Chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa Attends Opening Of Restaurant's 23th Location#
Nobu Beijing had its soft opening in March (Image: Lum Dim Sum)
Last night, Robert de Niro's Nobu restaurant opened its new Beijing location with a bash attended by Nobu namesake and co-owner, Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, Jackie Chan, who celebrated his 57th birthday, and Hong Kong actress Lin Peng. While Robert de Niro couldn't be there for the opening, birthday boy Chan managed to put on a show, sharing his birthday cake with chef Matsuhisa and Norwegian ambassador to China, Svein Ole Sæther.
Chan then got serious for a moment, announcing that he would be making a one million yuan (US$153,000) donation to Japan earthquake disaster relief in conjunction with the Norwegian Embassy, a move that chef Matsuhisa called, "a great display of friendship and appreciation" that "meant a lot" to him and to Japan.
According to ABC Spain, over 400 guests attended the opening, which head chef Øyvind Næsheim (lately of Nobu London and Hong Kong) said left him "excited and overwhelmed." Chef Næsheim added that Nobu Beijing's soft opening had been "excellent," adding that this location aims to "convey the identities of Japan and Latin America through the senses" for a Chinese audience.
But don't go expecting a localized experience at Nobu Beijing. The restaurant strives to be as similar to its other international outposts as possible, even putting items like the endangered bluefin tuna on the menu -- a move that has caused controversy in the past. However, as chef Næsheim clarified at the opening, all of the bluefin tuna served at Nobu Beijing will come from special fish farms in Spain, rather than from the ocean.
Prices at Nobu Beijing range between 700-1,000 yuan (US$107-153) per person.
Nobu Beijing at the JW Marriott#
83 Jianguo Ave., Huamao Center (建国路83号, 华贸中心)
Chaoyang District, Beijing (北京市朝阳区)
Tel: 010-59086688
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