Episode 59

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Published on:

11th Nov 2024

From Kiwi Roots to Tokyo Kitchens: Chef Lindsay Gray's Journey

Lindsay Gray, Executive Chef at the Tokyo American Club, shares his culinary journey from New Zealand to Japan. Lindsay discusses his initial struggles and eventual appreciation for traditional Japanese dishes like Mozuku. He also talks about the challenges and rewards of managing a diverse kitchen in Japan, his approach to incorporating New Zealand ingredients into his menus, and tips for aspiring chefs looking to work in Japan. 

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In this episode you’ll hear:

  • How Lindsay came to be a chef in Japan and working his way into and to the top of the Tokyo American Club
  • Highlights of his cooking adventures here including cooking for baseball legend Hideki Matsui
  • Lindsay’s predictions for the future of food and beverage 
  • Lindsay’s tips for working in the F&B industry in Japan

About Lindsay

Welcome to Lindsay Gray who is the resident Kiwi and Executive Chef at the Tokyo American Club. Lindsay is an experienced executive chef with a demonstrated history of working in the hospitality industry in New Zealand and Japan. 

Lindsay studied at AIT in New Zealand and got the opportunity to work at the Four Seasons Regent Hotel in Auckland in his early days on an apprenticeship and it was there that his interest in Japan started. 

Lindsay has a strong operational background as a professional skilled in Catering, Menu Engineering, Food & Beverage, Concept Development, and P&L management experience is a particular strength. 

Lindsay lives by his motto that “Your hobby is your job”.

Links

Tanakada http://tanakada.net/tanakada/index.php 

Torigin https://torigin-ginza.jp/eng/ 

New Torigin http://www.tokyogalaxy.ac.jp/en/japanese-culture/new-torigin-ginza 

Kushimura https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g14129735-d1661911-Reviews-Kushimura-Roppongi_Minato_Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.html 

Jandals in Japan is brought to you by Catherine O’Connell Law and PodLaunch with Jayne


Connect with Jayne and Catherine

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jandals-in-japan-podcast/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jandalsinjapan/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jandalsinjapan 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jandalsinjapan 

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About the Podcast

Jandals in Japan
Bringing The Land of the Long White Cloud to The Land of the Rising Sun
The best show about New Zealanders doing business in Japan, bringing The Land of the Long White Cloud to The Land of the Rising Sun
How do you build a brand in Japan and nurture a loyal customer base?
What do you need to have in your tool belt if you are thinking of coming to Japan to launch a business here?
Japan is often considered to be in the "too hard" basket but we are here to open up the black box of doing business in Japan.
We will share stories from successful Kiwis selling their products and services here in Japan.
They'll tell you their tips for success and pitfalls to avoid.
They'll share their challenges and what they did to overcome them.
They will tell you things you can't find in textbooks or on the internet.
We will also be sharing the latest intel and insights on Japan from our on-the-ground presence
And you'll hear some super business culture and other tips from us sprinkled throughout.
Grab a glass of sake and let's get into it.
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About your hosts

Jayne Nakata

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Jayne Nakata is a Southland girl who arrived in Japan in 2002, planning to stay just two years. 20 years later she is still living in Fukushima Prefecture with her Japanese husband and two children. When the triple disaster hit in 2011, Jayne made the commitment to stay in Fukushima and contribute to rebuilding the area. She is the host of the award winning podcast Transformations with Jayne, which is a favourite with international women living in Japan. She is also the double award winning podcast producer and manager for PodLaunch with Jayne.

Catherine O’Connell

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Originally from Christchurch, Catherine O'Connell has lived in Japan since 2002. Catherine has over 20 years working at brand-name Japanese corporations as legal counsel. In 2018, Catherine launched her own boutique law firm in Tokyo, which has become become a multi-award-winning business. She is Vice Chair of the Australian & New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan, Audit & Supervisory Board Member at TOYOTA Motor Corporation & FUJITSU Limited. As well as the Jandals in Japan Podcast, she hosts the award-winning Lawyer on Air Podcast.