Synopses & Reviews
Nobu Matsuhisa should need little introduction. With his multinational and ever expanding empire of twelve restaurants in the United States, United Kingdom, Italy and Japan others will be coming soon to Paris and Sydney he has become the most talked-about restaurateur of recent years and arguably the world's greatest sushi chef. This is the man, after all, who has lured legions of celebrities regulars include Robert De Niro, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, Barbara Streisand, Giorgio Armani, Demi Moore, Madonna...the list goes on with his unique and original combination of the finest skills and ingredients of Japanese cuisine with an imaginative acceptance of Western, particularly South American, cooking.
In Nobu: The Cookbook his first book in any language Nobu reveals the secrets to his food and indeed the essence of all Japanese cuisine: the art of using very simple techniques to bring out the latent flavors in the very best ingredients that the world's oceans have to offer. He has presented fifty original recipes for fish and seafood that include all the signature dishes Matsuhisa Shrimp, Live Octopus Tiradito, Squid Pasta, Black Cod (De Niro's favorite), New Style Sashimi and Sashimi Salad (Tom Cruise's favorite). There is a chapter dedicated to sushi where readers can learn how to make Nobu's own highly original Soft Shell Crab Roll, Salmon Skin Roll and House Special Roll. Eleven salad and vegetable dishes and four Nobu dessert recipes have been added so that anyone can recreate that exclusive Nobu dinner in their own kitchen. There is even a special chapter about alcoholic accompaniments.
Nobu: The Cookbook, however, is not just about food and cooking, it also introduces the story of Nobu's rich and varied life. It is the story of a boy from the country who became one of the most renowned chefs of his generation after working in Peru and Argentina and seeing his first restaurant in Alaska go up in flames before his eyes. It is the story of a Japanese man who was befriended by America's rich and famous and went into the restaurant business with De Niro in New York, and more recently, Giorgio Armani in Milan. His friends also appear in the book. There is a foreword by De Niro, an introduction by Martha Stewart and an afterword by Ken Takakura, the internationally renowned Japanese actor.
Review
"The photos of your food are terrific. But most important, I think, is the story of how you started and who inspired you along the way. It gives insight into who Nobu Matsuhisa is as well as the journey to get where you are today." -Robert De Niro, from the Preface
"I have been at Nobu's restaurants for many years, and the food, the presentations, and the ambience have always surpassed my expectations. Thank you Nobu!" -Martha Stewart
"This cookbook is the very best thing next to having Nobu standing next to you in the kitchen telling you what to do." -Daniel Boulud, Cafe Boulud
You can tell how much fun a city is going to be if Nobu has a restaurant in it." -Madonna
"Truly one of the greatest Japanese chefs. It is great food from a great man." -Emeril Lagasse
"Nobu brilliantly combines flavors and textures of magical ingredients to stimulate the senses. His food is deceptively simple and it is this very subtlety which makes it so special." -Giorgio Armani
"Chef Nobu Matsuhisa's philosophy of perfection and beauty is reflected by the exquisiteness of his cuisine. His dishes are not just nourishment for the body - they are a delight to the senses, and a soothing balm to the spirit." -Thomas Keller, The French Laundry
"Beautiful, educational and inspiring." -Ann Prichard, USA Today
"The best food photography I have ever seen...." -Paul Levy, Wall Street Journal
"... part memoir, part manual of techniques and recipes, part glossy picture book ?from nightstand to coffee table and back to kitchen counter." -Gourmet
"In his first cookbook, Nobu: the Cookbook, Nobu Matsuhisa shares the secrets of his trend-setting new-style sashimi, his often-copied black cod with miso, and his sea-urchin tempura (a "Tim Zagat favorite!")...Sprinkled among the intriguing recipes and stunning photographs are an aji-to-yuzu glossary, a shopping guide, and helpful tips on how to de-slime octopus and the proper way to eat sushi (dip the topping, not the rice)." -New York Magazine
"... the exciting ideas presented here are challenging and full of expansive knowledge." -Publishers Weekly
"Those who pursue the pleasures purveyed by Nobu will find this cookbook to be a highly polished gem, and will be able to treat their guests to a symphony of texture and flavors." -Sacramento Bee
"A hot seller with chefs." -The Province
"A array of seafood dishes to amaze you." -The Post and Courier
"The cookbook is a work of art, as are the dishes in it." -Norwich Bulletin
"... reveals the secrets of his cooking and indeed the essence of all Japanese cuisine." -Espritline.com
"An essential addition to any collection of chefs' cookbooks." -Library Journal
"... stunning and well-designed with loads of gorgeous color photographs of wonderful looking dishes." -Los Angeles Daily News
"The book may be worth owning on the merits of its photographs alone...." -John Martin, The Bloomsbury Review
"The instructions for constructing his beautifully compiled dishes are surprisingly easy...." -Decanter
"The full-color photos make you hungry; the step-by-step directions are thorough." -Cathy Thomas, Orange Country Register
"Nobu Matsuhisa's masterpiece of wonderfully detailed dishes showcases his art of combining cultures." -Rita DeMontis, Toronto Sun
"... the book shows off the beauty of his Asian fusion creations." -Gita Sitaramiah, St. Paul Pioneer Press
"... this beautifully photographed book provides a range of authentic recipes (mostly seafood) with good detail and tips." -Marilynn Marter, Philadelphia Inquirer
"In addition to the expected array of cuisine, Nobu educates the reader.... Japanese ingredients, equipment and cutting techniques are demystified." -GlobalChefs: The Culinary Online Magazine Written by Chefs
Synopsis
With his multinational and ever expanding empire of thirteen restaurants, Nobu Matsuhisa has become one of the most talked-about international restaurateurs and arguably the world's greatest sushi chef. In his first, long awaited book,
Nobu: The Cookbook, Matsuhisa reveals the secrets of his exciting, cutting-edge Japanese cuisine.
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 and on his unique combinations of Japanese cuisine and imaginative Western, particularly South American, cooking.
While simplicity may be the rule in his cooking, exotic ingredients are the key to his signature style: in Matsuhisa Shrimp he combines shiitake mushrooms, shiso leaves, and caviar; Octopus Tiradito is made with yuzu juice and rocoto chili paste; he even gives away the secrets to making his world-famous Seafood Ceviche, Nobu Style.
In all, fifty original recipes for fish and seafood are included with step-by-step instructions and lavish color photographs. It features all Nobu's signature dishes along with salads, vegetable dishes, and dessert recipes, while a special chapter about pairing drinks with the meals rounds out the selections. A chapter dedicated to sushi instructs readers how to make Nobu's own original Soft Shell Crab Roll, Salmon Skin Roll and House Special Roll.
Throughout the book the author shares stories of his rich and varied life: his childhood memories of rural Japan; the beginning of his career; his meteoric rise to the top, as one of the most renowned chefs of his generation.
Featuring a preface by Robert De Niro, a foreword by Martha Stewart and an afterward by Japanese actor Ken Takakura, Nobu: The Cookbook is sure to be the season's hottest cookbook and a sure-fire classic for Japanese cooks and foodies alike.
About the Author
NOBUYUKI MATSUHISA was born in Saitama, Japan, and trained as a sushi chef in Tokyo. After running restaurants in Peru, Argentina and Alaska, Nobu opened his first restaurant, Matsuhisa, in Beverly Hills in 1987. Six years later, Robert De Niro persuaded Nobu to open NOBU in New York. There are now thirteen Nobu restaurants in New York, Los Angeles, Malibu, Aspen, Las Vegas, London, Milan and Tokyo.