Designed by Tony Chi, the 90-seat Asiate will be located on the 35th floor of the AOL Time Warner Center, with dramatic sixteen-foot, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Central Park and the Manhattan city skyline.

Japanese-born Sugie has earned widespread acclaim, with an eclectic culinary career that spans the globe.  French and Japanese-trained, Sugie worked at the two Michelin-starred L�Aubergade in France, Charlie Trotter�s in Chicago as well as Tetsuya�s and Restaurant VII in Sydney, where he earned celebrity status with his theatrically-styled, savory French cuisine fused with distinctive Japanese elements.

�After conducting a worldwide search, we selected Chef Sugie based on his stellar credentials,� said Rudy Tauscher, general manager, Mandarin Oriental, New York.  �With Chef Sugie�s passionate approach to French and Japanese cuisine, complemented by Asiate�s stunning ambience and sweeping views of Manhattan, the restaurant will provide an unparalleled New York dining experience.  Given his former success amongst culinary icons, Sugie�s cuisine is sure to excite the palates of the hotel�s discerning guests and savvy food enthusiasts alike.�

Sugie�s approach at Asiate will be a harmonious blend of artistic and modern, yet elegant and subtle.  His cuisine will capture the best elements of Japanese and French cuisine, intertwined with Mandarin Oriental�s distinctive Asian flair, ensuring that each dish will delight all five senses.  His presentation style and his menu inspiration will not only be sensory, but also melodic.

�Like music, cooking is all about harmony.  Orchestrating a meal is like creating an unforgettable score: classic dominant ingredients are the bass chords and accents of unexpected spices, with flavors providing the high notes.  Presentation is like a mesmerizing solo.  Like any performance, you have to put on a good show,� said Sugie.

Tony Chi�s design concept for Asiate will reflect the harmony inherent to every aspect of the hotel and will ideally complement Sugie�s cuisine.  Presenting the restaurant as the �soul� of the hotel, Chi has incorporated key design notes of simplicity, elegance, balance and vitality.  At the entrance of the restaurant is a �wall of wine� with an impressive selection of vintage wine from around the globe displayed in sparkling floor-to-ceiling glass cabinets.

A large, glittering sculpture with its �tree branch� design hangs from the ceiling of the restaurant, emulating the trees overhanging Central Park festooned with lights.  Semi-private booths throughout the restaurant will accommodate up to four people, and a private dining area for up to 10 guests provides an intimate setting.

About Mandarin Oriental, New York
A stunning fusion of modern design with stylish Oriental flair, Mandarin Oriental, New York features 251 elegant guestrooms and suites � all with breathtaking views of Manhattan and advanced in-room entertainment technology.  Amenities include Asiate, the hotel�s vibrant restaurant, and a cocktail bar created by noted interior designer, Tony Chi; a lobby lounge with dramatic views of Central Park; The 14,500-square-foot Spa at Mandarin Oriental; and a state-of-the-art fitness center with a 75-foot lap pool.  In addition, there is premium meeting and social event space, including a 6,000-square-foot pillar-less ballroom with three walls of windows overlooking Central Park.  As part of the premier AOL Time Warner Center, Mandarin Oriental, New York offers on-property access to world-class dining, shopping, and entertainment, sharing its prestigious address with Jazz at Lincoln Center, Jean-Georges Vongerichten�s steak house, Thomas Keller�s French Laundry and myriad upscale retail shops.

Mandarin Oriental is the award-winning owner and operator of some of the world�s most prestigious hotels and resorts.  In total, the Group operates 18 luxury hotels in key business and leisure destinations, with five additional hotels under development, including New York (opening late 2003), Washington D.C. (opening 2004), Hong Kong (opening 2005) and Boston and Tokyo (opening 2006).  Mandarin Oriental now operates some 7,000 rooms in 11 countries with nine hotels in Asia, six in The Americas and three in Europe.