Shota Nakajima

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Shota Nakajima
Shota Nakajima
Born
Tokyo, Japan
EducationTsuji Culinary Arts School
Culinary career
Current restaurant(s)
Previous restaurant(s)
    • Naka / Adana, Seattle (2015–2020)
    • Banzai Teriyaki, Cle Elum, WA (2022)
Television show(s)
Websiteshotanakajima.com

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 Tsuji Culinary Arts School [ja], one of the most prestigious culinary schools in Japan.[2] There, he apprenticed with chef Yasuhiko Sakamoto.[3] He later returned to Seattle and worked for chef Taichi Kitamura at Sushi Kappo Tamura from 2011–2012.[2]

Television appearances

Nakajima made his TV debut on Food Network's Iron Chef Gauntlet in 2017, where he was the fourth chef eliminated.[4][5] In 2018, he returned to the Food Network and was featured on Season 16, Episode 4 of Beat Bobby Flay. The two chefs battled each other over Nakajima's signature dish, tempura, and Nakajima was declared the winner.[6][7] In 2020, Nakajima competed on Top Chef: Portland, where was one of three finalists.[8] He was also voted Fan Favorite of the show.[9] In Season 4 of Tournament of Champions during round 1 he beat Antonia Lofaso, during round 2 he beat Joe Sasto, and during round 3 he beat out Mei Lin.[10]

Chef and restaurateur

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.[11] 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.[12]

In late 2021, Nakajima began bottling his own teriyaki sauce, known as Make Umami, and selling it at Taku, Uwajimaya grocery stores, and on Amazon.[13]

In February 2022, Nakajima announced he was opening a teriyaki restaurant, Banzai Teriyaki, in Cle Elum, Washington.[14] Nakajima later left the project in June 2022.[15]

Awards and accolades

  • James Beard Foundation, Semifinalist, Rising Star Chef of the Year (2018)[16]
  • Eater, Young Guns Winner (2018) [3]
  • James Beard Foundation, Semifinalist, Rising Star Chef of the Year (2019)[16]
  • James Beard Foundation, Semifinalist, Rising Star Chef of the Year (2020)[16]

References

  1. ^ "Here Are All the Chefs Competing on 'Top Chef' Season 18 in Portland". Food & Wine. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  2. ^ a b c d "Shota Nakajima". Chicago Gourmet.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  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. ^ Russo, Maria. "The Journey to the Gauntlet: Chatting with Challenger Shota Nakajima from Iron Chef Gauntlet". Food Network. Retrieved 2021-06-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ Russo, Maria. "One-on-One with the latest Iron Chef Gauntlet Challenger to Go Home". Food Network. Retrieved 2022-03-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ ""Beat Bobby Flay" Sprung a Leek (TV Episode 2018) - IMDb".
  7. ^ "Top Chef Finalist Shota Nakajima Dishes on the Competition - Exclusive Interview". 3 September 2021.
  8. ^ 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
  9. ^ Gualtieri, Jacqueline (July 1, 2021). "Who Won 'Top Chef' Season 18?". Distractify. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  10. ^ Owen, Rob (14 February 2023). "Seattle chef Shota Nakajima is prepping for an 'extremely brutal' challenge". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ "Shota Nakajima Will Reopen Taku as a House of Fried Chicken". Seattle Met. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  13. ^ Sakaki, Denise (15 December 2021). "Chef Shota Nakajima Helps You 'Make Umami'". 425magazine.com.
  14. ^ Stewart, Jade Yamazaki (2022-02-08). "Shota Nakajima of 'Top Chef' Is Opening His First Teriyaki Restaurant". Eater Seattle. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
  15. ^ Shota Nakajima Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CfMWZCprkic//
  16. ^ a b c "Profile: Chef Shota Nakajima". Jamesbeard.org.
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