It took seven months for renowned deejay, drummer, producer, culinary entrepreneur, New York Times best-selling author, Late Night mainstay, and member of the Roots, Questlove, to get a seat at Sukiyabashi Jiro for his birthday. The small three-star Michelin restaurant, and subject of 2011 documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi, is hidden in the basement of a Tokyo subway station. The 20-course tasting menu commands 30,000 Japanese Yen a seat (over $300 CDN), but with only 10 seats a night, part of what you’re paying for is the intimate connection with 90-year-old sushi master, and national treasure of Japan, Jiro Ono. Questlove spoke about his experience at Sukiyabashi Jiro and the anticipation leading up to it during a joint SXSW SouthBites panel with Austin-based Chef Paul Qui. He isn’t the only person to go through great lengths to secure a seat at the legendary establishment, a near impossible feat for foreigners. One writes about her three-part attempt to get a reservation, the final of which required a distant Japanese colleague call and make the reservation on her behalf.

Like Questlove, she went on describe the life-altering experience that is Jiro’s transcendental sushi. With hundreds of world-class sushi restaurants to choose from, some of which have also earned the coveted three-star Michelin rating, it begs the question – what makes Jiro’s sushi so special?sushi jersey city komegashi Undoubtedly, Jiro is an artist. sushi online di surabayaHe’s dedicated over 75 years of his life to perfecting his craft. jogo sushi bar 1He demands nothing less than perfection from himself and his protégés, one of whom is Daisuke Nakazawa, owner of New York Times four-star restaurant Sushi Nakazawa. sushi delivery menu dubai

During the panel, Chef Qui questioned whether or not there was a significant difference between the quality of the sushi served by Jiro and his protégé. Ultimately, he believes there is. But it isn’t entirely what’s on the plate. According to Qui, the greatest difference lies in the story. The context in which someone experiences a product or service shapes how it’s perceived. While Jiro’s success may have started with superb product, what takes it to legendary status is arguably the context in which it is experienced, and the authenticity of the source. The documentary sheds light on the obstinate man and his meticulous process; the unexpected humble location make it a hidden gem, both figuratively and literally; and the difficulty of securing a coveted reservation makes getting a seat a milestone accomplishment. Questlove was so excited for his experience that he woke up at 5 am for an 11 am reservation. Add to that an intimate and theatric presentation of the product, and you have an incredible story.

“He makes 18 pieces of food and hands it to you. With five guys behind him, he stands in front of you as you eat each piece”, he enthusiastically shared, remembering every little detail of his experience. The experience, and story, undoubtedly becomes part of the product. It’s where the humanity comes in, and creates meaning. “Food is not just art. It’s a narrative”, said Qui, whose next restaurant endeavor will reflect this. Toward the end of the panel, he announced his plans to open Otoko, an intimate 12-seat sushi restaurant of his own tucked in a discreet, windowless, second-story space at a boutique hotel. “The way I judge projects is whether I’m going to go into them is whether it excites me or not. [It’s] not necessarily about the bigger paycheck… it’s about creating something big,” Qui said. By focusing on his story, we think he might get that bigger paycheck after all.ESPN isn’t the only platform investing in the “docu-series” format.

Netflix has announced a docu-series of its own, and its premise is enough to make foodies salivate. David Gelb, who is best known as the director of Jiro Dreams of Sushi, is the man behind Chef’s Table, a six-part series that will enter the kitchens of the world’s greatest chefs. The six episodes of Chef’s Table will profile six different chefs across four different continents. Each episode will explore its subject in depth by shining light on his/her life and culinary technique. This premise sounds similar to the one behind Jiro Dreams of Sushi; Gelb’s intimate portrait of the world’s greatest sushi chef is regarded as one of the best documentaries of recent years. Chef’s Table is part of Netflix’s plan to proliferate exclusive documentary content to its subscribers. “‘We want to continue to support the best in non-fiction storytelling,” said Lisa Nishimura, Netflix’s VP of Original Documentary and Comedy, at the Toronto International Film Festival.  “While some stories are best told as feature length films, others, like Chef’s Table, greatly benefit from being able to communicate their story in a multi-episodic fashion.

We’re fortunate to have the flexibility to match the story with the best format.” Chef’s Table is also a strong fit for Netflix because it matches the interests of the site’s users. Many people who watched Jiro Dreams of Sushi viewed it on Netflix, and other food-related non-fiction programs–such as PBS’ The Mind of a Chef–have gained Netflix audiences of their own. Chef’s Table will appeal to that crowd when it debuts in 2015. © Copyright 2007 - 2015 Tubefilter, Inc. Powered by Rackspace.BEDFORD STREET HOSPITALITY TO OPEN NAKAZAWA RESTAURANT AT TRUMP INTERNATIONAL HOTEL, WASHINGTON D.C. WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 28, 2016) – Trump International Hotel, Washington, D.C. and Bedford Street Hospitality today announced that Restaurateur Alessandro Borgognone will open his first Washington, D.C. concept, Nakazawa, at Trump International Hotel, Washington D.C. in summer 2017. Nakazawa, the sister restaurant to Sushi Nakazawa in New York City, famously heralded by Chef Daisuke Nakazawa, will feature an omakase bar and dining room in the historic Pennsylvania Avenue hotel.

“We are thrilled to welcome Nakazawa, a world-class fine dining establishment to our magnificent new hotel in Washington D.C.,” said Donald Trump Jr., executive vice president of The Trump Organization. “We look forward to offering our guests an exceptional tasting experience paired with unrivaled service.” Nakazawa joins Sushi Nakazawa, Chumley’s, Positano, and Patricia’s, as the fifth restaurant under the Bedford Street Hospitality umbrella. Sushi Nakazawa first opened in Manhattan in 2013 and received four-stars from The New York Times amongst numerous other culinary accolades. Chef Daisuke Nakazawa is well-known for his appearance in the documentary “Jiro Dreams of Sushi,” detailing his apprenticeship under sushi master Jiro Ono. “We are excited to introduce our very first project outside of New York City,” said Bedford Street Hospitality Founder Alessandro Borgognone. “Trump International Hotel, Washington D.C. and its location are the ideal setting to bring our vision to life and we look forward to welcoming all D.C. residents and visitors through our doors.”

Trump International Hotel, Washington, D.C. officially opened its doors last month with a Grand Opening event, marking the arrival of the iconic property as the most magnificent hotel in the country. Featuring 263 ultra-luxury rooms and 35 suites, including the 6,300 square foot Trump Townhouse and 13,200 square foot Presidential Ballroom, the iconic hotel has achieved unprecedented success in opening bookings as well as interest from groups and large events. About Trump International Hotel, Washington, D.C. Trump International Hotel, Washington, D.C. features 263 richly luxurious guestrooms and suites, among the largest in Washington, D.C., with lofty 16-foot ceilings, soaring windows, beautifully restored historic millwork, and glittering crystal sconces and chandeliers. It offers a total of 38,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including the opulent 13,200-square-foot Presidential Ballroom, the largest among D.C. luxury hotels, a 10,000-square-foot Spa by IVANKA TRUMP™ and Fitness Center, and D.C.’s first BLT Prime restaurant by Chef David Burke.

Launched in October 2007, Trump Hotels™ has an unparalleled history of providing extraordinary customer experiences around the world.  Hallmarks include unique and inspired design at iconic hotels in renowned locations globally, complemented by fully focused and authentic personal service.  Trump Hotels was founded by internationally renowned developer Donald J. Trump and is led by his children, Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric.  In 2015, the Trump family brought on seasoned hotel industry veteran Eric Danziger as Chief Executive Officer of Trump Hotels. With a growth strategy to deliver exceptional hotel and resort offerings in key gateway cities and travel destinations around the world, Trump Hotels has expanded to Washington, D.C and will soon open in Vancouver, Canada.  The brand will also soon be in Asia for the first time with projects in Lido and Bali, Indonesia.  or by calling (855) TRUMP-00 (855-878-6700). About Bedford Street Hospitality Alessandro Borgognone’s Bedford Street Hospitality is a New York-based restaurant group that owns Sushi Nakazawa, Chumley’s, Positano and Patricia’s.