Sama 2.0 will answer real-time questions, help travellers design curated travel experiences, and find answers for customers
aviation3 hours ago
If ever you find yourself in the presence of Chef Katsuya Uechi, we suggest you eat the sushi served up by him before getting into any pleasantries. That's because nothing upsets the Chef more than having diners indulge in chitchat while a freshly rolled sushi sits by idly, waiting to be eaten.
Not that one can get by with much chitchat with the formidable Master Sushi Chef Katsuya who upon first sight comes across as the typical Japanese stereotype - stoic and unbendable.
While most of our questions elicit monosyllabic answers and some, laughter, we realise Katsuya, while not a man of many words, is still a chef who has much to impart. Unlike many of his counterparts who can put a bard to shame with their ramblings, and seem more at home in front of a camera than in a hot kitchen, Chef Katsuya, it is obvious, would rather be behind the sushi bar. Serving up rolls of warm sticky rice paired with fresh fish slices. To diners who preferably are not there to socialise or chat each other up. But eat quality food, served up by a master chef with a solid foundation in the required culinary skills and not one honed on the sets of a reality show. "I don't think their (chefs on reality shows) technique is right, I'm sorry," he says almost apologetically when we quiz him on the modern chefs' penchant to add the reality television tag to their CVs. Then as if to clear the air, "I have nothing against them.. I maybe old-fashioned but I don't like that.
"I did host reality shows several times but it's all show. Food should be to eat (sic)."
What to expect at Katsuya With a team headed by chefs trained at the LA flagship Katsuya by Starck, the Dubai outlet can look forward to many of the best-selling signature items as well as ones specially made for the region like the Edamame Hummus. The Wagyu Tobanyaki served alongside sizzling wild mushrooms could well be one of the Chef's personal favourites, since he is a self-confessed fan of steak. |
'Celebs are not going to pay double' Most chefs would be proud to rattle off the names of celebrities who hang-out at their establishment; to trumpet the star-endorsement as well as to draw in more customers who might drop in on the off-chance of catching sight of their favourite Hollywood star, but Chef Katsuya has to be really prodded to name his regulars. We enthusiastically ask him about the celebs who visit his restaurant. His reaction? "There are many - shall I name them?" Upon our, "Of course, yes," he thinks for a minute and then slowly says, "Cameron Diaz." And? "I don't know their names.." Then as if to explain the lack of forthcoming names, "We don't treat them special. They just come and we treat them same as other customers." "Other restaurants in LA, when movie stars come, they use them for PR. "But I don't want to do that. Because they are not going to pay double, you know?" |
Sama 2.0 will answer real-time questions, help travellers design curated travel experiences, and find answers for customers
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