Spago's head chef visits Japan every year for inspiration... culinary inspiration.
Read LA Times article
I find it fascinating that Americans are so surprised at how Japanese food in Japan - from the 500 yen bowl of ramen to a 10,000 yen four-course meal in Ginza - is prepared and served with such delicate care.
Do Americans not care about what their customers think?
In-n-Out hamburgers come in pretty close with quality taste, preparation, display and customer service at better than reasonable prices. Otherwise, to get quality taste, preparation, display of food and good customer service in the U.S., I couldn't pay rent.