This article contains promotional content. (June 2013) |
Tetsuya Wakuda (和久田 哲也, Wakuda Tetsuya) OAM (born 18 June 1959) is a Japanese-born Australian chef based in Sydney. He was the leading judge in the final episode of the second season of Junior MasterChef Australia.
Tetsuya Wakuda | |
|---|---|
和久田 哲也 | |
 Wakuda in 2012 | |
| Born | 18 June 1959 Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan |
| Occupation | Chef |
| Culinary career | |
Rating(s) | |
Current restaurant(s)
| |
Background
editEarly life
editTetsuya Wakuda was born on June 18, 1959, in the city of Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Wakuda made his first visit to Australia at the age of 22.[1]
Kinsela's and beyond (1983–1989)
editIn 1983, Wakuda met Sydney chef Tony Bilson, who hired him to prepare sushi at Kinsela's in Taylor Square.[1] Under Bilson, Wakuda learned classical French techniques that underpin his Japanese-French fusion cooking.[2] Wakuda says that Kinsela's was where he realised he wanted to cook, and discovered that he could.[3]
Wakuda left Kinsela's in 1983 and set up Rose's nightclub with one of the restaurant's managers. He worked as a chef there for a year. [1] After leaving, he was introduced to chef Hans Mohr and worked as a second chef with him for six months.[4]
Wakuda decided to start his own restaurant with his wife and chose a small shopfront in Rozelle as the location.[1]
Tetsuya's restaurant
editRozelle years (1989–2000)
editTetsuya's opened in 1989, in Sydney's inner-west suburb of Rozelle.[1] In 1992, The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide awarded the restaurant Three Hats.[5]
The restaurant was remodelled in 1993, increasing seats to 65, with an expanded and re-fitted kitchen. In November 2000, Tetsuya's moved to a larger location in Sydney's CBD.[1]
Tetsuya's Confit of Ocean Trout has been described as the "most photographed dish in the world".[6] Charlie Trotter said: "Tetsuya is part of an elite group of international chefs, that has influenced other chefs through their personal styles and unique approaches to food. His culinary philosophy centers on pure, clean flavours that are decisive, yet completely refined. His amazing technique, Asian heritage, sincere humility, worldwide travels and insatiable curiosity combine to create incredible, soulful dishes that exude passion in every bite."[7]
Awards
editTetsuya was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2005 Queen's Birthday Honours "For service to the community and the development of Australian cuisine as a chef, restaurateur and author, to vocational training and to support for charitable groups."[8]
Tetsuya's went on to win may more awards, including the Singapore Michelin Guide 2018 – Two Michelin Stars in 2018, and the Australian Good Food Guide (AGFG) 4 Chef Hats in 2021.[9]
Waku Ghin restaurant
editIn 2010, Tetsuya's second restaurant, Waku Ghin, opened in Singapore at Marina Bay Sands[10] with an offering of a 10-course tasting menu. In 2015, it was listed as #70 on The World's 50 Best Restaurants.[11] It was subsequently awarded one Michelin star in the inaugural 2016 Singapore edition of the Michelin Guide[12] and then two Michelin stars in 2017.[13] It has maintained its two-star rating since 2017.[14]
Wakuda
editIn 2022, Tetsuya opened his first US restaurant at The Venetian Las Vegas hotel in the Palazzo tower on the Las Vegas Strip.[15]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "Tetsuya Wakuda Celebrety Chef".
- ^ "Triumph of taste". The Age. 13 April 2004.
- ^ "Foodtourist - Stories About Food, Wine and Travel".
- ^ O'Donnell, Mietta (2001). "Tetsuya Wakuda".
- ^ "Awards". Tetsuya. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
- ^ "A Quick Interview with Tetsuya Wakuda, the Chef behind the World's Most Photographed Dish - Pepper.ph - Recipes, Taste Tests, and Cooking Tips from Manila, Philippines". 18 July 2017.
- ^ "Tetsuya's - About Tetsuya". Archived from the original on 24 January 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ Government, Australian. "It's an Honour". Australian Government Honours List. Australian Government. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
- ^ "Awards". Tetsuya. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Waku Ghin by Tetsuya Wakuda – Modern European-Japanese Restaurant". www.marinabaysands.com. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
- ^ "Jaan and Waku Ghin among the world's best 100 restaurants". 26 May 2015.
- ^ "Singapore's Michelin-starred restaurants: All you need to know". The Straits Times. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
- ^ "Full List: The 2017 MICHELIN guide Singapore Results Announced". MICHELIN Guide. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
- ^ "Michelin Guide Singapore 2018: New Michelin star restaurants revealed". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
- ^ Sheckells, Melinda (26 April 2022). "Inside Chef Tetsuya Wakuda's First U.S. Restaurant in Las Vegas". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
External links
edit
- Tetsuya's Tetsuya's Restaurant website
- Waku Ghin restaurant website