Female Sushi Chef Miki Izumisawa is Pushing the Boundaries of Tradition

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9 жыл бұрын

Meet Miki Izumisawa, the female sushi chef who is pushing the boundaries of traditional sushi with nature-inspired fusion dishes, and doing it with an all-women staff.
For the last 15 years, Miki Izumisawa has been quietly forging a path for female sushi chefs while creating cuisine that blurs the line between art and food. From her 21-seat restaurant overlooking the ocean in the Southern California community of Laguna Beach, Miki transforms elements of the natural world into sashimi and rolls with names such as Moon & Sun, Lava Flow, and Feather in the Sky. Miki’s style is anything but conventional, but her one rule? No soy sauce.
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Пікірлер: 345

@emilychoi2290 Жыл бұрын

I always wanted to visit this place, so sad that she passed away before I got a chance to meet her :( Rest in peace you were an inspiration

@tommyle7376 4 ай бұрын

oh my. I had just revisit this video again and I saw that she passed 2 years ago. I had always wanted to taste her sushi

@AnimeMemesz 9 жыл бұрын

Its 5 am and i am watching a sushi video. Life is good.

@PimpMatt0 9 жыл бұрын

Same.

@udobybreak6393 9 жыл бұрын

GoatseObama Cali or WA state?

@safwanghazat8727 9 жыл бұрын

Youre not alone

@muchwow5782 9 жыл бұрын

GoatseObama Its 9am, not slept yet, sushi everywhere.

@puffdaddy69 9 жыл бұрын

+much wow 2pm now

@Nogardarret 9 жыл бұрын

this just about made me cry, i want to go there and meet miki izumisawa, and tell her about how i always wanted to be a sushi chef but being white and poor and a woman were always things that people told me meant i could never do that, i want to taste all her dishes and be inspired to try new things with my own cooking, gosh this is just such an important video it has so much hope

@alexisamos6533 9 жыл бұрын

nothing's impossible you can do it. and if you want to make sushi and open up a restaurant do it. I'll eat your food with the same amount of respect.

@DisingenuousComment 9 жыл бұрын

Alexis Amos you're nice and creepy at the same time.

@ingridstormborn8623 9 жыл бұрын

JUST DO IT

@initnabinignet7231 6 жыл бұрын

uhmm. You can always make sushi with your vegana. That always sell.

@mamakim4099 4 жыл бұрын

I hope 🤞 you follow your dreams !!❤️❤️❤️🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾From a Grandma 👵🏾 in Chicago 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

@ogmeow 9 жыл бұрын

The dedication and passion is so amazing!

@mohmer 8 жыл бұрын

I frequent 242 Fusion often. The dishes are all unique. Miki and the rest of the her team do really well at presenting a great dish with really good balance of flavor and beauty. Glad to see her recognized here.

@littlefrog9553 9 жыл бұрын

The look in her eyes when working for Nobu didn't work out because others could not accept a woman as a sushi chef in that environment, broke my heart. :,( Stay strong Miki. I love how her plating and the textures and every detail tell a story. She is an artist.

@MakeSushi1 9 жыл бұрын

Respect!

@Miko0219 8 жыл бұрын

+How To Make Sushi even chef devaux respects her

@Dominikmj 9 жыл бұрын

It is quite inspirational, to see this women, being not the typical artisan, which are usually the stereotype of good sushi chefs. I believe, that there is definitely more potential in the restaurant, but maybe this would jeopardize the personality of the restaurant. Anyway - very fun video!

@JeffAdairKTM530 9 жыл бұрын

Respecttttttttt

@MaureenKo1 6 жыл бұрын

When a notable male chef tells a woman, "Someday you will work for me," it would always be an Asian that would understand it being a high compliment and return with a, "Thank you, chef!" Generally, any other born or bred American female would take offense. This woman's humility and creativity got her to where she is. Even Morimoto says, "I have only one rule" (regarding sushi) "there are no rules." Some think it's blasphemous but why? All food culture evolves. If it's not good, it falls by the wayside. It doesn't have to be trendy to be good. While I tend to love very traditional sushi myself, it would be an honor to taste this woman's sushi. Not because the woman made the sushi. But because sushi made the woman. Props to her! Love this video!

@liquidtunes 5 жыл бұрын

Been reading a number of comments here and yours is the perspective I find most noble. Thanks for sharing it.

@yehabon 8 жыл бұрын

Wow - I'm usually a stickler for old tradition but I love the way this woman is pushing forward the sushi game. This is like a French Japanese fusion.

@loverice3515 9 жыл бұрын

Nothing against "fusion sushi" or "Westernized sushi" but for me, one of the great things about "traditional sushi" is its simplicity and well, the traditional aspect. I still wanna try her food though, it looks good!

@Dominikmj 9 жыл бұрын

Love Rice The best thing is diversity. There have to be restaurants, which are die hard classicist. But I really like this restaurant, due to their no to soy sauce - a really cool move! The good thing here is, that it is not confusion-fusion, the chef just has a vision...

@stevej6441 9 жыл бұрын

+Dominik MJ (opinionated alchemist) diversity is of importance but the classics and traditionals are cherished for a reason, what makes sushi as a whole special is it's simple distinguishable taste and although her place seems to have really i mean REALLY good stuff you wouldn't go there to eat sushi you would go there to eat what she makes which for all i know could taste even better than sushi

@Dominikmj 9 жыл бұрын

steve J I am usually a classicist. And especially when it comes to sushi I tried a lot, but enjoy only quite a limited selection. However culinary creations are not everlasting pictures - they are more snapshots, which change with the time. I feel it a bit boring, to always do the same stuff. Don't get me wrong, the Michelin starred sushi restaurants and the great masters have absolutely their place. But I think she does have her place as well. And given, that sushi originally was rather simple street food and just lately got a "more highbrow reputation", you still call (most of) her creations sushi.

@stevej6441 9 жыл бұрын

Dominik MJ couldn't have said it better myself

@fatdoi003 9 жыл бұрын

+Love Rice does she make nigiri? the whole video I only saw her do marinated sashimi and rolls.

@clowes1987 9 жыл бұрын

miki is so down to earth! Cant wait to visit this place one day.

@stynium 8 жыл бұрын

I am 100% visiting her restaurant next time! You're amazing! Miki you're my hero! I've worked in male dominated fields, IT and engineering, in Asia for over ten years. There's just one reason why many men ignore and dislike women in these fields. They want all the money to themselves to buy women's affection with. I was sad to hear that her spirit was almost crushed by such people, and thrilled she opened her own restaurant. Women make great master chefs, and superb cooks.

@bernieleong8720 8 жыл бұрын

She is the bomb! I love her! Miki you're number one! Inspiring women everywhere to follow their dreams.

@Mugen0445 9 жыл бұрын

Male,female I don't care. If it's good I would eat it.

@Nickerooster 9 жыл бұрын

Same take on bhole

@susapparel3605 9 жыл бұрын

Mugen0445 agree. the people giving her slack for cooking are idiots. they ate their mothers cooking and probably leanred the basics from her too.

@user46421 9 жыл бұрын

Mugen0445 Yup, too bad Japanese society are still bound by that sexist view.

@Mugen0445 8 жыл бұрын

Too bad I'm a Chinese male and I don't give a fuck about gender. Just good food.

@KingDennisJensen 9 жыл бұрын

What a wonderful human being. I would like to hug her very much.

@SpiritualAthiest 9 жыл бұрын

This has to be one of my favorite chef stories here on Munchies :D. I live in LA County, and I'm definitely going to visit this place. I've only seen one other female sushi chef. Akasaka in Hacienda Heights. Most of her staff are female also. Maybe you should visit her one day. I find funny how men joke about how a woman's place is in the kitchen, but being a chef is so dominant male wise. It's such an oxymoronic behavior. Gender equality and respect shouldn't be an issue in a kitchen.

@htoohtetlu3035 9 жыл бұрын

As a sushi chef, I am so glad to see more innovations rather than just traditional values being implemented in the art.

@YoungStreetzD 9 жыл бұрын

Great episode! You can really feel what Miki's story and spirit through this video

@tyreiraeth 9 жыл бұрын

Loving this series so much!

@sudonim7552 5 жыл бұрын

I live near Laguna Beach, and I went to her restaurant for my birthday. It was awesome. 👍

@mizzchocolate94 9 жыл бұрын

Loved this vid 👏💕

@ChicagoTurtle1 9 жыл бұрын

I love it. Thank you for the inspirational story!!

@michaelmbz8182 9 жыл бұрын

This episode was truly fantastic!!

@xColt420 9 жыл бұрын

definetely one of the better munchies videos in terms of production and execution!

@superhammie17 9 жыл бұрын

I love this series. So much passion and love

@sexypancake1 9 жыл бұрын

Wonderful video! Such a fantastic chef!

@alaskanbullworm1632 9 жыл бұрын

She is one smart lady

@AlyssaL 7 жыл бұрын

the amount of love, care, and dedication she puts into her work is inspiring

@SatanSupimpa 9 жыл бұрын

She never skips leg day.

@LouTheLoo 9 жыл бұрын

Best one yet!

@nishbrown 9 жыл бұрын

Best video I've read in a while.

@mch006 9 жыл бұрын

Looks great!!! I want to try one day!!!!

@Darksagan 9 жыл бұрын

She is insanely passionate about sushi. Now I have to go check this place out.

@danielleyoung3623 2 жыл бұрын

I love you Miki san thank you for changing so many lives and being such a FORCE. Queer icon and a powerhouse of a woman. Rest in power, we miss you and your amazing artistic sensibility

@gee_emm 9 жыл бұрын

what an inspiring video! why oh why oh why did i read the comments! hashtag, when will i learn?!?

@Kencival 8 жыл бұрын

Her story is so amazing. Finally someone who respects sushi but believes in change. Awesome

@jeremielauzon9732 9 жыл бұрын

Magnifique vidéo!

@givemeultraviolence 7 жыл бұрын

respect for this lady!!!! i love her

@DescendantsArt 8 жыл бұрын

Maravillosa historia! UNA GRAN CHEF! Éxitos.

@BeowWulf 9 жыл бұрын

Love this lady's philosophy. While I love traditional sushi, it's nice to see people pushing it towards the future. That said, that Canyon Roll looked like a mess on plate. Bet it was delicious though :)

@bryeap 9 жыл бұрын

sushi art! Awesome!

@itoverwithplaya4953 9 жыл бұрын

I like this series

@bloodstew666 9 жыл бұрын

that was a good story of her life and her sushi. Wonderful

@maxwellbrand 9 жыл бұрын

great segment. :)

@watevakid 9 жыл бұрын

love this spot so much

@davescheer5038 6 жыл бұрын

She has a fusion sushi restaurant,people know it's not traditional, if they enjoy her food they will come back, if they didn't then they will go some place else, I commend her for doing what she likes to do. I personally like a traditional sushi restaurant,as the chef there will also give his personal touch to his creations ,there is always room for improvement and a strive for perfection to achieve this in ones lifetime is called "success " and I hope she is successful .⛩

@tired2sleep 8 жыл бұрын

wow what a cool chef. she might be my favorite one out of all the sushi chef series

@RndZApprox 9 жыл бұрын

best sushi ever, ive tried it and cant stop from it.

@Lexman00 9 жыл бұрын

Nothing against Miki, but that sushi fusion does not appeal to me at all. It all looks like a fucking mess to me. However, that's my opinion, I like sushi the traditional way. In Japan I don't think Miki's idea would work at all, but in the US food from other cultures has always been modified (some would say bastardized and ruined), so I think Miki doing sushi different here is fine. Keep in mind, she is not claiming to be a great sushi chef or anything, or that she represents something better. Miki is only representing herself in her work. She does this because she is passionate about it. Nothing more than that.

@PimpMatt0 9 жыл бұрын

Very interesting dishes.

@Keukeu45 9 жыл бұрын

A very inspiring woman.

@anzarne 8 жыл бұрын

i could relate so so much.

@chefmike9945 9 жыл бұрын

Love this video. Love you Miki. You're an exceptionally talented Chef. Really excellent and creative. I'm sure I could spend $100.00 a person easy. Please, keep sharing these delicious video's. Blessings ChefMike

@leon930 9 жыл бұрын

she is amazing!

@llamaking1995 9 жыл бұрын

a lot of her food seems to be swimming in some sort of sauce, and her rolls are laden with either salad or purple goo on the top. most sushi tends to good as a result of its quality and simplicity, taking pleasure from eating the best cut of the best fish on the best rice, carefully prepared by the best sushi chef sorta thing, as opposed to an interesting food wombo combo. obviously ive never tasted it so i cant say whether it works or not. but it really doesnt *look* appealing to me and im fairly sure you can't taste a lot of the inspiration behind the rolls like the laguna canyon one, the idea is cute but it probably won't mean as much to the consumer as it does to her. however the proof of the pudding is in the eating and all that.

@DabestSpooner 9 жыл бұрын

+llamaking1995 check out that cut of tuna in the beginning it looks awful. Flash frozen tuna of good quality looks better than that even without adding carbon monoxide. I understand she probably wants to keep costs down and has to resort to her neta swimming in sauces and toppings.

@janicebailey6239 7 жыл бұрын

I love this woman I feel her passion ❤️❤️

@alexandersalz5850 8 жыл бұрын

she created a new Cuisine this woman is inspiring

@augustoharbs 4 жыл бұрын

Awesome

@irenec8361 8 жыл бұрын

Deepest respect for her; I wish to come there to have your wonderful sushi. =)

@eatcarpet 8 жыл бұрын

I think the development and the culture of fusion sushi is very interesting, much more interesting than traditional sushi.

@JayToTheChou 9 жыл бұрын

She's awesome

@yuridahli1 9 жыл бұрын

Girl power ✌️✌️✌️✌️

@jws14 9 жыл бұрын

i want that purple stuff

@anra54 9 жыл бұрын

Sugar, water, purple!

@alana8716 9 жыл бұрын

she seems so nice aww

@jherna82 8 жыл бұрын

Awesome person right there!

@timong6101 5 жыл бұрын

Have you ever interviewed Yuki Chizui from Nadeshiko sushi? I would love to see that.

@yurikomineyoshi7750 2 жыл бұрын

To the most bravest and creative chef I know. Rest in peace.

@kumbackquatsta 9 жыл бұрын

inspirational

@CodeProvider 9 жыл бұрын

wow what a cutie

@MobSenpai 9 жыл бұрын

Code Provider OMG CODE GLAD TO SEE YOU HERE!

@CodeProvider 9 жыл бұрын

dsadcasfcasfcqw KHOR isnt she great

@zf5249 8 жыл бұрын

+Kio Yoon i'm offensive and i find this everything

@Brian-og6ph 8 жыл бұрын

+Ezekiel F .. you mean you are offended. If you are offensive, then no one will like you. :)

@zf5249 8 жыл бұрын

west sung it's a joke fuck face, no need for explanation

@dmmness 6 жыл бұрын

I wonder if Nobu did anything to try to keep her at his restaurant in Las Vegas? Her sushi looks different and awesome.

@MiguelGonzalez-vz6qi 9 жыл бұрын

normally hate fusion but this can work

@RachiiDoodle 9 жыл бұрын

Beautiful

@Elecjester 9 жыл бұрын

Very cool lady, wish I could sample some of her dishes.

@madisonmcknight2591 5 жыл бұрын

Hearto-san Konichiwa!

@senorvillarruel8129 8 жыл бұрын

yes great shef hiro at nove love this place

@toeloese 2 жыл бұрын

Rest in peace, Miki. You were a true culinary artist and a wonderful person. Sad to have missed the chance to meet again after 10 years.

@bobbykeene12 Жыл бұрын

Oh no! What happened???

@toeloese Жыл бұрын

@Bobby Keene She passed away on the 28th of July this year. 😔

@RejectSanity 9 жыл бұрын

Hella respect.

@captainkev10 7 жыл бұрын

I love this woman.

@StalkerArea51 9 жыл бұрын

nice story

@What8Bit 8 жыл бұрын

I like the part where she says that they work like a well oiled machine. That every part of it has its place, so that way they can make the best of it.

@Mowgesh 9 жыл бұрын

Thought she was Vasquez for a second...

@yonce3363 8 жыл бұрын

I love this...!! Girl Power 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾❤️❤️

@juels508 6 жыл бұрын

0:17 😂

@MrZipeGaming 9 жыл бұрын

nice

@susapparel3605 9 жыл бұрын

looked delicious and new but you cant beat the tradition man. She's being innocative and new and we still need people like her but traditional sushi is like an art man

@safetybeforekisses Жыл бұрын

I'll work for you, I'm still training here in Louisville, Colorado. I'll never complain.

@Ultradude604 5 жыл бұрын

Wow. That's a sushi with a healthy dose of salad on top. She really wants you to eat your veggies.

@cowboybebopinc.7308 8 жыл бұрын

She seems pretty passionate about it, dats good enough for me

@Ultradude604 5 жыл бұрын

She is a very nice lady and i'm sure alot of ppl love her food. She'd be chase out of Japan if she opens restaurant there. Not because of sexism, but she's doing things that aren't considered "good" ways of sushi.