World's first Michelin-starred woman sushi chef driven by a tragic promise
sushi chef in the world to win a Michelin star, fulfilling a promise she made to her dying husband to continue his legacy.
Advertisement
The 54-year-old Japanese chef regained the
Michelin star her late husband Shunei Kimura won three years ago for their Sushi Shunei restaurant in
Paris
Chizuko Kimura and her husband Shunei Kimura at their restaurant Sushi Shunei in Paris. Photo: @sushishunei/Instagram
For Shunei, the star was a dream come true. However, the joy was short-lived. He died from cancer just three months later in June 2022, aged 65. The following year, the restaurant in the heart of Montmartre lost its star.
Kimura insisted that the new star is still down to her husband. 'If Shunei had never received a star, I wouldn't have been particularly attached to obtaining one myself,' she said.
'But he was proud that his restaurant was recognised. So this star has become very important to me,' she said in her tiny traditional 'sushiya', which only seats nine.
Sushi Shunei in Paris is a traditional 'sushiya' which seats just nine customers. Photo: @sushishunei/Instagram
The Michelin was glowing in its praise, saying a 'sensorial journey is guaranteed thanks to the dexterity with which the nigiri are made, the use and working of superb fish and the subtle seasoning'.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Chinese netizens riled over delay of 731, film about horrific Japanese human experiments
A highly anticipated Chinese film that over 3 million users have marked as 'want to see' on the Chinese ticket-selling platform Maoyan has sparked discussion on Weibo after its release was changed from July 31 to the more ambiguous '2025'. Advertisement The film, 731, exposes the grievous biological and chemical experiments committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Kwantung Army in Northeast China during the Sino-Japanese war and World War II. Directed by filmmaker Zhao Linshan and starring well-known mainland Chinese actors including Jiang Wu and Wang Zhiwen, the film tells the story from an ordinary civilian's point of view, unveiling the history of the horrific human experiments conducted by Unit 731. Its release was timed to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the end of the Sino-Japanese conflict, but its sensitive content has sparked concerns over whether it will be released on schedule. Earlier this week, several film content creators shared their thoughts regarding the postponement of the film's official release, leading to speculation from netizens. Advertisement Some users said that the controversial subject and potentially violent scenes may be subject to censorship. Other comments pointed out the existence of takedown petitions, presumably due to the nature of the film.
HKFP
3 days ago
- HKFP
Taiwanese singer Anpu cancels Hong Kong concert, organiser cites ‘irresistible force'
Taiwanese singer Anpu has cancelled her concert in Hong Kong next month, with the organiser citing 'irresistible force.' The concert was scheduled to be held on August 23 at AsiaWorld Arena, near Hong Kong International Airport. 'Due to the irresistible force of the organiser's situation, there is no way for the concert to go ahead as planned,' concert organiser CCY Entertainment said in a statement on Tuesday. It did not elaborate on what 'irresistible force' was. The Taiwanese singer, whose full name is Chiao Anpu, publicly supported Taiwan's Sunflower Movement in 2014 and Hong Kong's Umbrella Movement in the same year. However, she came under fire from fans last year after her management company posted her handwritten message celebrating China's National Day on October 1 on Weibo. 'Irresistible force' In the comments section of the organiser's Instagram post, some concertgoers asked what 'irresistible force' meant, while others complained that they had already booked hotels or that the handling fee was non-refundable. According to the organiser, ticket vendors KKTIX, and Damai, which primarily serve the mainland Chinese market, will arrange refunds without customers needing to apply. However, handling fees will be non-refundable. This is not the first time a performance or an art event has been cancelled in Hong Kong without a clear explanation. Hong Kong singer Pong Nan's concert in January was axed due to a venue cancellation by the city's art hub. Pong, who is openly gay, is known for his support of the 2019 anti-extradition bill movement. The House of Hong Kong Literature, a non-profit that promotes the city's literary scene, said on July 21 that it was forced to call off a book fair, citing 'factors beyond our control.' A fundraising concert organised by the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) moved online, after the live performance was axed due to what the press group described as 'an irresistible force.'
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Four Seasons Hong Kong turns 20 with Michelin-starred dinners and special events
It is billed as the culinary event of the year: the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong's 20th anniversary celebrations include three evenings of guest chefs from around the world, bringing an extra 20 Michelin stars to the hotel's eight. Guillaume Galliot , executive chef at the hotel's three-Michelin-starred Caprice , will host the spectacular dinners on September 18, 19 and 20. To commemorate the anniversary, Galliot has invited 15 top executive chefs and pastry chefs from across Asia and Europe for a once-in-a-lifetime set of tasting menus. 'I'm thrilled to bring together friends I've met at various points of my career to cook together, and celebrate the hotel's and restaurant's 20th anniversary,' says Galliot. 'Food is about generosity, conviviality, and where the best produce comes together perfectly on the plate through precision and technique.' Caprice will host celebrated chefs from across Asia and Europe over three spectacular anniversary dinners in September. Photo: Handout Galliot will present one dish each evening, alongside five chefs each serving one of their signature dishes. His dishes include his roasted Challans duck with dolce forte sauce, celeriac and red berries, and his mum's garden tomatoes in verbena elegance. His third dish, a classic French recipe reimagined, is roasted pigeon with French figs and eggplants in fig sauce. He uses the Racan breed of pigeon from the Loire Valley, where he was born. The pigeon is cooked in a cocoa pod from Vietnam and served with salsify, puffed potatoes and cocoa jus. Two lauded chefs will come over from the UK: Claude Bosi from Bibendum in London, and Sat Bains of his eponymous restaurant in Nottingham. Both restaurants have two Michelin stars, while Sat Bains also has a Green star. Other noteworthy chefs include Alan Taudon of two-star L'Orangerie at the revered Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris, and Jordy Navarra of award-winning Toyo Eatery in Manila, which is No 42 on the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list this year. The dining room at three-Michelin-star restaurant Caprice. Photo: Handout Desserts will be equally multicultural, with Jean-François Feuillette of France's Boulangerie Feuillette serving his pistachio Paris-Brest. This year's Asia's Best Pastry Chef Dej Kewkacha, who is known for his innovative take on pastry, will offer his creation Le Blanc, made with cacao juice, jasmine flower and caviar. Andrea Bonaffini, the Italian executive pastry chef at Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, will present his chocolate lemon dessert.
