'Nobu: Celebrating 30 years of Culinary Excellence' is an engaging documentary that dives deep into the life of Nobu Matsuhisa, renowned for his influential global luxury sushi empire. This film, directed by Matt Tyrnauer, showcases the journey of this charismatic Japanese chef, from his early days in Japan and his explorations into Peruvian cuisine, to establishing a successful restaurant chain and a brand that is revered across the world.
Grounded around intimate interviews with the culinary maestro and insights from his close circle, we get a candid look at Matsuhisa's life, revealing his fascinating childhood fascination with sushi, his zest for innovation, and the inspirations behind popular dishes such as black cod miso. This documentary provides glimpses into the chef's creative genius, underscoring every twist and turn of his adventurous culinary journey.
As Matsuhisa narrates his life's journey - filled with moments of triumph, setbacks, and culinary innovations-the film shines when the sushi maestro shares stories from his early days in Peru and his restaurant venture's evolution from Anchorage to Los Angeles. These compelling anecdotes offer a rich tapestry, showing how Matsuhisa weaves his artistic prowess into his multimillion-dollar enterprise.
A major segment of the documentary revolves around the operational aspects of running a global venture as the film accompanies the chef through his various global culinary outposts. The film reveals that every Nobu restaurant maintains an ethos of intimate luxury and quality food while embracing local tastes and ingredients.
However, despite its detailed coverage, the documentary skips some tougher issues-for instance, labor practices or recent lawsuits-and lightly plays out differences of opinion concerning the pace of the brand's expansion. Above all, 'Nobu: Celebrating 30 Years of Culinary Excellence' serves as a delightful priming course, introducing the viewer to the magical world of Nobu Matsuhisa – the man and his brand.
