Shota Nakajima facts for kids
Shota Nakajima
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| Born | Tokyo, Japan |
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| Education | Tsuji Culinary Arts School |
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Current restaurant(s)
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Previous restaurant(s)
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Television show(s)
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Shota Nakajima is a talented Japanese-American chef. He is famous for appearing on the TV show Top Chef, especially during its eighteenth season in Portland, Oregon.
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Shota's Early Life and Training
Shota Nakajima was born in Japan and grew up in Seattle, Washington. When he was 18, he moved to Osaka to study at the Tsuji Culinary Arts School. There, he learned from a master chef named Yasuhiko Sakamoto. Later, Shota came back to Seattle. He worked for chef Taichi Kitamura at Sushi Kappo Tamura for about a year.
Shota's TV Appearances
Shota Nakajima has been on several popular cooking shows.
Competing on Iron Chef Gauntlet
In 2017, Shota appeared on Food Network's Iron Chef Gauntlet. This show features chefs competing against each other. Shota was the fourth chef to be eliminated from the competition.
Winning on Beat Bobby Flay
In 2018, Shota was a contestant on Beat Bobby Flay. He won his episode with his special tempura dish. Tempura is a Japanese dish where seafood or vegetables are lightly battered and fried.
Becoming a Finalist on Top Chef
Shota competed on Top Chef: Portland in 2020. He made it to the final three contestants. He was also chosen as the "Fan Favorite" by viewers of the show.
Other TV Challenges
In 2023, Shota also reached the quarterfinals of Tournament of Champions. He lost to another talented chef, Mei Lin, who went on to win the whole tournament.
Shota's Restaurants and Food Ventures
Shota Nakajima is not just a TV chef; he also owns and runs restaurants.
Opening Restaurants in Seattle
In 2014, Shota started a catering business called Kappo Kitchen. A year later, in 2015, he opened his first restaurant, Naka. It was a kaiseki restaurant, which means it served a special type of Japanese multi-course meal. In 2017, Naka changed its name to Adana.
In 2020, Shota opened another restaurant called Taku. This restaurant was in the Capitol Hill area of Seattle. Taku focused on kushikatsu, which are deep-fried skewers of meat and vegetables. Both Adana and Taku had to close for a while during the COVID-19 pandemic. Taku reopened in 2021, but it changed its menu to focus on karaage, which is Japanese fried chicken.
Creating His Own Teriyaki Sauce
In 2021, Shota started making his own teriyaki sauce. It's called Make Umami. You can buy his sauce at his restaurant Taku, at Uwajimaya grocery stores, and even online through Amazon.
Banzai Teriyaki Project
In 2022, Shota announced plans to open a teriyaki restaurant called Banzai Teriyaki in Cle Elum, Washington. However, he later decided not to be part of that project.
Awards and Recognitions
Shota Nakajima has received several awards for his cooking skills.
- He was a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation's "Rising Star Chef of the Year" award in 2018, 2019, and 2020. This award recognizes young chefs who are making a big impact.
- In 2018, he was also named an "Young Guns Winner" by Eater, a popular food website.
