A culinary contest hosted by the JR Hotel Group was held on August 26 (Wednesday) at 大和学園京都調理師専門学校 in Kyoto Prefecture, and Takuji Kadoya of French restaurant FOURGRAINS at Hotel Metropolitan Edmont (Iidabashi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; General Manager Masaaki Kobayashi) took first place. To celebrate the win, FOURGRAINS is offering a course menu featuring the winning dish for a limited time throughout October.
About the Contest
The contest has been held annually by the JR Hotel Group since 2003, open to young chefs across the group's hotels who are 40 or under and have entered no more than three times in total. Kadoya had entered twice before, making this his third appearance. This year's theme called for an original hot Western dish built around a designated main ingredient and supporting ingredients, with sole from the Seto Inland Sea set as the required main ingredient.
Sixteen chefs, each representing their region from Hokkaido to Kyushu, took part in the contest. Kadoya competed with a dish titled "Paupiette of Seto Inland Sea Sole, Grenoble-Style," within a two-hour time limit. Tasting judges scored dishes on five criteria — taste, originality and ideas, plating, use of ingredients, and overall completion — and a technical assessment covered five more criteria — cooking technique, workflow, cost efficiency, general hygiene, and hygiene knowledge — all judged blind. Going over the time limit resulted in a deduction.
Chef Comment
"This was my third time entering this contest, and this time I was determined to win no matter what. I'm really happy to have gotten the result I was hoping for. I went through failure after failure to get here, and I owe it to Executive Chef Iwasaki and everyone around me. Going forward, I want to put this experience to use by supporting the younger chefs who take on this challenge next, and pass the baton on." — Takuji Kadoya
October-Only Course Menu Featuring the Winning Dish
Period: October 1 (Thursday) – October 31 (Saturday)
Lunch: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM (last order 1:30 PM)
Dinner: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM (last order 7:00 PM)
Lunch course — "Déjeuner Lauréat": ¥18,000 (tax and service charge included)
Lunch and dinner course — "Félicitation": ¥25,000 (tax and service charge included)
Both courses serve the winning dish as the fish course, presented in a full portion.
Déjeuner Lauréat
- Appetizer: Two preparations of free-range chicken (Amakusa Daio and Aizu), served with autumn vegetables
- Fish: Sole paupiette, Grenoble-style
- Palate cleanser: Shiso granité
- Meat: Poêléed Kuroge Wagyu beef with an original Japanese-style sauce
- Grand dessert: Cacao-scented baba with pear compote and vanilla ice cream
- Coffee or tea (Uva) with a small sweet
Félicitation
- Amuse-bouche: Foie gras, served in a small ball -Autumn-
- Appetizer: Two preparations of free-range chicken (Amakusa Daio and Aizu), served with autumn vegetables
- Fish: Sole paupiette, Grenoble-style
- Palate cleanser: Shiso granité
- Meat: Poêléed Kuroge Wagyu beef with a choice of red wine sauce or an original Japanese-style sauce
- Avant-dessert
- Grand dessert: Kasama chestnut soufflé with cassis sorbet
- Coffee or tea (Uva) with a small sweet
Menu items may change depending on ingredient availability.
Reservations: By phone or online. Advance reservation required, up to 3 business days before the visit.
TEL: 03-3237-1111 (general line); FOURGRAINS reception hours 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM (closed Sundays and Mondays)
Web: https://www.tablecheck.com/shops/hotel-edmont-fourgrain/reserve
About FOURGRAINS
FOURGRAINS is a French restaurant on the first floor of Hotel Metropolitan Edmont's main building.
Opened: January 13, 2026 (Tuesday)
Seats: Up to 24
- Dining area: up to 12 guests
- Private salon (2 rooms, up to 6 guests each, up to 12 guests combined)
Private room fees (tax and service charge included):
- Dining area (8–12 guests): ¥20,000
- Private salon (7–12 guests): ¥16,000
- Private salon (2–6 guests): ¥8,000
Hours: Lunch 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM (last order 1:30 PM) / Dinner 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM (last order 7:00 PM)
Closed Sundays and Mondays
Reservations: Required in advance, up to 3 business days before the visit.
TEL: 03-3237-1111 (general line); FOURGRAINS reception hours 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM (closed Sundays and Mondays)
Web: https://www.tablecheck.com/shops/hotel-edmont-fourgrain/reserve
Website: https://edmont.metropolitan.jp/fourgrains/
Access:
- Approx. 5-minute walk from JR Iidabashi Station (East Exit) or JR Suidobashi Station (West Exit)
- Approx. 2-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Tozai Line Iidabashi Station (Exit A5)
- Approx. 5-minute walk from the Subway Yurakucho / Namboku / Oedo Lines, Iidabashi Station (Exit A2)
