New documentary lifts lid on one of the biggest celebrity chefs in the world

Some names carry pretty huge cachet in the culinary world. Nobu is certainly one of those, with its blend of Japanese and Peruvian cuisine contributing to its trailblazer status when its first restaurant opened in New York in 1994.

The restaurant and subsequent brand was spawned by Nobu Matsuhisa’s friendship and partnership with Robert De Niro, and the rest is history.

The Nobu brand is a joint venture between the eponymous chef and the Raging Bull star (Theo Wargo / Staff/Getty Images)

To explore and celebrate the story behind one of the world’s most venerated chefs and the restaurants that bear his name, a new documentary simply entitled Nobu is releasing in New York on June 27th, with a release to the rest of the US, the UK and elsewhere slated for early July.

The film, directed by Matt Tyrnauer, includes reams of rare footage and interviews of Matsuhisa as it details his early life, career, setbacks, and his relationship with De Niro.

Its trailer opens with the line: “If you would ask people today, ‘Who is the emperor of Japan?’ they won’t know his name. But everybody knows Nobu.”

Apologies to the emperor of Japan, but it rings true to these ears.

As the film details a profound peeling back of the curtain, it’s remarkable to hear how such rampant mastery, success and celebrity has been defined by rising from failure and, quite literally, the ashes.

A fire broke out at one of his early restaurants, with daughter Junko Matsuhisa saying: ““He really hit the lowest of the low.”

Nobu concurs: “At that moment, I thought, ‘All my dreams have completely crumbled’.”

It seems that De Niro’s influence proved pivotal. The decorated star of Taxi Driver, The Godfather Part Two, and Meet the Fockers held such belief in the chef that he served as a springboard for his success.

“His food was so special,” said De Niro. “I told Nobu, ‘If you ever want to open a restaurant in New York, let me know.”

It’s an in-depth documentary that runs for almost a full two hours and delves beyond the surface to explore Nobu’s philosophies in life and the culinary world.

Nobu Matsuhisa is one of the world's most celebrated chefs (Earl Gibson III/GG2025 / Contributor/Getty Images)

A reservation at Nobu soon became a status symbol, with footage from the trailer showing the likes of George Clooney, Tom Cruise, and Ophrah Winfrey paying visits.

“He’s serving the most famous people on the planet,” says a newscaster recording played over the footage. “His restaurant is always booked, months in advance.”

If you have any love for the world of cooking – and we’d have to presume you do if you’ve found yourself on FOODBible – be sure to check out Nobu in cinemas this summer.