Hawaii Restaurants: Exit Stage Left - Two Top Dog Chefs Bolt from Honolulu's Hottest Newish Eatery
Where: Oahu || Grouped in: Oahu Food || Tagged:
My friend John Heckathorn, editor of Hawaii Magazine, dropped a bombshell culinary scoop in his Sunday Honolulu Star-Bulletin gossip column when he disclosed that Chef Jon Matsubara and Pastry Chef Mark Okumura had left Stage Restaurant. When it opened to rave reviews, foodies privately wondered if it could survive in the more blue-collar orient millieu of Honolulu restaurants. Apparently they got their answer, as now the restaurant, which just turned one in April, appears to be on death watch. This is the second newish high-end restaurant to hit the rocks, after Chef Mavro's Cassis. This also puts the aspirations of celebrity chefdom for Matsubara and Okumura -- two of the best known Alan Wong's alums -- on hold. We know they can cook but here's the money quote.
"It was always a risk, doing designer cuisine," said Matsubara. He insists the parting was amicable. "It was a mutual decision to do it now, without giving time for things to get ugly."
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Comments
Jack Ikeda said:
I heard Jon got canned because he can’t cook at all. I think everyone in the industry knows that which is why he can’t find a job anywhere.
As for Stage the word around town has been the food & service is great since they got rid of Jon Matsubara.
I’m not to sure about Chef Mark Okumura.
—05/18/08
Rebecca Crawford said:
Explain to me why Stage did not win any awards this year under Deguzman? All of Stage’s awards were because of Jon’s cooking. All the rave reviews from the Star Bulletin, Honolulu Advertiser, Honolulu Magazine, Midweek and Honolulu Weekly (just to name a few) were because of Jon’s cooking. The service better be good with such few covers every night! You better check your facts, jack, before making such slanderous statements!
—10/13/08