Masaharu Morimoto facts for kids
Masaharu Morimoto in 2004
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| Born | May 26, 1955 Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan |
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| Cooking style | Japanese Fusion |
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Current restaurant(s)
Morimoto, Wasabi, Morimoto XEX. Morimoto at Camino Real Hotel in Polanco, Mexico City, Momosan
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Television show(s)
Iron Chef, Iron Chef America, The Next Iron Chef, Hawaii Five-0, Hell's Kitchen, Morimoto's Sushi Master
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Masaharu Morimoto (born May 26, 1955) is a famous Japanese chef. He is best known for being an Iron Chef on the TV cooking shows Iron Chef (from Japan) and Iron Chef America (from the USA). Chef Morimoto is also famous for his special way of presenting food. He mixes different cooking styles to create new and exciting dishes.
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Chef Morimoto's Journey
Morimoto was born in Hiroshima, Japan. He learned how to make sushi and traditional Japanese Kaiseki meals there. In 1980, he opened his very own restaurant in Hiroshima.
He became interested in Western cooking styles. So, in 1985, he sold his restaurant and traveled around the United States. This trip helped him develop his unique "fusion" cooking style. Fusion cooking mixes different food traditions.
Morimoto then settled in New York City. He worked at famous restaurants there. He was the head chef at the Sony Club, where important guests ate. He also worked as the head chef at the fancy Japanese restaurant Nobu.
From Nobu to Iron Chef
While working at Nobu, Chef Morimoto got his start on the Iron Chef TV show. This show made him very well-known. After Iron Chef finished its weekly run in 1999, he left Nobu.
He then teamed up with Starr Restaurants. In 2001, he opened his first Morimoto restaurant in Philadelphia. Later, he opened another Morimoto restaurant in Chelsea, New York City. This New York restaurant has a cool design with exposed concrete.
Morimoto Restaurants Around the World
Chef Morimoto has opened many restaurants globally. He has Wasabi restaurants in Mumbai and New Delhi, India. He also has multiple Morimoto locations.
In 2010, he opened a Morimoto restaurant in Napa Valley, California. He also opened one in Waikiki, Hawaii, that same year. In 2013, a Morimoto opened in Maui. The Waikiki location closed in 2016. However, he later announced new restaurants for that area: Morimoto Asia and Momosan.
In 2015, Morimoto opened Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs in Walt Disney World in Florida. In 2016, he opened Momosan Ramen & Sake in New York City. That same year, Morimoto Las Vegas opened inside the MGM Grand hotel.
In 2021, he opened Momosan Ramen Boston in Boston, Massachusetts. In December 2023, Morimoto by Sea opened on the Nieuw Amsterdam cruise ship. This restaurant offers modern pan-Asian food, including vegetarian and vegan options. Some popular dishes are Tuna Pizza and Angry Lobster Pad Thai.
Morimoto also owns Morimoto XEX in Tokyo, Japan. This restaurant has separate floors for Teppanyaki (grill cooking) and sushi. Morimoto XEX even earned a Michelin star in 2008.
Chef Morimoto's Special Beers
Chef Morimoto has also created his own line of special beers. He worked with Rogue Ales from Newport, Oregon. These beers include Imperial Pilsner, Soba Ale, and Black Obi Soba Ale.
Iron Chef Battles
Chef Morimoto is famous for his battles on Iron Chef. His record on the Japanese show was 16 wins, 7 losses, and 1 tie.
On Iron Chef, he wore a silver uniform with red trim. It had a picture of the Japanese and American flags tied together. On Iron Chef America, he wears the standard blue Iron Chef uniform. It has a Japanese flag patch on his sleeve. In his daily life, he wears glasses to look different from his TV character.
Morimoto was chosen as an Iron Chef because of his unique cooking style. It was a mix of different cuisines. He also had a lot of international experience.
He was not sure about becoming an Iron Chef at first. But he accepted because he worried someone else would get the spot. He became known for his surprising dishes. For example, he made Bell Pepper Sushi in a sushi battle. He often drank Coca-Cola while cooking. Once, he even mixed it with nattō (fermented soybeans) to make a dessert!
Famous Iron Chef Moments
Morimoto competed in the first-ever sushi battle in Kitchen Stadium in 1999. He won that battle.
He also had a rivalry with the "Ohta Faction" of Japanese chefs. This group often challenged the Japanese Iron Chefs. Morimoto lost one battle to them but won others.
One of his most famous rivalries was with American chef Bobby Flay. In their first battle in New York, Morimoto said Flay was "not a chef." This was because Flay stood on his chopping board after cooking. Morimoto won that battle. Flay felt the cooking space was unfair.
They had a rematch in Japan, where Morimoto lost to Flay. Even so, Flay later became an Iron Chef on Iron Chef America alongside Morimoto. They battled a third time in 2009, and Morimoto won. Their fourth battle was in 2012, where Flay and his teammate won by a very close score.
Iron Chef America
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Morimoto and Hiroyuki Sakai were the only original Iron Chefs to appear on Iron Chef America: Battle of the Masters. Morimoto lost two battles but won a team battle with Bobby Flay.
When Iron Chef America became a regular series, Morimoto joined as an Iron Chef. During the show, an American voice actor usually speaks for him when the judges talk. But when he cooks, his English is not dubbed. His Japanese conversations with his assistants are shown with subtitles.
In 2007, Chef Morimoto released his first cookbook. It was called Morimoto: The Art of New Japanese Cooking. As of October 2021, his record on Iron Chef America was 26 wins, 17 losses, and 1 tie. His total record for both Iron Chef shows is 41 wins, 21 losses, and 2 ties.
Morimoto has also appeared as a guest judge on The Next Iron Chef.
Other TV Appearances
Chef Morimoto has appeared on many other TV shows.
- In 2010, he taught contestants how to make sushi on the American version of Hell's Kitchen.
- He was a guest judge on Top Chef in Season 8. He returned to Top Chef in Season 21.
- In 2016, he was a guest on MasterChef Italia. He judged contestants cooking Japanese dishes.
- Morimoto has appeared as himself on the TV show Hawaii Five-0.
- He was a guest judge on MasterChef (American TV series) in Season 10.
- In 2022, The Roku Channel ordered a cooking competition show called Morimoto's Sushi Master. Morimoto is the main judge, and the show was renewed for a second season in 2023.
Charity Work
In April 2011, Chef Morimoto sang at a benefit concert. This event helped raise money for Japanese earthquake relief in California.
Awards
- Culinary Hall of Fame Induction.
See also
In Spanish: Masaharu Morimoto para niños
