Shota Nakajima with fellow Top Chef contestant Sara from May 7, 2021-episode of the show (PIC: Saras IG). Despite disappointment, Nakajima is overall happy with the experience he had on the show. The three finalists included, Nakajima, Gabe Erales, and Dawn Burrell. [1] 6. Top Chef is back in the kitchen! Thanking the Bravo Network for an entirely new cuisine and cooking style experience, he also worded: I vividly remember this elimination challenge I remember looking around and seeing and soaking in what all my other colleagues were doing. Due to his luck, he reopened Taku in May 2011 and named Karaage restaurant. After being raised in the US, he headed back to his home country to learn about Japans food in his late teenage years. I trained with him in Japan for 4 years. "I am excited and a little scared. Shota is one of those contestants, and has proved to be a popular hit in the kitchen, having scored several wins in the Top Chef cooking show. Shotas mother, Hisayo Nakajima, comes from a multigenerational and professional bread-baking family in Tokyo while his fathers side of the family owns the legacy of the three-Michelin-starred Kyoto restaurant, Hyotei. On April 16, 2021 (seemingly after the completion of the shooting), Shota cited Top Chef as one of the most fun and also the most difficult thing he has ever done in his career. The restaurant, with 38 indoor seats and rooftop bar that fits 90, is in Cle Elum, almost 100 miles east of Seattle by car. Pickle juice and milk. Capitol Hill's Top Chef Shota Nakajima is ready to launch a comeback in the world's toughest food and drink reality competition the Pike/Pine restaurant scene.. His neon-lit Taku, born mere hours before the world descended into the COVID-19 pandemic, is set to reopen as a karaage chicken bar:. [2], Nakajima made his TV debut on Food Network's Iron Chef Gauntlet in 2017, where he was the fourth chef eliminated. Shota opened Adana in 2017, a restaurant that serves Japanese homestyle or comfort food Japanese, as reported by eater.com. He says, he has always looked up to his father. Im obsessed with that pork belly, Nakajima said, adding that he created a special rub to bring some heat to the party. I write about food and travel while roaming around the U.S. in my RV, Seattle-based chef Shota Nakajima star has been, rising since he was a finalist on Season 18 of Bravo's Top Chef. Follow. 5. Sake. He maintains his low profile and doesnt want to destroy his reputed career. That season filmed in Portland, Ore., was a ratings smash thanks to large audiences stuck at home, looking for every manner of distraction. "I could have totally edited the menu five or 10 minutes before. Nakajima was born and raised in the Kanda neighborhood of Tokyo, Japan, as a true " Edokko " - a child who comes from a family lineage spanning back at least three generations in Edo (Tokyo). Shota Nakajima needed Top Chef.The Seattle native had a . But the platform sure provided his fans some gossip content. Soft Braised Ribs. The Seattle representative owns a restaurant called Taku, a Japanese fried chicken joint slinging takeout in Capitol Hill. He highlights how often he has moved back and forth from Japan and the US, which states he has returned to America three times in total. According to Food and Wine, the chef hails from Seattle, Washington, where he runs and cooks at his restaurant, Taku. A collection of experienced writers and editors, we aim to provide relevant and informative articles related to your favorite celebrities. . Two ingredients that should never be together? So, he does not have a wife. "Here Are All the Chefs Competing on 'Top Chef' Season 18 in Portland", "Why Shota Nakajima Turned From Fine-Dining to 'Homestyle' Japanese Cooking", "The Journey to the Gauntlet: Chatting with Challenger Shota Nakajima from Iron Chef Gauntlet", "One-on-One with the latest Iron Chef Gauntlet Challenger to Go Home", "Top Chef Finalist Shota Nakajima Dishes on the Competition - Exclusive Interview", "Is Seattle's own Shota Nakajima the new 'Top Chef'? Originally from Japan, he said there is a big part of him that carries Japan on his back. Of many lessons, Shota learned from him, Humble is handsome is the one that he thinks ofall the time. [13] Nakajima later left the project in June 2022.[14]. 3. Naka is located on 1449 E Pine St, Seattle, reservations available here. If I didnt grow up with his kids, I wouldnt be as sentimental about teriyaki chicken.. Top Chef is getting well underway, with the help of contestants including Shota Nakajima. Nakajima was born and raised in the Kanda neighborhood of Tokyo, Japan, as a true Edokko a child who comes from a family lineage spanning back at least three generations in Edo (Tokyo). Banzai Teriyaki will serve dishes using Nakajimas signature teriyaki sauce, which launched in December and can be found at stores like Uwajimaya. I n its 18th season, Top Chef suddenly became one of the most talked-about shows on TV. New episodes begin airing April 1. He plans on working regularly at the restaurant and managing its culinary operations, though the restaurant will have an executive chef who will be announced soon. [10] While he was forced to close Adana and Taku during the COVID-19 pandemic, he reopened Taku in May of 2021 as a karaage restaurant. Copyright 2023 McCormick Canada. All four chefsShota Nakajima ( Taku, Seattle), Jamie Tran . One-hundred percent nod to Toshis Teriyaki, Nakajima says. Seattles version of the charbroiled chicken dish with sweet soy sauce is Japanese in name only; the teriyaki diners eat in Japan is much less sweet and saucy, and the standard for Seattle teriyaki was shaped by Korean restaurant owners like John Chung after Kasahara started the genre. newsletter, man credited with inventing Seattle teriyaki, was shaped by Korean restaurant owners like John Chung, A Sober Curious Nightlife Party Is Coming to Seattle, Seattles Semifinalists for the James Beard Awards Have Been Announced, Seattle Restaurants That Really Stepped Up for the Community This Year, Surprising News and Innovations in Seattle Food in 2022, Local Food Writers Most Anticipated Restaurants and Biggest Hopes for 2023, These 2022 Restaurant Closures Hurt Seattleites the Most. Chef Nakajimas current relationship status is single. The two chefs battled each other over Nakajima's signature dish, tempura, and Nakajima was declared the winner. Favourite dish youve created for Mothers Day Brunch to date? Like many, Nakajima's life was turned upside down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nakajima has always remembered his fathers dreams for him: to create his own identity as a chef and to open his own restaurant. Chef nakajima married After studying under Michelin Star-winning chef Yasuhiko Sakamoto in Osaka, Japan at the age of 18, Nakajima returned to the United States to bring a new perspective to Japanese culinary traditions. contact@nakajinyc.com | reserve@nakajinyc.com(646) 478 8282. First time how I learned how to make a sunny side up egg from my mom when I was 7. We found him on Instagram keep reading to meet him. Seattle will have some solid representation on the next season of Bravo's 'Top Chef.' On Monday, February 8, the network announced the slate of contestants for 'Top Chef: Portland,' the show's 18th season, and local culinary star Shota Nakajima is among them. Moreover, he was born in Japan but raised in Seattle Washington. He is father of 2 (Karina Eleni Constantinides, Zoe Constantinides). Sake. [8] He was also voted Fan Favorite of the show. | Bravo YouTube. He's set to appear on Season 4 of Tournament of Champions. I dont know what kind of business Im running, but Im working it out, day by day, with my team, he said. My mom loved it. 8. They gave birth to a beautiful baby girl on Dec. 19, 2016. Nakajima was one of three finalists on this season of Top Chef. They were spotted together a few other times as well. So, who is Shota Nakajima? Well, the Seattle-based chef did a little (read: a lot) better than that, not only. Following his car accident he was then diagnosed with shingles. Nakajimas net worth is approximately $ 1 million dollars, and his main source of earnings is Karage Restaurant and taku. Merin. While Nakajima did not walk away with the win, he impressed judges with a 4-course meal that included, sashimi 3-ways, octopus karaage with water spinach and burdock root, and beef tongue curry. Check out never-before-seen content, exclusive sweepstakes, and much more! It seems like he is paying more attention to his career at the moment. Taku will stick to takeout for now, taking online orders and walkups, serving through its window at 706 East Pike. Moreover, his real birth name is Shota Nakajima, and his ethnicity his Japanese- American. Shota often shares his latest chef ventures on his Instagram profile. GRV Media Ltd, 18 Mulberry Avenue, Widnes. Read Next:Elyes Gabel Wife, Partner, Katharine McPhee, Net Worth. His exact weight and body measurement are overlooked. 1.Three ingredients you use the most? There is a scarcity of his personal details. At the time of this writing, his parents were living in Bellevue, across Lake Washington from Seattle, in the United States. And thats kind of my biggest thing. Shota Nakajima came into Season 18 of Bravo's Top Chef with one goal in mind: to make it to the top four. Anniversary in 190 days . Top Chef Season 18 Seattle native Chef Shota Nakajima (age 28) started in the restaurant business at the age of 16, working in and around Seattle at various Sushi restaurants. Originally from Japan, he said there is a "big part" of him that "carries Japan on his back". Sansho Pepper. Along with that his Twitter accounts have 3197 Following and 69 Followers under the username @ChefShota. Oh man #TopChef made me so emotional. A year later, in 2015, he started his own restaurant, Naka Kaiseki and bar, where he served 3-course tasting menus of Japanese comfort food and a la carte, Japanese street food. After studying under Michelin Star-winning chef Yasuhiko Sakamoto in Osaka, Japan at the age of 18, Nakajima returned to the United States to bring a new perspective toJapanese culinary traditions. [4][5] In 2018, he returned to the Food Network and was featured on Season 16, Episode 4 of Beat Bobby Flay. 4. One spice/seasoning thats always in your pantry? But the platform sure provided his fans some gossip content. Peter Constantinides is married to Melina Kanakaredes {Compare Couple}. Were still frying 300 pounds of chicken a day, he said, laughing. 'S signature dish, tempura, and his main source of earnings is Karage restaurant and.. From Japan, he said there is a big part of him that carries Japan on his Instagram profile lot! Of Champions Twitter accounts have 3197 following and 69 Followers under the username @ ChefShota Gabel Wife, Partner Katharine... Dishes using Nakajimas signature Teriyaki sauce, which launched in December and can be found stores., tempura, and much more own restaurant he has always looked up to his career at the.. Despite disappointment, Nakajima says a beautiful baby girl on Dec. 19, 2016 Humble is handsome is the that... 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