Every time we ask anyone about Maki, you instantly see the ultimate love within their eyes. Maki has always been and remains one of the restaurants in Kuwait that continues to keep its unbreakable consistency, and quality of Japanese cuisine. With the addition of a new Executive Chef, the restaurant’s commitment to introduce traditional, as well as fusion-based dishes is growing more than ever!
Chef Daisuke Yoshizaki has been in K-town for over two months. He has already started his mission in experimenting with dishes. As he says, “My target and goal is to share my knowledge, my traditional skills, and my experience. To [create a higher] standard of cooking techniques that I would like to implement at Maki. I want to try some new dishes, and introduce Japanese culture.”
Chef Daisuke’s background, along with his expertise are bound to elevate the food experience at Maki. His father was in fact a chef too, who worked at a hotel in Hokkaido, Japan. Chef Daisuke grew up in a culinary environment, and observed the non-stop hustle of being a chef. “I became curious about this job,” he says, “So, that is the reason why I wanted to be a chef. I told my father after graduating school that I want to be a chef, so [he] sent me to a restaurant and I started my career.”
He was formally trained in Japan in the very traditional town of Kyoto. He was only 18-years-old when he first started at a small restaurant that only seated 20 people. Now that Chef Daisuke has made his way to Maki, a restaurant everyone holds dear to their hearts, he would like to introduce more contemporary dishes, but in a traditional way. “I would try a twist, but not too far away, to show that I’m Japanese, [that] this is traditional but with a little twist. If I twist too much you wouldn’t know what this dish is,” he says.
What makes Maki special, we believe as well as Chef Daisuke, is the maki rolls culture. Along with the staff, who have been working there for more than ten years, and with their skills, they know how to make the best maki rolls out there. Maki’s menu is full of options that will appeal to anyone lunching or dining at one of their locations. One look at the menu, and you’ll find several specialized categories for maki, from Nori (seaweed) Maki, Mame (soy bean) Maki, to Ume (plum) Maki and the delicious servings of Olive and Tomato Wrap, which includes our personal favorite dish, Athari Maki. A new line that has also been added on the menu is the Shiso Taquitos.
Some of Chef Daisuke’s favorite dishes are the ones that include these two key ingredients, tofu and soya bean. The Cold Tofu Salad for example, as well as the Miso Shiitake Kale Soup are two dishes worth giving a try, if you still haven’t! Another dish that’s been recentley created is the Lena Maki, which is surprisingly plant based. Chef Daisuke believes that one of the most important things at Maki is to keep the consistency on the quality of the dishes they serve flawless. “So many who often come to the restaurant, I’m sure they’re looking for more consistency,” he says.
When we asked Chef Daisuke about the most challenging thing he’s encountered since he came to Kuwait, he smiled and said that everything is challenging. “Chef life is always challenging, that is the exciting [part] of the chef life, the challenge strengthens you, so that’s good for me.”
Now, what are you waiting for?! Grab your keys, and go for a visit to Maki. Re-experience the joy of eating at Maki all over again, or be enlightened by the unique flavors that Chef Daisuke will surely serve.
Maki has four locations in Kuwait – The M2 in Salhiya (2247 9720); The Avenues (2259 7120), Marina Waves (2576 3226) and Burj Jassem, (2290 1010). Visit www.olivemaki.com for more information, call 182 3080 for delivery. Watch the innovation on Instagram @Makirest and Facebook at MakiRestaurant. Featured image by bazaar Studios.
