple has had a string of successes – starting with the conversion of the Black Diamond Lodge from an old pension to one of the goto places at the base of Higashiyama [aka Niseko Village].
And if you missed their transformation of an old log cabin in the heart of Hirafu into the enormously successful Wild Bills Tex-Mex restaurant, well, let’s just say you missed one of the pivotal moments in Niseko’s recent culinary and nightlife history.
Together, Takayo, Brett and Kaz’s plan was to move Bistrot le cochon to the base of Mt. Annupuri, and after a brief stay in a mid-town location, they’ve finally found a venue in Hirafu that’s easy to get to on foot, spacious enough to accommodate large groups while intimate enough for a romantic meal – and has a killer kitchen to boot – namely the Yama Shizen West Building.
We’ve been invited to the pre-opening dinner and will be doing an in-depth review of the whole menu. We’re already certain the new Bistrot le cochon is not only going to be a major hit, but one of the must-visit fine dining experiences for anyone holidaying in Niseko.
If you have an occasion to celebrate, want a romantic night out with someone special or enjoy great food and wine in general and want to spoil yourself and some loved ones, look no further.
Keep in mind that during the peak season [Dec, Jan, Feb] Bistrot le cochon will be very popular, and while there’s always a chance for a walk in table during these periods, it’s a lot safer to make a booking in advance.
You can visit Bistrot le cochon’s website at lecochon-niseko.com where they provide the menu, information on how to get there and how to make a reservation – plus there’s lot of photos of the delicious food.
You can contact Bistrot le cochon directly by phone (+81) 09062106988 – or request a reservation on their site at lecochon-niseko.com/bookings
Stay tuned for the 360niseko in-depth review of Bistrot le cochon where we’ll be tasting such delights as:
- French Duck Confit with Whole-Grain Mustard
- Roasted Australian Rack of Lamb with Basil Paste and Jus
- Hokkaido Pork Spare Rib Poêlé and Homemade Bacon with Mustard Cream Sauce
- Hokkaido Beef Filet Mignon Poêlé with Truffle and Madeira Wine Sauce
- Grilled Hokkaido Venison Loin with Poivrade Sauce
- Sautéed Canadian Lobster with Jus and Herb Sauce
We can’t wait!
