‘Not like sushi’: Celeb chef tries Aussie staple

World famous chef behind the popular Nobu empire had never tried this Aussie treat until now — and his verdict was surprising.

World famous chef Nobu Matsuhisa is on a tour of his Australian culinary empire.

He is the mastermind behind the globally celebrated Nobu restaurants, a contemporary Japanese fusion cuisine known to attract the likes of A-listers including Australia’s own Nicole Kidman, Taylor Swift, Sean Connery, the Kardashian-Jenners and his good friend of more than 30 years, Mark Wahlberg, who is also the country.

During a sit-down interview with news.com.au at his Nobu restaurant in Crown Sydney, the 75-year-old humbly opened up about his wild success over the past 40 years, the one celebrity who left him star struck and even taste-tested an Aussie staple.

Chef Nobu Matsuhisa is in Australia to visit his three restaurants at Crown Melbourne, Crown Perth and Crown Sydney. Picture: news.com.au

“Tim Tam? Oh yes, they’re very famous in Australia,” chef Nobu laughed. “I’ve never tried it before.”

We happened to have some ready for the chef to try and despite what his facial expression may suggest, he gave it the tick of approval.

“Texture is a little different, also crispy, you can taste the chocolate. It’s very good – not like sushi, but I love it, it’s very good,” he laughed.

Given how strict he is with his diet, which consists of fresh foods (including lots of sushi), Chef Nobu didn’t hesitate to try the Aussie treat.

We had to get him to try a TimTam after he said he’s never had one before. Picture: news.com.au

Safe to say, he liked it. Not as much as sushi though. Picture: news.com.au

He also didn’t object when we left him the entire pack of Tim Tams, which is always a good sign.

The internationally acclaimed chef, who was last in the country two years ago, is in Australia visiting his three restaurants located within Crown Resorts.

He will make a rare appearance at the popular “ultimate Gochisco lunch” on Saturday in Sydney with the offer continuing to run until August on Wednesday and Thursdays.

Chef Nobu will be putting on a sushi feast in what will undoubtedly be an unforgettable experience.

While he’s in Sydney, chef Nobu will host the “ultimate Gochisco lunch” on Saturday where he will be putting on a sushi feast for fans.

“We have restaurants in the United States and Europe. But Australia — I feel very comfortable here. The people are so nice, I don’t know why,” he laughed.

“(Australia) is a place very close to my heart and I love visiting my team and local suppliers.”

Chef Nobu boasted about our fresh seafood, particularly wild fish which he repeatedly praised.

“Especially with sushi, you need fresh fish and here, a lot of the produce is very fresh.”

Chef Nobu first opened Crown Melbourne in 2007, followed by Crown Perth in 2011 and Crown Sydney in December 2020.

His famous Black Cod Miso. Picture: Instagram/nobuaustralia

And one of his timeless classics – crispy rice with spicy tuna. Picture: Instagram/nobuaustralia

They make up his 52-strong restaurants around the world with his first — Matsushia — dating back to Beverly Hills in 1987.

He struck culinary gold with it as it quickly became a celebrity hot spot and attracted the attention of movie legend Robert De Niro, who would go on to become one of Nobu’s business partners.

Chef Nobu out the front of his first ever restaurant – Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills, which he opened in 1987. Picture: Instagram/therealnobu

“Ever since my first restaurant I like to try my best every day and in every moment,” he humbly as he spoke about his success.

“When Robert De Niro asked me to open the New York restaurant, which took about four to five years, we then opened London in 1997.

“Little by little it kept growing and finally in 2024 we have 52 restaurants.”

After emigrating to the US from Japan in the late ’70s, chef Nobu went on to build his high-end sushi empire, which has since garnered a cult-like following and numerous accolades for his culinary creations.

But, despite the endless celebrities and high-profile customers he meets, there’s one interaction he will never forget.

“I met Princess Diana before she had the car accident,” chef Nobu said.

“I cooked for her.”

During the private dinner at his restaurant, he introduced himself to the late Princess who made a comment that still leaves him in awe to recall.

“I said, ‘A pleasure to meet you Princess’ and she said, ‘Chef Nobu I know who you are, I know all your background story’ – and I was just so impressed,” he said.

A few weeks later when he was in New York, he learned she had passed away.

“Still the memory is so emotional.”

Chef Nobu was invited to cook privately for the Princess, saying he made her sushi, tempura and black cod.

Chef Nobu and Mark Wahlberg go way back. Picture: Jeremy Bembaron/Sygma/Sygma via Getty Images

“She liked it. She was so elegant, she had charisma, she was beautiful, smart and polite,” he said.

The chef also has a long friendship with actor Mark Wahlberg, saying since he arrived in the country, the duo have been texting non-stop.

“I’ve know him for more than 30 years. He is a very big celebrity but for me (I don’t know how he thinks abut me) but I never think ‘Oh he’s a celebrity’,” he said.

The renowned chef is looking forward to wining and dining the public over the weekend. During his stay, he will also work closely with his chefs and restaurant teams across all three locations conducting menu reviews and sharing his expertise on techniques and ingredients.

He said they are the backbone of Nobu’s success.

“(Australia) is a place very close to my heart and I love visiting my team and local suppliers,” he said.