Tetsuya Wakuda facts for kids
Wakuda in 2012
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| Born | 18 June 1959 Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan |
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Current restaurant(s)
Waku Ghin
Wakuda |
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Tetsuya Wakuda (和久田 哲也, Wakuda Tetsuya) OAM (born June 18, 1959) is a world-famous chef from Japan who now lives in Australia. He is known for creating amazing dishes by mixing Japanese flavors with French cooking styles. You might have seen him as a judge on the TV show Junior MasterChef Australia.
Contents
The Journey of a Chef
How It All Began
Tetsuya Wakuda was born in the city of Hamamatsu, Japan. When he was 22 years old, he decided to visit Australia for the first time. This trip would change his life forever.
In 1983, he met a Sydney chef named Tony Bilson. Bilson saw his talent and hired him to make sushi at a restaurant called Kinsela's. While working there, Wakuda learned classic French cooking skills. He combined these new skills with his Japanese background to create a special style of cooking called fusion cuisine. This is where he knew he wanted to be a chef.
After leaving Kinsela's, Wakuda gained more experience working at other places. He then decided it was time to open his very own restaurant.
Tetsuya's Famous Restaurant
The First Restaurant in Rozelle
In 1989, Wakuda opened his first restaurant, called Tetsuya's, in a small building in Rozelle, a suburb of Sydney. It quickly became a huge success. By 1992, it had earned three "Hats" from The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide, which is a very high honor for a restaurant.
As more people wanted to eat there, the restaurant was made bigger in 1993. In 2000, Tetsuya's moved to an even larger location in the center of Sydney.
One of his most famous creations is the Confit of Ocean Trout. It became so popular that people have called it the "most photographed dish in the world."
Another famous chef, Charlie Trotter, said that Tetsuya's cooking has inspired chefs all over the world. He described the food as having "pure, clean flavours" that are "soulful" and show "passion in every bite."
Awards and Recognition
Tetsuya's hard work has earned him many awards. In 2005, he received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM). This award was for his service to the community and for helping to make Australian food famous around the world.
His restaurant has also won many awards, including:
- Two Michelin Stars for his Singapore restaurant in 2018. A Michelin star is one of the highest awards a restaurant can get.
- Four Chef Hats from the Australian Good Food Guide in 2021.
Expanding to New Places
Waku Ghin in Singapore
In 2010, Wakuda opened his second restaurant, Waku Ghin, at the Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore. It serves a special 10-course meal where guests can try many different small dishes.
Waku Ghin quickly became one of the best restaurants in the world. It earned one Michelin star in 2016 and was upgraded to two Michelin stars in 2017, an honor it has kept ever since.
Wakuda in Las Vegas
In 2022, Wakuda opened his first restaurant in the United States. The restaurant, named Wakuda, is located at The Venetian Las Vegas hotel on the famous Las Vegas Strip. This brought his unique style of Japanese cooking to a whole new audience in America.
