Shota Nakajima

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Shota Nakajima
Chef Shota.jpg
Shota Nakajima

Shota Nakajima is a Japanese-American chef and television personality, best known for competing on the eighteenth season of Top Chef in Portland, Oregon.

Early life and education[]

Nakajima was born in Japan and raised in Seattle, Washington.[1] At 18, he moved to Osaka to attend the  [ja], one of the most prestigious culinary schools in Japan.[2] There, he apprenticed with chef Yasuhiko Sakamoto.[3]

Career[]

In 2014, Nakajima opened a catering business, Kappo Kitchen and later Naka, a kaiseki restaurant, in June 2015.[2] In February 2017, Naka Kaiseki was transformed as Adana.[2] In March of 2020, Nakajima opened his restaurant Taku, an Osakan kushikatsu concept, in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle.[4] While he was forced to close Adana and Taku during the COVID-19 pandemic, he reopened Taku in May of 2021 as a karaage restaurant.[5]

Nakajima has competed on Food Network's Iron Chef Gauntlet.[6]

Nakajima has been a James Beard Award semi-finalist for three years straight.[1] Nakajima is a 2018 Eater Young Guns winner.[3]

Nakajima beat Iron Chef Bobby Flay on Season 16 episode 4 of Beat Bobby Flay. Episode "Sprung a Leek" found the two chefs battling each other with Nakajima's signature dish, Tempura. [7] [8]

Nakajima was one of three finalists on Top Chef Season 18.[9] He was voted Fan Favorite of the show.[10]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Here Are All the Chefs Competing on 'Top Chef' Season 18 in Portland". Food & Wine. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  2. ^ a b c "Shota Nakajima". Chicago Gourmet.
  3. ^ a b Róisín, Fariha (2018-07-19). "Why Shota Nakajima Turned From Fine-Dining to 'Homestyle' Japanese Cooking". Eater. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  4. ^ Guarente, Gabe (2020-03-10). "Star Chef Shota Nakajima's New Restaurant Taku Brings a Taste of Osaka to Capitol Hill". Eater Seattle. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  5. ^ "Shota Nakajima Will Reopen Taku as a House of Fried Chicken". Seattle Met. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  6. ^ Russo, Maria. "The Journey to the Gauntlet: Chatting with Challenger Shota Nakajima from Iron Chef Gauntlet". Food Network. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  7. ^ ""Beat Bobby Flay" Sprung a Leek (TV Episode 2018) - IMDb".
  8. ^ "Top Chef Finalist Shota Nakajima Dishes on the Competition - Exclusive Interview". 3 September 2021.
  9. ^ Clement, Bethany Jean (July 1, 2021), "Is Seattle's own Shota Nakajima the new 'Top Chef'? We talked to him about Thursday's finale", The Seattle Times
  10. ^ Gualtieri, Jacqueline (July 1, 2021). "Who Won 'Top Chef' Season 18?". Distractify. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
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