80. Californian kaiseki - Niki Nakayama from n/naka in Los Angeles

Niki Nakayama was born in Los Angeles in 1975 to Japanese parents, and grew up in Koreatown in LA. She attended culinary school in Pasadena, then worked at Takao and embarked on a three-year journey to Japan, where she learned the roots of kaiseki at a Ryokan owned by her cousins. Back in LA, Niki Nakayama opened Azami Sushi Cafe, known for its all-female staff and innovative approach to sushi, and in 2011, she opened n/naka, where she combines traditional techniques with California influences, sourcing most of the ingredients locally. Her work has been featured in various media, including Netflix's Chef's Table series as well as Masterclass. We will hear Niki Nakayama tell about how she creates her Japanese inspired dishes, and she will also reveal her favourite restaurants in Los Angeles and Japan. The recommendations mentioned in this podcast and thousands more are available for free in the World of Mouth app: https://www.worldofmouth.app/   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.