Honoring All The Senses

Notes from Chef Makai

Mar 14, 2025

Flavor:

I have had some great food moments in the last couple of weeks!

The Office of Mr. Moto, Omakase, is one of my all-time favorite styles of service. The act of creating small, thoughtful bites, a dedicated and meticulous chef, and limited seating are everything I hope for in a dining experience, and this team did not disappoint. I also had a gorgeous sake from Noguchi Naohiko Sake Institute, which was equally complex and smooth. A perfect dinner.

Everyone must know by now, but we at Laroot love family style and variety when it comes to a great meal. The team at Ayat, a Palestinian restaurant in Bushwick, did a great job of serving comforting and delicious bites that I shared with a friend. I also tried this peach Arabic soda, which reminded me of one of my favorite childhood treats!

Discovery:

I have been doing a deep dive into the science of some of our favorite ingredients and their history by revisiting a favorite reference read: Harold Mcgee's quintessential work “On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen”. This book has been in my collection since my culinary school days and is even more important now after years of experience to reconnect to the history of and best uses of some of our most commonly used ingredients.

Wellness:

I had the pleasure of joining Natasha and her family at her father's performance at Carnegie Hall. Wow. Music, like food, is just so good for the soul.

1. Her dad is an inspiration, pursuing his passion at 50 years and being on such a grand stage with soulful and moving compositions.

2. What we hear, like what we eat, is so important. I found myself comforted by the warm sounds and calming environment.

All of this is to say that wellness and what we ingest come in many forms. I left the show feeling full-on comfort music like I would comfort food and motivated to continue pursuing all my passions with my full heart.

There was also a phenomenal cellist named Kristina Reiko Cooper, who was just stunning and powerful. She commanded our attention in the most gentle way, and her playing was masterful.

Physically, I actually had a bit of discomfort and was fortunate to have a session with our dear friend and TCM advisor, Dr. Naria Diaz, for a session of acupuncture and health-centric conversations. This was my first full session, and I couldn't believe the effectiveness and rapid change in my condition. I can't recommend her or this enough! I was back in the kitchen and cooking up in no time.