___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Chotto Matte
“ Our Bite Into series is one of the developments I am most excited about. It is a new travel, adventure, and food format we’ ve created with Fifth Taste Films, set to launch in January. We have already filmed 15 episodes where we have cameras following us for 14 hours a day into some pretty unusual situations; eventually, there is nowhere to hide,” Kurt elaborates.“ We have been out on fishing boats pulling in the catch, going into caves and mountains to understand where ingredients come from, riding motorbikes and generally finding ourselves well outside our comfort zones. It’ s cinematic, entertaining, and very human. For the first time, people are going to get to know the personalities behind Chotto Matte in a completely different way.”
As Chotto Matte looks ahead to the next 12 months, its immediate focus remains on its Sydney restaurant, which is scheduled to open in November 2026. In tandem, 2027 is set to be another dynamic year for the business with the launch of the Bite Into series, alongside continuing to develop its international pipeline.
“ Chotto Matte opened its doors in 2013, at a time when Nikkei cuisine was virtually unheard of in many of the markets we were operating in. The fact that we are still here 13 years later, growing internationally and still talking passionately about Nikkei cuisine, is something I am incredibly proud of,” Kurt emphasizes, concluding our conversation optimistic for the future.
“ None of that happens without people. We have had extraordinary support over the years from our suppliers, our partners, our friends and families, our teams and, most importantly, our guests. I am enormously grateful for the loyalty they have shown both to me and to Chotto Matte.
“ There are still markets around the world where Nikkei cuisine is relatively undiscovered, and that makes the future incredibly exciting for us. Hopefully we will be doing this for many years to come, creating great experiences and memories for the next generation of Nikkei lovers.” ■
www. chotto-matte. com
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