13 Queer Chefs You Need To Know – Tasting Table

Chef Niki Nakayama time and time again has proven herself beyond expectations in the food industry, and more importantly, in the world of Japanese food and sushi. Nakayama describes the stigma of having women sushi chefs as “remarkable,” as per The Advocate, which makes her success as both a sushi and kaiseki chef, that much more remarkable. Kaiseki, the Japanese culinary art of serving many small dishes that complement one another and reflect the seasons and local bounty, is what n/naka, Nakayama’s restaurant, specializes in. N/naka, which has two Michelin stars, is described as modernly and delightfully working with the spirit of traditional Japanese food, (via Michelin).

Featured on Netflix’s “Chefs Table” and a teacher on MasterClass for modern kaiseki and Japanese cuisine, Nakayama is always pushing gender stereotypes in the male-dominated Japanese food world. Nakayama and her team at n/naka are impressive, seamless, and poetic. Part of the reason they meld so well may be because Nakayama’s wife, Carol Iida-Nakayama, is her sous chef. The two work in tandem to create an unforgettable dining experience for those guests who are lucky enough to get a spot at n/naka, notes The Advocate.