“…because I love Rome.” This statement alone is enough to describe in just a few words the philosophy of Chef Koji Nakai and the cuisine of his restaurant “Nakai” in Rome.
I didn’t expect to find, just a few steps from the Vatican, such an interesting fusion of Japanese and Roman cuisine. It is a wonderful experience, one worth repeating: moving from “Open Your Mind” (an outstanding meatball filled with octopus ragù, coconut milk cream and topped with aonori and katsuobushi) to a tempura zucchini flower stuffed with cacio e pepe, passing through a ceviche and, why not, a “Japanese-style” carbonara with cod roe and crispy guanciale. On paper it may sound like heresy to a Roman, but it is a delight to enjoy from the very first bite.
Koji’s Roman spirit is unmistakable, and I would say he succeeds in conveying, through his dishes, both his love for Rome and his deep respect for ingredients and tradition. Venturing into a carbonara with fish roe is no easy task, but it seems clear that easy challenges are not really Koji’s style.
Clear ideas that are reflected in the dishes. Clear ideas also when it comes to wine pairings. Nakai offers a more than interesting wine list. Whether it is wine or sake, Koji likes to speak of “complete flavor” to best express the desire to achieve the perfect harmony, on the palate, between food and wine.
Not the usual Japanese restaurant. Quite the opposite.
An experience worth trying. A proposal rooted in Japanese culinary techniques, in a deep knowledge of fish, in the impeccable aesthetics of every dish that leaves the kitchen, in the curiosity to integrate Italian ingredients, and in Koji’s great creative flair.
A truly wonderful surprise.
www.nakairoma.com
