Why We Need More Omakase Creators
Make what you want to make and play your part in shaping the ecology of desire
The Japansese tradition of omakase is now one of my favorite dining experiences. My wife introduced me to it in New York City just a few years ago—it was one of those moments when she looks at me like, “Oh you poor thing, I sometimes forget you didn’t grow up near a big city.” (She’s from Jersey, I’m from Michigan. I lived most of my life oblivious that these kinds of wonderful things exist.)
The word comes from the Japanese word 任せる (makaseru), which means “to entrust.” When you go to a fine omakase place, you tell the chef: “I'll leave it up to you. Serve me what you believe is the absolute best thing I could experience tonight.” It’s not cheap, but that’s partly because here in the U.S. we’re paying for the transportation costs of having fresh fish flown in from faraway places like Japan. That’s why Claire and I usually reserve our Omakase dinners for whe…