When the going gets tough, the tough sometimes check into a luxury serviced apartment for a staycation. This is exactly what we felt like doing after months of pandemic news and staying at home, out of the COVID-19 virus’ way. We felt like we needed a break from the everyday, and to treat ourselves to a mini-break in a safe and secure way.
ABOUT OAKWOOD PREMIER TOKYO
We chose the Oakwood Premier Tokyo because it has wonderful two-bedroom serviced apartments in an excellent location just minutes away from Tokyo Station and the food halls and department stores of Marunouchi and Nihonbashi.
As frequent travelers all know, hotels are great; but if you’re traveling with family or going for an extended period, serviced apartments are an excellent choice for comfort, convenience and cost. In this case, it was also about safety. Having a kitchen and a dining room meant being able to go away somewhere while also avoiding the crowds and the places that bring the risks of COVID these days.
A PRIVATE CHEF TO COOK IN TOKYO
Happily, the Oakwood Premier Tokyo has gone one step further by also offering the services of a private chef. The chef will do all the shopping and bring the ingredients to the apartment, and he or she will cook the meal on the spot. So it was akin to fine dining in a restaurant without having to leave our serviced apartment.
Once we checked in, we really didn’t want to leave. The apartment is well-designed and comfortable, and it has wonderful views from every window. So even just looking out was already a nice escape from the reality of the pandemic. We could see life outside while staying safely inside.
FINE DINING IN OUR APARTMENT
Meanwhile, it was so relaxing to have a private chef cook for us at the Oakwood Premier Tokyo. Like most of the world, we’ve been home-bound, relegated to eating our own cooking for a great part of 2020. So it was nice to take the back seat for once and just relax and anticipate a delicious meal, in a setting that is somewhere between a hotel and a home. Better than room service and safer than a restaurant.
A PRIVATE CHEF COOKS A FRENCH DINNER AT OAKWOOD PREMIER TOKYO
Prior to our arrival, we were asked: ” Would you like Japanese or French for dinner?’ Yes, there was a choice. We excitedly chose French food. Soon afterwards, the menu was sent over to us. Dinner began with an appetizer plate of green eggplant and a carpaccio of scallops drizzled with soy sauce.
This was followed by a cold soup of white corn and a first main course of pasta with lobsters and sauce Americaine. The chef prepared two more main courses: Pan-fried mackerel with clams in a butter sauce, and New Zealand grilled lamb chops in a mustard and red wine sauce. The finale was a lovely gateau chocolat made in our oven by our chef.
For people trying to have it all amidst this pandemic, while also trying to remain safe, this was a most enjoyable evening in Tokyo.
