Nobu Matsuhisa
Nobuyuki "Nobu" Matsuhisa | |
|---|---|
| Born | 松久 信幸 March 10, 1949 Saitama, Japan |
| Other names | Nobu Matsuhisa |
| Occupation(s) | Celebrity chef, restaurateur, actor |
| Years active | 1973–present |
| Known for | Fusion cuisine blending Japanese and Peruvian cuisine; Nobu restaurant chain |
| Notable work | Black cod with miso, Nobu restaurants, multiple cookbooks |
Nobuyuki "Nobu" Matsuhisa (松久 信幸 Matsuhisa Nobuyuki; born March 10, 1949) is a renowned Japanese celebrity chef and restaurateur known for innovating fusion cuisine that merges elements of traditional Japanese cuisine with those of Peruvian cuisine. His hallmark creation is black cod prepared in miso. Matsuhisa oversees a worldwide network of restaurants under the Nobu and Matsuhisa names, establishing a significant global footprint in the hospitality industry. Additionally, he has made cameo appearances in three prominent films.
Restaurant Portfolio
The Matsuhisa brand features establishments in locations such as Beverly Hills (established 1987), Aspen (1998), Vail (2011), Munich (2016), Denver (2016), Paris (2016), St. Moritz (2017), Limassol (2019), as well as Mykonos and Vouliagmeni in Greece.
The Nobu franchise has grown extensively, with restaurants situated in key cities including New York (1994), London (1997), Tokyo (1998), Malibu and Las Vegas (1999), Miami Beach (2001), Dallas and Berkeley, London (2005), Hong Kong, Dubai, Melbourne, San Diego, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Washington D.C., Palo Alto, Houston, Los Cabos, Chicago, Sydney, and Indian Wells.
Other ventures encompass Armani Milan (2000), Ubon by Nobu London (2000), and Next Door Nobu New York City (1998). Additional international sites include Monte Carlo, Warsaw (2020), and Marbella (2017).
Biography
Born in Saitama, Japan, Nobu experienced the loss of his father in a car accident when he was eight years old. Subsequently, he and his two elder brothers were raised by their mother. Throughout the following decade of extensive travel, Nobu encountered various cultures and witnessed poverty firsthand—experiences that later influenced his business philosophy with an emphasis on community support.
Following high school graduation, Nobu began his culinary journey as a dishwasher at Matsue Sushi located in Shinjuku, Tokyo, where he trained to become a sushi master. At age 24, responding to an invitation from a Japanese-Peruvian client, he relocated to Lima, Peru in 1973 to launch a restaurant named Matsue. Confronted with limited ingredient options there, he creatively fused Peruvian tastes with Japanese culinary techniques, developing the distinctive style for which he is now celebrated. After operating for three years, this establishment closed. A short-lived attempt to open a restaurant in Argentina followed before Nobu moved to Anchorage, Alaska, where his new restaurant was destroyed by fire soon after opening.
In 1977, Nobu settled in Los Angeles and worked at "Mitsuwa" and "Oshou." A decade later, in 1987, he inaugurated his own restaurant called "Matsuhisa" on La Cienega Boulevard. It was here that he met Robert De Niro, who motivated him to expand his culinary ventures into New York City. In 1994, Nobu co-founded the first "Nobu" restaurant in Tribeca alongside De Niro, Drew Nieporent, and Meir Teper. He earned the prestigious James Beard Foundation Award in 1995 and has received numerous nominations since.
Acting
Nobu has taken on minor roles in three notable films: Casino (1995), where he appeared alongside his business associate Robert De Niro, Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002), and Memoirs of a Geisha (2005). In 2013, he secured a more prominent supporting role in the international production The Girl from Nagasaki, portraying the protagonist's father.
Hotels
By March 2021, Nobu managed a portfolio of at least 15 hotels worldwide, with properties situated in Chicago, Ibiza, Las Vegas, two venues in London, Los Cabos, Malibu, Manila, Marbella, Miami Beach, Palo Alto, Warsaw, Perth, Australia, Doha, and Barcelona.
Books
- Nobu West (2007), authored by Nobu Matsuhisa and Mark Edwards
- Nobu: The Cookbook (2001), written by Nobuyuki Matsuhisa and Robert De Niro
- Nobu Now (2005), by Nobuyuki Matsuhisa
- Nobu Miami: The Party Cookbook (2008), created by Nobu Matsuhisa and Thomas Buckley
- Nobu's Vegetarian Cookbook (2012), authored by Nobu Matsuhisa
- World of Nobu (2019), penned by Nobuyuki Matsuhisa
- Nobu: A Memoir (2014), written by Nobu Matsuhisa
See also
External links
- Nobu Global Official Website
- Instagram: therealnobu
- IMDb: Nobu Matsuhisa