From kitchen hand to running a three-Michelin-star restaurant, Shinobu Namae has seen restaurant kitchens from all levels and every angle. These days, he is best known for the modern French cuisine served at Tokyo¡¯s swish ³¢¡¯·¡´Ú´Ú±ð°ù±¹±ð²õ³¦±ð²Ô³¦±ð, which continues to win fans and plaudits alike.
Namae also researches ecosystems and studies food-distribution systems, traveling extensively to forge connections and address food conferences. Now he has won further international recognition: This past week he was announced as the winner of the prestigious Icon Award, part of the Asia¡¯s 50 Best Restaurants 2023 celebrations.
The title ¡°icon¡± doesn¡¯t mean Namae has suddenly become an elder statesman of Japan¡¯s restaurant scene. On the contrary, the chef sat down with The Japan Times earlier this week, on the eve of his 50th birthday, to look back on a career that got off to an unconventional start ¡ª and to affirm to us that he is just getting going.
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