Founded by a couple who enjoy sharing fine dining experiences around the world, Explore Soigné is a passion project by Aria and Nickie to highlight chefs and top restaurants they find while traveling. They regularly meet chefs, sommeliers, suppliers, and supporting players of the restaurant world, learning about their backgrounds, and appreciating their dedication to sourcing quality ingredients, plating techniques, serving ware, and more.

Now, through Explore Soigné, Aria and Nickie are excited to bring others to memorable places and restaurants, so more people can meet the chefs they know and love.

Together, the couple has traveled countless times across Asia, Europe, and North America. Each trip is focused on exploring a destination’s culinary scene and finding hidden gems overlooked by well-known travel guides.

Without picking favorites, Japan holds a special place in their hearts. The level of dedication, sophistication, and attention to detail are unmatched. Their love for Japan continues to grow, year after year, bite after sip…

Meaning of Soigné (pronounced Swan-YAHY) in food:

In professional kitchens, "soigné" signifies an exceptional level of polish and perfection that went into the preparation and presentation of a dish. It implies that every element, from the cut of ingredients to the arrangement on the plate, has been carefully considered and executed with precision.