Last week we received a note from owner Yuko Hayashi of ~IZAKAYA YUZUKI~ that their talented chef Takashi Saito is going to be taking a break from the kitchen; his last night was Saturday. His replacement is Kentaro Ikuta, whose parents had a restaurant in Osaka, where he was born. His cooking experience includes the 200-year-old Nada-man restaurant, and as executive chef at several Kappo and Japanese eateries in Osaka. Stateside, he has worked at Fuki Sushi (Palo Alto) and Sushi Sam’s Edomata in San Mateo. Ikuta observed during the transition, and his new menu will start developing in time.
Meanwhile, over at SABROSA in the Marina, chef Jose Ramos has left—Jose Lopez, with whom he has reportedly been co-cheffing with, will take over. Scoop reports Ramos has returned to NIDO in Oakland, acting as co-chef with owner Silvia McCollow, although he is on the hunt for his own location.
Hot sake service; photo by Rebecca Kinney. © tablehopper.com.
