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CHEF KEVIN CORY

Chef of Japanese Cuisine

BIOGRAPHY  |  INTERVIEWS  |  PRESS

At the age of 19, Kevin Cory started to learn Japanese Cuisine from Executive Chef, Nobuo Kase.  Nobuo Kase was experienced in Kyoto, the former capital of Japan where Kaiseki Ryori, the most sophisticated of Japanese cuisine is found.

Due to uncontrollable circumstances, Kevin Cory and his first mentor, Nobuo Kase were unable to continue together, which initially seemed unfortunate.

Kevin Cory:  I was truly forced to figure things out by myself, yet remained on a path to express each ingredient's characteristics and the balance of a dish as a whole.  During the first several years as an inexperienced chef to have confronted many challenges without an experienced instructor and to have only followed an inherited philosophy became invaluable.

After several years of self study, Kevin Cory traveled to Toyama, Japan to be reunited with his Uncle and next mentor, Yasushi Naoe, Executive Chef of Kawai Ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn with a reservation-only Kaiseki restaurant and formal tea ceremony since 1851, and used Rosanjin pottery from the museum for very special occasions.  Yasushi Naoe first worked as an itamae (head chef) in 1954 at the revered Asadaya Ryokan.

Kevin Cory: I cannot even begin to explain the tremendous amount of respect I have for him.. But to try; with 45 years of experience and at 64 years young, my Uncle would wake up, do sit-ups, dumbbell arm curls, twisting, stretching, etc.  He would make us breakfast and then speed-walk to Kawai Ryokan, the hotel.  Once we arrived, he worked at an intense pace with incredible precision and passion.  After the lunch shift, he loved to ride his bicycle and let me mention, Toyama means Rich with Mountains.

Later we would return for the Kaiseki dinner reservations.  His passion would continue to keep him running and sliding all around the kitchen and then speed walk back home to do more sit-ups, dumbbell arm curls, twisting, stretching, etc and then go to sleep.  This repeated daily.

To have witnessed my Uncle's quality of life, passion as a chef, knowledge and talent was an honor and a tremendous inspiration.

Yasushi Naoe and Kevin Cory cycling in the mountains of Toyama, Japan

(above:  Yasushi Naoe and Kevin Cory stop on a small plateau in Toyama)

 

After returning from Japan, Kevin Cory aimed to take the most challenged sushi bar, Siam River and transform it into Miami's best. Of course first Kevin Cory had to earn the owners' respect to attempt such a dramatic transformation. In late 2001, Siam River remodeled their sushi bar and allowed Kevin Cory to take control.

Kevin Cory: The timing to prove myself in Miami could not have been any better or more difficult, due to the biggest sushi names in the country, Nobu, Bond Street, and Sushi Samba had opened in Miami at this same time. There could be no excuses to have bullied a weak market which made my mission to earn critics' respect even more exciting.

From Valentine's Day of 2002, Kevin Cory started the home printing of his all fresh dated daily Sushi A La Carte menu with signature dishes and 8 sake categories to be placed only on the sushi bar. Sushi-aficionados soon gathered for what was considered, Miami's best kept secret. Unfortunately, without having any previous positive momentum, transforming a negative image with zero advertising, zero public relations, being inside of an unstylish Thai restaurant thats in an out of the way location, the dramatic transformation did not immediately hit The Miami New Times. Siam River was not recognized as The Miami New Times' Best of Miami for 2003.

After the disappointment, Kevin Cory emailed The Miami New Times an invitation to experience the difference of his sushi and was not replied to. Several months later, The Miami New Times food critic, Pamela Robin Brandt anonymously dined at Siam River's sushi bar and wrote a Feature story in The Miami New Times December 25 - 31, 2003 issue, "Some Serious Sushi".

 

December 26, 2003;  The Miami Herald Weekend "Micro Rave" review of Kevin Cory is written by Hal and Nancy Berritt.

 

February 2004;  Siam River was 1 of 4 restaurants nominated for the category of Best Local Restaurant in The South Beach Wine & Food Festival's First Annual Award Ceremony, hosted by Emeril Lagasse.

 

May 2004;  The Miami New Times Best of Miami 2004 Best Sushi was awarded to Siam River.

 

May 2004;  The Miami New Times awarded two Chefs with a Best of Miami 2004 Personal Best:

        KEVIN CORY                  NORMAN VAN AKEN 
for                                        for 
~ FINEST FOODS ~               ~ RESTAURANTS ~ 

 

February 27, 2005;  Kevin Cory with Siam River participated in The South Beach Wine & Food Festival as a Grand Tasting Restaurant and prepared:

"Simmered Live Manilla Clams with Homemade Rice Bran-Pickled Daikon, Salt-Pickled Apricot and Shiso Leaf rolled in Blanched Fresh Wakame with Seaweed Jelly on top"

 

May 2005;  The Miami New Times Best of Miami 2005 Best Sushi was awarded to Siam River.

 

November 20, 2005;  Kevin Cory participated in the Consulate General of Japan in Miami's 2005 Kagoshima Festival for a cooking demonstration of Sushi and Kaiseki Ryori.

 

December 9, 2005;  The City of Miami Mayor, Manuel A. Diaz and Commission Chair, Joe Sanchez presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Kevin Cory to pay tribute for creative involvement in promoting social and cultural exchanges between the peoples of Kagoshima and Miami.

 

 

 

 

AIMING TO OPEN NAOE

 

 

Our corporation name, Kamakura comes from Japan's ancient capital with a famed avenue of cherry trees still leading to its symbolic shrine, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu where Kevin Cory's family's Nichiei Sake is offered to the Gods.

Kiyoshi Naoe and Koko Naoe at the Omiki entrance at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, Kamakura looking at our relatve's sake cask, Nichiei sake from Nakamura Shuzou

[above: Kevin Cory's Aunts, Kiyoshi Naoe (left) and Koko Naoe (right) are admiring our family's Nichiei Sake omiki お神酒 (divine sake offerings to the Gods) at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu. Photo by Kevin Cory 1999.]

 

January 2006;  Kevin Cory applied to the USPTO to register trademarks for NAOE restaurant services, sauces, and "IT'S NOT FRESH IT'S ALIVE".

July 2006;  Kevin Cory traveled to Kanazawa, Japan to reunite with family and discuss the opening of his first restaurant, NAOE.

Kevin Cory at Yamanoo Ryokan, Kanazawa

(above: Kevin Cory at Yamanoo Ryokan, Kanazawa)

 

February 25, 2007;  Kevin Cory participated in the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival as a Grand Tasting Restaurant for NAOE and prepared:

"Nichiei Sake-Fermented Caribbean Spiny Lobster with Granddad's Corn-Soy Bridge paired with Poached Local Quail Egg on Fresh Kyuri topped with Unfiltered Shoyu-Tomalley-Miso"

 

April 2007;  Our lease attempt to open a 2,000 square feet restaurant at 16218-24 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles Beach was canceled due to City parking issue.

 

September 2008;   Our lease attempt to open a 400 square feet space at 333 W 47th Street, Miami Beach was canceled due to City garbage issue.

 

 

 

 

NAOE OPENS

 

 

March 19, 2009;  During the trough of the Great Recession, an exciting new era had begun with the quiet opening of NAOE at 175 Sunny Isles Boulevard. Kevin Cory: Unfortunately, we had discovered that a deal for eminent domain was made within 30 days after opening. But we kept the hardships a secret and persisted to stay focused on this long awaited opportunity to respectfully prove ourselves.

Kevin Cory continued his mission to uphold the unparalleled authenticity of professional Japanese cuisine, but in his own unique way by mixing high quality Japanese products and local produce with daily trips to local farms and fishing boats to ensure:

 

its not fresh... its Alive. ®

Chef Kevin Cory behind the open kitchen wood counter at NAOE.

 

April 26, 2009;  Food For Thought Miami food writer, Frodnesor first reviewed NAOE.

 

May 20, 2009;  The Miami New Times restaurant critic and multiple IACP award winner, Lee Klein emailed Kevin Cory to ask the meaning of the kanji characters that are part of NAOE's logo and blogged it in The Story of Naoe.

 

May 21, 2009;  The Miami New Times restaurant critic, Lee Klein reviewed NAOE:

"The chef's bento box is perhaps the best American restaurant value since David Chang debuted Momofuku in New York."

 

June 22, 2009;  Gastrolust food writer, Jay Friedman reviewed NAOE:

"unlike anything I’ve experienced in Seattle.  In fact, you’d probably have to hunt carefully to enjoy such an experience in Tokyo."

 

July 2009;  NAOE becomes eligible for OpenTable Diners' Choice and voted in Miami - Dade County as:

Fit For Foodies Restaurants - #1

Best Overall Restaurants - #1

Best Food Restaurants - #1

 

July 16, 2009;  The Miami Herald restaurant critic, Victoria Pesce Elliot reviewed NAOE:

"Miami's most serious sushi shrine"

"(matcha snapper) had the shocking depth of flavor that makes dining here a revelation."

"thrilling and almost embarrassingly affordable experience"

"Cory's style is his own -- and one that Miami should be grateful to enjoy."

 

August 2009;  OpenTable Diners' Choice for Miami - Dade County voted NAOE as Best Service Restaurants - #1.

 

October | November 2009;  City & Shore Magazine rated NAOE in TOP 10 NEW RESTAURANTS by Jan Norris.

 

October 10, 2009;  yelpers rated NAOE as Best of yelp Miami Japanese Restaurants, Highest Rated - #1.

 

October 10, 2009;  yelpers rated NAOE as Best of yelp Miami Sushi, Highest Rated - #1.

 

Fall/Winter 2009;  Toyota Connections Magazine - Take a Bigger Bite of Japan:

Toyota Magazine

Sugiyama, New York

KAI, New York

NAOE, Miami

Makoto, Washington D.C.

Shiro's Sushi, Seattle

 

 

October 2009;  Zagat Survey debuted NAOE without ratings in ZAGAT America's Top Restaurants 2010.

 

November 2009;  Gayot critic, Pamela Robin Brandt selected NAOE in Miami, Florida 72-Hour Vacation:

"this year's hottest insider pick is tiny NAOE"

 

December 2009;  Florida Trend selected NAOE for Best Newcomers.

 

December 28, 2009;  UrbanDaddy selected NAOE for a year ending Oh, Nine  |  Everything That Was Important in 2009  |  Miami:

"the dining scene's most exciting newcomer."

 

January 1, 2010;  Food For Thought Miami selected NAOE in A List For the New Year as Most Unexpected Discovery:

"There is, quite simply, nothing else like it in Miami."

 

January 1, 2010;  Gastrolust selected NAOE in Top 10 Seattle (and beyond) restaurant experiences of 2009:

"It’s better than any Japanese food I’ve had in Seattle."

 

January 10, 2010;   yelpers rated NAOE as Best of yelp Miami Restaurants, Highest Rated - #1.

 

January 2010;  Gayot rated NAOE - TWO TOQUES.

"always comparable in quality to those in New York or Japan's best"

 

January 2010;  Gayot selected NAOE for:

- Top 10 Heart-Healthy Restaurants in the United States - #1 (TIE)

- Best Heart-Healthy Restaurants Miami - #1 (TIE)

- Miami/South Florida Hot 10 -

 

March 2010:  Gayot selected NAOE for Top 10 Japanese Restaurants in Miami / South Florida - #1.

 

 

 

 

NAOE - SECOND YEAR

 

 

March 19, 2010;  NAOE celebrates its First Year Anniversary!

 

April 2010;  NBC Miami Feast Rank formulated NAOE as Top Ranked #1 restaurant in Miami.

 

May 2010; OpenTable Diners' Choice for All Miami / Southeast Florida voted NAOE as:

Fit For Foodies Restaurants - #1

Best Overall Restaurants - #1

Best Food Restaurants - #1

Best Service Restaurants - #1

 

May 2010;  Gayot selected NAOE for Top 10 Late Night Restaurants in Miami / South Florida - #1

 

June 17, 2010;  The Miami New Times Best of Miami 2010 Best Japanese Restaurant was awarded to NAOE.

 

August 31, 2010;  Frommer's Florida 2011 by Lesley Abravanel rated NAOE 3/3 stars.

 

September 22, 2010;  Frommer's South Florida by Lesley Abravanel selected NAOE as Best Sushi.

 

October 1, 2010;  eHow selected NAOE in Most Exclusive Restaurants in Miami.

 

November 10, 2010;  Miami's Restaurant Power Rankings rated NAOE 20.0 - #1 each week for the past year.

 

November 16, 2010;   The 2011 Forbes (f.k.a. Mobil) Travel Guide rated NAOE Four Stars, a great honor placing NAOE in the Top 3 Japanese Restaurants in North America including Sugiyama, NY and Masa, NY.

Forbes Travel Guide Four Star Award 2011

 

 

December 2010;  Florida Trend selected NAOE for the Golden Spoon Award.

Florida Trend Golden Spoon Award NAOE Miami

 

December 16, 2010;  OpenTable Diners' Choice 2010 Annual Awards voted NAOE as Top 50 Restaurants in the United States.

 

December 29, 2010;  Eaters Dish on Their Single Best Meal of '10:

 

"NAOE, every time. Let's just say I've digested more cod milt than a female cod."

- Ryan Roman, Digester-in-Chief, Miami Restaurant Power Rankings

 

"NAOE--Bento Box that included cod sperm sack.

I've finally come to grips with that experience so I can talk about it."

- LAX2MIA

 

 

February 28, 2011;  OpenTable Diners' Choice 2011 Annual Awards voted NAOE as Top 50 Best Service Restaurants in the United States.

 

 

 

 

NAOE - THIRD YEAR

 

 

August 2, 2011;  Tishman & Speyer signed a lease with NAOE to relocate to 661 Brickell Key Drive, Miami in 2012.

 

September 12, 2011;  Kevin Cory traveled to Manhattan to reunite with relative Nakamura Brewery president, Taro Nakamura for a sake tasting at the Warwick New York Hotel and to discuss the upcoming relocation of NAOE to Brickell Key.

Taro Nakamura, Kevin Cory and Kal Cory at a sake tasting in the Warwick New York Hotel

(above: Taro Nakamura, Kevin and Kal Cory at the Warwick New York Hotel sake tasting)

 

 

September 25, 2011;  TripAdvisor members rated NAOE - #1 of 18 restaurants in Sunny Isles Beach, FL.

 

October 25, 2011;  Fodor's South Florida 2012 selected NAOE for their top recommendation, Fodor's Choice Award.

 

November 1, 2011;  Zagat Survey debuts NAOE with a rating of 29/30 and a place in ZAGAT 2012 America's Top Restaurants.

 

November 15, 2011;  The 2012 Forbes Travel Guide rated NAOE Four Stars, a great honor placing NAOE in the Top 4 Japanese Restaurants in North America including Sugiyama NY, Masa NY and Shaboo (by Masa NY) Las Vegas.

Forbes Travel Guide Four Star Award 2012

 

 

December 13, 2011;  OpenTable diners voted NAOE in the Top 100 Restaurants in the USA of 2011.

 

December 31, 2011;  NAOE was forced to close 175 Sunny Isles Boulevard location due to eminent domain.

 

February 16, 2012;  Eater National selected NAOE in Nine Exceptional Omakase Menus Across the US.

 

March 5, 2012;  Food & Wine nominated Kevin Cory for The People's Best New Chef 2012.

 

 

 

 

NAOE RELOCATES TO BRICKELL KEY

 

 

April 17, 2012;  By great coincidence upon an intense delay to immediately recommence, the first night that NAOE could reopen was exactly one year after Kevin Cory's uncle, Yasushi Naoe had passed away. Kevin Cory: ...It was as if he blessed the start of our new era here...

 

August 2012;  Yelpers rate NAOE Five Stars upon One Hundred (100) reviews.

 

October 2012;  Chefs Feed elite contributing chefs Michael Schwartz and Norman Van Aken recommend NAOE as one of the "Best Things to Eat in Miami".

 

November 6, 2012;  Zagat 2013 Miami rated NAOE as Food 29/30 (#1) and Service 28/30 (#1).

 

December 2012;  Florida Trend magazine selected NAOE for the Golden Spoon Awards 2012.

 

December 2012;  Travel + Leisure selected NAOE in the Best Sushi Restaurants in the U.S.

 

December 12, 2012;  OpenTable diners voted NAOE in the Best Restaurants in the United States of 2012.

 

February 26, 2013;  NAOE became one of only twenty-eight (28) restaurants in the world to receive
the highest honor in hospitality, the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award.

Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award 2013

Forbes Travel Guide Awards at the Montage Beverly Hills

(above: 2/26/2013, NAOE staff attend the 2013 Forbes Travel Guide Annual Ratings Announcement held at the Montage, Beverly Hills)

 

Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award recipients at the Hotel Bel-Air, Beverly Hills

(above: 2/27/2013, NAOE staff attend the celebration honoring the 2013 Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award recipients at the Hotel Bel-Air, Beverly Hills)

 

 

March 1, 2013;  Forbes Travel Guide interview of Kevin Cory in Miami Now Home To Five-Star Sushi Master.

 

 

March 5, 2013;  OpenTable reveal Top 100 Best Service Restaurants in the United States and highlight
the Top 10 Honorees for Hospitality with NAOE ranked at # 3 out of more than 15,000 restaurants.

 

March 6, 2013;  Miami New Times Short Order features NAOE as #1 in Five Restaurants With the Best Service in Miami.

 

March 25, 2013;  Miami New Times Short Order features Kevin Cory as #1 in Miami's Top Ten Chefs.

 

April 12, 2013;  "The most important Spanish language newspaper globally, with more than 75M readers", ElMundo (Spain) Metropoli features NAOE in NAOE, Una Joya Japonesa Escondida en Miami.

 

 

 

 

NAOE - FIFTH YEAR

 

 

May 24, 2013;  Miami New Times Short Order features Kevin Cory in Tastemakers.

Chef Kevin Cory Miami New Times Tastemakers

 

June 5, 2013;  Kevin Cory traveled to Japan to give gratitude to those who greatly helped inspire NAOE restaurant which recently achieved the revered Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award.

Kevin Cory: I could not accept this special award and then not share it with my family who deeply inspired me.  So I bought 4 extra plaques to give one to my mom and then carry the other three across Japan for my late chef uncle Yasushi's wife, Kiyoshi Naoe, the president of Naogen Shoyu, Shigeyuki Naoe and the president of Nakamura Shuzou, Taro Nakamura.

Giving the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award plaque to my aunt, Kiyoshi Naoe was one of the greatest moments of my life.  She was very honored that I had came all the way to Japan to personally give this to her, very sad that my recently late uncle, Yasushi couldn't be present and very proud that he's still living on through me.

Kiyoshi Naoe reading about Forbes Travel Guide's history and interview with Kevin Cory

Kiyoshi Naoe was gifted NAOE restaurant's first Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award by Kevin Cory

Kiyoshi Naoe holding the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award next to a picture of Yasushi Naoe

(above left: Kiyoshi Naoe reading about Forbes Travel Guide's history and interview with Kevin Cory before receiving the surprise award plaque in Chiba, Tokyo.)

Yukiko Naoe, Juntaro, Kevin Cory and Shigeyuki Naoe at Naogen Shoyu in Oono, Kanazawa

(above: Yukiko Naoe, Naoe san, Kevin Cory and Shigeyuki Naoe at Naogen Shoyu in Oono, Kanazawa.)

Kevin Cory and Taro Nakamura with Ohi pottery gifts in Kanazawa

(above: Kevin Cory and Taro Nakamura with Ohi pottery gifts in Kanazawa.)

Kevin Cory, Yurine Nakamura, Shigeyuki Naoe, Taro Nakamura and Junichiro Naoe at Tempura Koizumi, Kanazawa

(above: Kevin Cory, Yurine Nakamura, Shigeyuki Naoe, Taro Nakamura and Junichiro Naoe at Tempura Koizumi in Kata-machi, Kanazawa.)

Junichiro Naoe, Taro Nakamura, Yurine Nakamura, Kevin Cory and Shigeyuki Naoe at Bar Hitoha in Kazue-machi, Kanazawa

(above: Junichiro Naoe, Taro Nakamura, Yurine Nakamura, Kevin Cory and Shigeyuki Naoe at Bar Hitoha in Kazue-machi, Kanazawa.)

June 11, 2013;  Miami New Times selected Kevin Cory as Best Sushi Chef 2013.

 

August 5, 2013;  Zagat features N by NAOE (aka N Shabu Shabu) in Foodie Bucket List, including Sukiyabashi Jiro (Tokyo), Takazawa (Tokyo), and Kikunoi (Kyoto).

 

November 1, 2013;  Louis Vuitton features NAOE in their new Louis Vuitton City Guide Miami 2014.

"This is sushi as a near-religious experience."

 

 

January 22, 2014;  NAOE receives the highest honor in hospitality, the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award for the second consecutive year.

Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award 2014

Forbes Travel Guide Awards celebration event in the Aria Resort, Las Vegas

Celebrating the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Awards at the Aria Sky Suites, Las Vegas

(above: January 22 & 23, 2014, NAOE staff attend the celebration honoring the recipients of the 2014 Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award at the Aria Sky Suites, Las Vegas)

 

January 28, 2014;  Haute Living Magazine Top 5 Sushi Restaurants in Miami selects NAOE as #1.

 

 

 

 

NAOE - SIXTH YEAR

 

 

March 19, 2014;  NAOE celebrates it's 5th Year Anniversary with the a back-to-back Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award.

 

April 25, 2014;  Slow Food Miami selected NAOE for the Snail of Approval Award for contributing to the quality, authenticity and sustainability of the food we eat in Miami.

 

 

April 28, 2014;  Sun Sentinel selects NAOE in Top 11 South Florida Restaurants.

 

June 30, 2014;  NAOE quietly opens the communal table, N by NAOE.
A very special thanks to master wood craftsmen Brad Christie, Chris and Victor.

 

July 1, 2014;  Andrew Zimmern tweets @lesleyabravanel "I love NAOE. This sounds cool too"

 

July 7, 2014;  Forbes Travel Guide features N by NAOE in A Miami Sushi Master Takes Lunch To A New Level.

 

September 9, 2014;   José Andrés tweets @naoemiami.

José Andrés @chefjoseandres: come'n FOOD critics, bloggers, food editors give it the statue and importance it deserves! @naoemiami is beyond good 7:29 PM - Sep 9, 2014 - Twitter for iPhone

 

 

October 2014;  Gayot awards NAOE with 3 TOQUES, as "a cultural and culinary revelation".

Gayot 3 ToquesGayot 3 ToquesGayot 3 Toques

 

 

December 2014;  Florida Trend selected NAOE for the Golden Spoon Award and N by NAOE for Best New Restaurants.

 

February 11, 2015;  NAOE receives the highest honor in hospitality, the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award for the third consecutive year.

Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award 2015

Forbes Travel Guide ~ 2015 Awards ~ Celebrating the Extraordinary sand castle at the Ritz Carlton, Naples

(above: February 11 & 12, 2015, NAOE staff attend the celebration honoring the recipients of
the 2015 Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award at the Ritz Carlton, Naples)

 

February 17, 2015;  Miami Herald features Kevin Cory in South Florida Food 50.

 

 

 

 

NAOE - SEVENTH YEAR

 

 

March 23, 2015;  NAOE supplied tennis superstar Kei Nishikori, ranked 4th in the world with his favorite fish, nodoguro for JACCS commercial filmed in Sarasota, Florida by Clip Pictures.   

 

 

April 30, 2015;  Gayot honors NAOE as one of the 2015 Top 40 Restaurants in the United States.

Gayot Top 40 Restaurants in the United States 2015

 

 

June 16, 2015;  The Miami New Times Best of Miami 2015 Best Japanese Restaurant is awarded to N by NAOE.

 

June 23, 2015;  Forbes Travel Guide features Kevin Cory in A Five-Star Sushi Master's Guide To Japanese Cuisine.

Forbes Travel Guide link to interview with Chef Kevin Cory, A Five-Star Sushi Master's Guide to Japanese Cuisine

 

 

September 21, 2015;  Ferran Adrià hosted the first ever Estrella Damm Gastronomy Congress in the US at Miami Culinary Institute in Downtown Miami about The Changing Face of Modern Gastronomy:

Estrella Damm Gastronomy Congress, The Changing Face of Modern Gastronomy ٭ with Ferran Adria

Translation:

"..many, many of the 3-star Michelin (small business model) that are like that, like Naoe here. Like that one there a many other like it in Japan. Surely is the best business in Miami.

It is fantastic. I was there the other time.. One of the best Japanese restaurants that I have been to outside of Japan, in the world.

I don't know if you are conscious of the place that you have here. Naoe. One of the best Japanese restaurants. It is authentic, authentic.

Now, there are a great business but the Chef is always there."

- Ferran Adrià

 

 

October 13, 2015;  The Daily Meal features NAOE in The 35 Best Sushi Bars in America.

 

October 19, 2015;  Time Out features NAOE in The 21 Best Sushi Restaurants in America.

 

October 27, 2015;  Ferran Adrià mentions NAOE in his interview for Lunch with Lydia, a special to the Miami Herald:

 

"The Japanese restaurant Naoe is one of the very best in the world outside of Japan."

 

 

November 30, 2015;  Lesley Abravanel tweets @naoemiami "Kevin Cory transforms NAOE sibling into N Shabu Shabu":

"Organic wagyu--real beef from Japan, not 'Kobe-style,' etc" and the menu features "whichever vegetables, preferably organic, I can get at the moment that are great for shabu shabu. Later we'll use most, if not all local and organic." Cory is currently in talks with Paradise Farms who may start harvesting exclusively for him in early January for things "that aren't being grown down here," he says. "I shouldn't have to buy stuff from California when there are already so many farms down here."

Also on the menu are Cory's good friend Johnathan Wakefield's JWB beers. "He used to sit in front of me at the sushi bar way back, since like 2000. I love how dedicated he is to being true to his craft. No extracts, using organic, local. If he wants mango beer, he's cutting 1,000 pounds of mangos himself." Cory says he just connected the beer tower and should be receiving the brews this week. 

JWB Jonathan Wakefiled Brewing

 

 

December 12, 2015;  La Liste debuts on TIME with NAOE ranked among Best Restaurants in the World.
NAOE ranked in the Top 3 Japanese Restaurants in the United States.

La Liste

Time

 

 

February 22, 2016;  Forbes Travel Guide announces their 2016 star ratings. The new list includes the first star-rated properties in Paris, the French Riviera, Rome, Florence, Geneva, England’s Home Counties, Berlin, Bermuda, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Grand Cayman, Nevis, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, St. Martin, Cancun, San Miguel de Allende, Ixtapa, Zihuatanejo, Los Cabos, Iguazu Falls, Hangzhou and Taipei. NAOE is one of only three Japanese restaurants in the world to earn the highest honor in hospitality, the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award.

Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award 2016

 

 

 

 

NAOE - - EIGHTH YEAR

 

 

Kevin Cory serves Nichiei AD sake in Ohi pottery (pitcher made by Toshio Ohi, gifted by Nakamura Brewery president, Taro Nakamura) to Naogen soy sauce president, Junichiro Naoe.  Photo by Manami Naoe.

[above: March 24, 2016, Kevin Cory serves Nichiei AD sake in Ohi pottery (made by friend Toshio Ohi and gifted by Nakamura Brewery president, Taro Nakamura) to Naogen soy sauce president, Junichiro Naoe. Photo by Manami Naoe.]

 

Fast-foward to the future on March 14, 2024;  Kevin Cory: I just had a revelation about this memory (above). It was the start of our 8th year.. Junichiro Naoe is the 8th generation president of Naogen Shoyu.. I poured Junichiro-san sake from the Ohi-yaki sake pitcher gifted by our cousin, Taro Nakamura, the 8th generation president of Nakamura Brewery.. Six of our family, including Hachiya Naoe flew in to visit my mom and I = 8.. Hachiya-san's kanji is 八弥. 八 means 8.. Before covid, we used to serve only 8 guests.. The date was March 24 [(3/24) 24/3 = 8].. This hits me 8 years later now and it's March 2024 [(3/'24) '24/3 = 8.

Right after I realized this, I went outside to my mailbox, and my next door neighbor of several years was walking by. Our families are always very friendly in every passing, but hadn't ever socialized. This time though, right as we crossed paths, my neighbor said, 'I know you now! You used to work at Kampai (1993)!' (I was like, wuhhhh?? I did work there.. That was the first place I made sushi.) He continued, 'I used to work there too. You were making sushi and I was a busboy!' That bleww myy mind.. And on top of that, after I went inside, I realized, we've been neighbors for 8 years..

 

 

The 2016 Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Awards at the Four Seasons, Vancouver

(above: April 13 & 14, 2016, NAOE staff attend the celebration honoring
the 2016 Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award recipients at the Four Seasons, Vancouver)

 

 

July 21, 2016;  Gayot honors NAOE as one of the 2016 Top 40 Restaurants in the United States.

Gayot Top 40 Restaurants in the United States 2016

 

 

August 18, 2016;  PureWow honors NAOE as one of The 15 Best Sushi Spots in America.

 

December 12, 2016;  We Love Japanese Food selects NAOE as one of the 15 Best Sushi Restaurants in the U.S.

 

February 22, 2017;  NAOE receives the highest honor in hospitality, the 2017 Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award for the fifth consecutive year. NAOE is 1 of only 2 Japanese restaurants in the US and 1 of only 62 restaurants worldwide to achieve the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award.

Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award 2017

Central Park view of the Pierre Hotel for the 2017 Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Awards

(above: 3/1/2017, NAOE staff attend the celebration honoring the 2017 Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award recipients at The Pierre Hotel, New York)

 

The St. Regis Hotel entrance off 5th Ave, New York City for the 2017 Forbes Travel Guide All-Star Celebration

(above: 3/2/2017, NAOE staff attend the 2017 Forbes Travel Guide Annual All-Star Celebration held at the St. Regis, New York)

 

Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Pocantico, New York

(above: 3/3/2017, NAOE staff finishes their celebration in New York with an increible dining experience at Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Pocantico)

 

 

 

 

NAOE - NINTH YEAR

 

 

March 24, 2017;  Bravo features NAOE in 10 World-Class Sushi Restaurants to Add to Your Travel Bucket List.

 

May 1, 2017;  Bloomberg features NAOE in Nine of the World's Best Tiny Restaurants.

 

December 1, 2017;  Florida Trend inducts NAOE into the Golden Spoon Awards Hall of Fame.

Florida Trend Golden Spoon Award Hall of Fame

 

 

December 14, 2017;  Gayot honors NAOE as one of the Top 40 Restaurants in the US 2017.

 

December 15, 2017;  Saori Kawano, Founder & President of Korin (est. 1982) visits NAOE to present Chef Kevin Cory with the new Korin Knife Catalog vol. 6, upon its release, featuring chef Kevin Cory and celebrating 35 years.

KORIN Knife Catalog volume 6

35 YEARS SPECIAL EDITION

FEATURE  |  CATALOG  |  FULL INTERVIEW

 

 

 

 

NAOE - X - A NEW DECADE

 

 

January 20, 2019;  Friend and artist from Kanazawa, Toshio Ohi visits NAOE!

As Kevin Cory has been serving on Ohi pottery over the years, it was an exciting honor to actually serve Toshio Ohi on pottery made by Toshio Ohi and his father, Toyasai Ohi (Chozaemon X), recipient of the Order of Culture. Ohi-ware, which has a history of over 350 years, is hand-twisted without using a potter's wheel, and is characterized by its candy glaze.

Kevin Cory serving sushi to Toshio Ohi on pottery made by Toshio Ohi at NAOE Miami

Toshio Ohi and Kevin Cory at NAOE Miami

Toshi Ohi dining on pottery made by Toshio Ohi at NAOE Miami

 

 

 

 

 

 

COVID-19

 

 

March 17, 2020;  Due to COVID-19, Miami-Dade County ordered emergency closures, just before our 10th year anniversary on March 19, 2020... Upon the "reopening" (a great misnomer) months later, NAOE was required to reduce maximum capacity to only 2 to 4 guests (one party maximum) per seating, as the 6-feet spacing between tables rule was infeasible and the counter was considered 1 table.. Meanwhile, the family sake supply had dried up due to major supply chain issues (April 2020 to June 2023). However with extreme luck, NAOE was able to adjust to survive.

 

 

 

 

5 SEATS · 5 STARS · 5 DIAMONDS

 

 

After covid restrictions (6-feet spacing rule) ended, NAOE continued to only serve the 5-seat counter, but at 100%. Kevin Cory: I didn't think it's possible to only serve the counter, but actually it was always on my mind for certain improvements since the inception. To make such a change during inconsistent product availability and skyrocketing inflation was rough, but we were forced to, and made the best of it.

2022;  NAOE Completes A Decade of Ten Consecutive Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Awards, becoming the first ever in the history of Miami.

Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award 2022

 

 

2022;  NAOE became 1 of only 64 Restaurants in North America and the only restaurant in Miami to receive the revered AAA Five Diamond Designation, as well a AAA Inspector's Best of Five Diamond. "Best Of Diamonds stand out from other AAA Diamond hotels and restaurants at their same Diamond Designation level by scoring in the top 20% for their category, from simple to spectacular."

AAA Five Diamond Designation NAOE Miami

 

 

2023;  NAOE was rated 88.50 by La Liste, a group convened by the France's Foriegn Minister and supported by the country's tourism board that placed NAOE into the top five Japanese restaruants in the United States, along with Masa, Sushi Noz, Yoshino, and Odo.

La Liste, the world's best restaurant selection

 

 

 

 

 

 

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