As the executive chef of Dinings SW3, Masaki Sugisaki is one of the brightest talents in the London dining scene. Masaki’s merging of Japanese culinary traditions with more modern European techniques and produce might go somewhat against the grain of the austere image of a sushi master promoted in documentaries like Jiro Dreams of Sushi, but the end result for diners is something truly delicious and totally unique. I once ate a piece of sushi made by Masaki during an omakase dinner that genuinely made me tear up. It was that good.
Music composition is another one of Masaki's passions, and the things he can do on the electric bass are almost on par with what he can do with sea bass. Well, almost. Masaki passed on a music career to pursue a life in professional kitchens and considering how he’s worked all over the world at some truly top restaurants – the culinary equivalent of a sold-out world tour – I’d say that he made the right decision.
I was lucky enough to spend some time with Masaki discussing his approach to Japanese cuisine and the stark contrast between the kitchen cultures in his native Japan and his adopted home here in the UK. Here’s what happened when MOB met Masaki Sugisaki.