Nobu, Nobu Matsuhisa
Nobu, Nobu Matsuhisa
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Nobu
A Memoir

Author: Nobu Matsuhisa

Narrator: David Shih

Unabridged: 5 hr 29 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 04/17/2018


Synopsis

Nobu needs no introduction. One of the world's most widely acclaimed restaurateurs, his influence on food and hospitality can be found at the highest levels of haute-cuisine to the food trucks you frequent during the work week—this is the Nobu that the public knows.

But now, we are finally introduced to the private Nobu: the man who failed three times before starting the restaurant that would grow into an empire; the man who credits the love and support of his wife and children as the only thing keeping him from committing suicide when his first restaurant burned down; and the man who values the busboy who makes sure each glass is crystal clear as highly as the chef who slices the fish for Omakase perfectly.

What makes Nobu special, and what made him famous, is the spirit of what exists on these pages. He has the traditional Japanese perspective that there is great pride to be found in every element of doing a job well—no matter how humble that job is. Furthermore, he shows us repeatedly that success is as much about perseverance in the face of adversity as it is about innate talent.

About Nobu Matsuhisa

Nobu Matsuhisa is the acclaimed and highly influential chef proprietor of Nobu and Matsuhisa restaurants located across five continents. He worked at the restaurant Matsue Sushi in Shinjuku, Tokyo, for seven years and was invited by a regular customer, who was a Peruvian entrepreneur of Japanese descent, to open a Japanese restaurant in Peru.

At the age of twenty-four, he moved to Lima and opened a restaurant with the same name of Matsuei in partnership with his sponsor. In 1977, he moved to Los Angeles and opened his own restaurant in Beverly Hills ten years later. The restaurant quickly became a hot spot and was frequented by Hollywood celebrities, including Robert De Niro, who invited Nobu to set up a restaurant in Tribeca. In August 1994, the two opened up Nobu to critical acclaim. He now has forty-one restaurants and seven hotels around the world.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Lisa on April 26, 2018

I really love that the Japanese title of this memoir translates to "The Smiling Faces of My Guests Mean Everything." That seems perfect! I picked this up because I thought it would be a quick read, but I ended up really enjoying his take on persevering through life's adversities, the importance of f......more

Goodreads review by gina on May 10, 2020

The journey of Nobu’s humble beginnings and later his claim to a hotel and restaurant empire which bears his name. A feel good read summarized by a quote from the book: “As long as you have passion, no detour is painful”. Also an interesting peek into the restaurant industry - a great menu will fail......more

Goodreads review by Maggie on April 03, 2024

I enjoyed this for the most part. I liked learning the backstory for some of the iconic dishes I was familiar with. Definitely made some good points in here. Might have to stop at Nobu tomorrow 🤔......more