"Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all."
Nobu Matsuhisa's quote suggests that cooking, much like love, requires passion and dedication. Cooking with enthusiasm and devotion results in a delicious meal, just as giving one's heart to a relationship creates something beautiful. If the cook (or lover) approaches their craft without fervor or commitment, it may lead to disappointment. In essence, he encourages us to pour our whole heart into both cooking and love, allowing them to flourish and bring joy to ourselves and others.
"In Japan, it's a tradition to make dashi (fish and seaweed broth) first when cooking. It represents the soul of Japanese cuisine."
This quote by Nobu Matsuhisa highlights the importance of foundation and essence in Japanese cuisine. Just as "dashi," a basic fish and seaweed broth, is traditionally prepared first in the cooking process, it symbolizes the fundamental flavor that underpins every dish in Japanese gastronomy. This metaphorically extends to the Japanese culture itself, where traditions and values form the soul or essence upon which everything else is built.
"The best way to learn about fish is to go to the market every day."
This quote emphasizes hands-on, practical experience as the most effective way to gain knowledge and understanding, using the art of fish preparation and cooking as an example. In other words, immersing oneself in the source of knowledge – in this case, the fish market – is a valuable means to learn about the subject thoroughly, acquire essential skills, and appreciate its intricacies. This principle can be applied broadly to any field, suggesting that direct experience and exposure are key elements of mastery and expertise.
"I want to show people that sushi can be fun, not just something formal or fancy."
This quote suggests that renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa aims to make sushi more approachable and enjoyable for a wider audience, rather than confining it to a narrow perception of formality or sophistication. He seeks to infuse sushi with an element of playfulness and casual enjoyment, breaking down barriers that may prevent people from fully appreciating this culinary art.
"Good food brings good luck, good health and happiness."
This quote suggests that a key aspect of well-being - physical, emotional, or spiritual - can be found in the enjoyment of good food. Good food here implies not just taste, but also nutritional value, and the shared experience with others. The idea is that by partaking in wholesome meals, one can attract favorable circumstances (good luck), maintain health, and experience joy and contentment (happiness). This perspective underscores the importance of food as a source of nourishment beyond mere sustenance, emphasizing its capacity to bring people together and elevate their overall quality of life.
I love big shrimp, like Japanese botan shrimp and the meaty ones from Santa Barbara, Calif. In classic Japanese cooking, shrimp like these would be dropped into a broth or boiled as served with sushi. But I think boiling dilutes their great flavor, and they are better when stir-fried.
- Nobu Matsuhisa
When I was 11 or 12 - a young boy in Japan - one of my older brothers took me to a sushi restaurant. I had never been to one, and it was very memorable. Back then, sushi was expensive and hard to come by, not like today, when there's a sushi restaurant on every street corner and you can buy it in supermarkets.
- Nobu Matsuhisa
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