WO’GOA
Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, known to the world simply as ‘Nobu’, is the highly acclaimed and influential chef proprietor of Nobu and Matsuhisa, 32 restaurants in 28 cities around the world, spanning across five continents. With his multinational and ever expanding empire of restaurants, Nobu Matsuhisa has become one of the most talked-about international restaurateurs and arguably the world’s greatest sushi chef. Nobu’s culinary creations are based on the practice of simplicity, the art of using simple techniques to bring out the flavors in the best ingredients the world’s oceans have to offer, his innovations in food that fuses South American cooking with his traditional Japanese techniques, a unique combinations of Japanese cuisine and imaginative Western (particularly South American) cooking. Born and raised in Saitama, Japan, Nobu served a rigorous apprenticeship at a respected sushi bar in Tokyo. It was not long before his dreams of seeing the world moved him to open a sushi bar in Peru. A classically trained sushi-chef, Nobu was challenged by the new culture and regional ingredients, which kindled his inventive style, known today as Nobu Style. After three years in Peru, Nobu moved to Argentina, then home to Japan, then on to Alaska, before finally settling in Los Angeles. Nobu opened his first restaurant in the United States, Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills, California, in January 1987. Matsuhisa was an instant success and became a magnet for food lovers and celebrities alike. It was here that his longtime friendship and business relationship with actor and director Robert De Niro began. It was at De Niro’s urging that together they opened the very first Nobu in New York City in 1994 with restaurateur Drew Nieporent. Like Matsuhisa, Nobu was an instant hit. With such a magnificent collection of restaurants, it is no wonder that Nobu’s restaurants have been so widely honored. Notable citations bestowed upon Nobu’s restaurants start with Matsuhisa chosen as one of the Top Ten Restaurant Destinations in the world. One of the 11 Most Influential Chefs of the Decade.
WO’GOA January 2016 -
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