Chef Nobu: Cooking is like fashion, we create dishes inspired all over the world

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine STAR’s Cheryl Tiu and Tim Yap had an exclusive chat with chef Nobu during his short visit to Manila.

PHILIPPINE STAR: Will Nobu in Manila be incorporating anything local — or using local ingredients?

NOBU MATSUHISA: Yes, sure. Our concept, as much as possible, uses local products and local ingredients. All our signature dishes as much as possible, I would like to use local products.

What do you think of Filipino cuisine? Have you ever tried it?

[We] haven’t spent enough time here yet, but we are going to try it tonight.

How did your friendship with Mr. De Niro start?

We started a relationship more than 25 years. We are business partners, sometimes we drink together, we eat together, we spend a lot of time together. After 25 years, we are still doing new projects, so that means it’s a good relationship.

What’s the most difficult dish that you’ve prepared?

Nothing… maybe [for] my wife (laughs), I cannot cook for her (laughs again). I’m joking!

When everybody’s copying you and your cuisine — how do you stay ahead and innovate and still say, “I am Nobu”?

We have good conditions; we are at a good stage. Nobu New York is 20 years old, and Matsuhisa is 27 years old. I started doing black cod, rock shrimp tempura, yellowtail with jalapeno, etc., and now everybody wants to make that. Cooking is also like fashion, we create dishes inspired all over the world, and I like to try to change. All the Nobu teams — our corporate chefs, head chefs and sushi chefs — are always looking for something new. Then I travel every other 24 days in different cities, I travel 10 months a year, then when I go there, the chef shows me the new dishes, and then we discuss, “How about this way or this way?” and that’s how we finally come up with the new dishes. Then the new dishes become popular all over the world, and then some new restaurants copy us. But when the other restaurants copy us, they say, “This is like Nobu” — kind of like a tribute.

Do you prefer sake or soju?

“I like sake, wine, soju … anything that I can drink with you.”