What I relish most is when a member of my staff, who has worked with passion and patience towards achieving their dream of owning a restaurant, walks up to me and says, 'Nobu! I have done it!'
Nobu MatsuhisaRead
One day, the people who work in my kitchen stir-fried chopped Napa cabbage to serve with some meat or fish for their own dinner. I got to thinking: 'What if the cabbage was the most important thing on the plate?'
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the idea that seemingly simple ingredients can hold great significance in a meal.
In this quote, Nobu Matsuhisa reflects on a moment of inspiration that arises from observing a humble ingredient, Napa cabbage, being prepared in a kitchen. It suggests that culinary creations should give importance to all elements on the plate, even those that might be considered secondary. This mindset encourages a deeper appreciation for the value and potential of every component in cooking, highlighting that greatness in cuisine can emerge from the unassuming and the everyday.
Themes
CookingIngredientsImportanceCuisineAppreciation
In practice
Example use cases
During a cooking workshop, I shared this quote to inspire participants to value every ingredient.
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All quotes →My cooking is simply ingredients plus umami.
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