Chef Vladimir Mukhin is spearheading a culinary revolution in Russia. At his Moscow restaurant The White Rabbit, which ranks No. 23 on the list of the world's best, the bearded 34-year-old is resurrecting food traditions lost during seven decades of Soviet rule and reinventing them for modern times.
Mukhin has also taken up the mantle of cultural ambassador, starring in an episode of the Netflix series "Chef's Table" and traveling the globe to tell the story of Russian gastronomy.
Last month, the chef visited Tokyo to launch the Far From Moscow festival, a new program supported by President Vladimir Putin. He spoke with The Japan Times about the relationship between the two countries and the future of Russian cuisine.