Shota Nakajima Biography – Shota Nakajima Wiki
Shota Nakajima is a chef and owner of Taku Restaurant from Seattle, Washington. He was also a cast member on Bravo -TV’s Top Chef season 18. He finished among the top three contestants as the show came to an end. He was however crowned the winner of the Fan Favourite Award. The Japan-born chef dropped out of school to pursue the art of being a chef at age 16. He began his career with humility by peeling onions, and washing dishes at any Japanese restaurant he came across. When he turned 18, he moved to Osaka, Japan to get trained in Japanese cuisine by his model Chef Yasuhiko Sakamoto of the Michelin Star at Kappo Sakamoto for a period of four years. The experience there taught him the style of Japanese cooking and service.
He then moved back to the United States where he was hired by Sushi Kappo Tamura. He took the initiative to learn corporate management and catering in the hospitality industry as he maneuvered around the city. He finally opened his Japanese restaurant, Naka, in 2015. He closed down the service about one and a half years later. He reopened the place naming it Adana with a Japanese casual style. He later closed Adana in 2020 as the Covid-19 pandemic took a toll on his business. However, he had opened up a street food spot called Taku which he closed temporarily.
“This last year has been such an emotional roller coaster,” Nakajima said in a statement on Instagram. “My spirit was lifted when I got the call from Top Chef that I was selected for this year as a contestant… My first emotion was that I was scared… then humbled, thrilled, and excited to get back to it! And spread happy vibes in the process — it’s when I’m happiest!”
He is a recipient of the Eater “Young Guns” Award, and beat Bobby Flay on Food Network’s “Beat Bobby Flay.” In 2018, 2019, and 2020, he became a semifinalist for James Beard’s “Rising Star Chef of the Year.”
Shota Nakajima Age
He was born in Tokyo, Japan and raised in Seattle, Washington, United States. He was born on August 24, 1989 and was brought up in a traditional Japanese family.
Shota Nakajima Family
His parents basically shaped his skills in the culinary industry. His mother came from a background of professional bakers while his father’s family are the owners of three-Michelin-starred Hyotei.
Shota Nakajima Instagram
He is on Instagram as chefshota.
