VANCOUVER — Chef Masayoshi Baba has been appointed to consulting head sushi chef at The Lobby Lounge & RawBar at Fairmont Pacific Rim. He will lead the culinary direction of a signature Omakase sushi and nigari program launching next month.
Chef Masayoshi has spent the last 20 years in kitchens across Japan and B.C., specializing in Japanese cuisines and using his culture’s cooking techniques across multicultural fare. In Japan, he began his culinary journey training as an apprentice in restaurants in Yamaguchi and Fukuoka perfectures, where he learned the art of preparing fugu. At the age of 25, he moved to Canada.
In 2015, chef Masayoshi opened his own namesake restaurant in Vancouver, where he has been leading the city’s sushi culture. The restaurant serves exclusively nigirizushi and was named one of Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants and featured on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants Discovery list.
“We are thrilled to have Masayoshi consult with our team at Fairmont Pacific Rim,” says Jens Moesker, regional vice-president and general manager, Fairmont Pacific Rim. “Masayoshi is at the forefront of the city’s sushi scene and we’re honoured to have the opportunity to learn from him and incorporate his techniques and artistry to provide guests with an exceptional culinary experience at The Lobby Lounge and RawBar.”