The world of culinary arts and hospitality is hard, not many partnerships last for long. This is a story about a partnership that evolved into a global empire and a long-lasting friendship.
How it all began
The year was 1987, Nobu Matsuhisa was a successful chef known for his Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine, Robert De Niro was thriving in his role as an actor and entrepreneur. Nobu’s had a restaurant in Log Angeles called “Matsuhisa” and when De Niro visited, he fell in love with the flavors and quality of the food.
De Niro’s mind started spinning directly and an idea of expanding the restaurant was born. When presenting the idea to Matsuhisa he was hesitant, he was used to his intimate approach to cooking. Maintaining quality over several restaurant is also a task many great chefs have failed. De Niro didn’t give up easy and in the end, he convinced Nobu to take a leap of faith.
The brand Nobu
The newly formed duo started the first restaurant in New York, 1994. The restaurant was an immediate success, De Niro’s vision became truth. People were drawn to the restaurant for its unique dining experienced, minimalistic design and world-class service. This was only the beginning on a long but fantastic journey, today the Nobu brand has over 50 restaurants over the world. Every restaurant keeps its high quality while incorporating the local elements of where each restaurant operates. The brand has also expanded into luxury hotels with the same amount of detailed put into every move.
A unique legacy of excellence
This unexpected partnership turned out to be a success. Matsuhisa with his background in the culinary world combined with De Niro’s entrepreneurial spirit and social influence made a perfect match. Together they thrived for excellence and authenticity in every new restaurant they opened, avoiding the replication or franchise stamp. Personally, I value this highly, eating at a franchise is more like eating at a factory, it’s not made with love and passion.
To this day their partnership, now called a close friendship stands strong. It’s a testament to the world of how strong a shared vision combined with hard work and passion can be.
