CHEF SŌREI SHIBATA BRINGS “THE BLUE COUNTER” TO NYC

A Private Omakase Encounter | Memorial Day Weekend

THE MYSTIQUE OF SŌREI

For the first time in New York City, Chef Sōrei Shibata—the reclusive omakase master known for his elemental approach and ritualistic precision—will host an exclusive, weekend culinary experience at the Sushi Suite 1001 – Nomad NYC

Born in the remote coastal town of Wajima, on Japan’s rugged Noto Peninsula, Chef Shibata was raised in a family of fishermen and lacquerware artisans. His culinary philosophy was shaped by the rhythm of tides, the silence of stone markets at dawn, and a reverence for ingredients pulled directly from sea and soil.

His given name, Sōrei—meaning blue ritual—reflects the ephemeral nature of his work: a ceremony of fleeting perfection, never to be repeated.

THE EXPERIENCE

This event is not open to the public. Only four guests per evening will be welcomed into an intimate, candle-lit dining room where Chef Sōrei Shibata will serve a 15-course progression of seasonal preparations drawn from his hometown waters and reimagined for the New York palate ending with an interpretation of his famous “Blue Ritual” signature dish.

Each piece is crafted and served by the chef himself, which aims to create an experience that blends aspects of his past, present, and future.

Featured Selections

Unagi no Kintsugi- Wild-caught eel from Mikawa Bay Hamachi no Tsukiage – Line-Caught yellowtail from coastal waters near Kochi Shinkai no Sōrei – Blue Ritual

INVITATION ONLY

Attendance is by private invitation only.

Guests selected for this experience should come dressed in elegant comfortable attire. Notes of blue will add to the experience.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime exchange between chef and guest.

ABOUT CHEF SHIBATA

Operating a hidden, six-seat sushi counter in a repurposed boathouse on the remote coast of Wajima, Chef Sōrei Shibata has quietly cultivated a devoted following among artists, poets, and culinary purists. His venue, known only among select circles as “The Blue Counter”, is not listed on maps or websites—its name whispered among those who have sat before him in silence, without menus or music, as the sea laps quietly just beyond the sliding doors.

The counter itself is hewn from a single slab of weathered hinoki, tinted over time by salt air and the light of countless twilight services. It is here that Shibata perfected his ”Blue Ritual”—a marriage of fish, rice, and fire—crafted not for fame, but for fleeting perfection.

This New York appearance marks his only international engagement to date—a momentary flicker of presence in a life defined by quiet precision and deep devotion.

“What disappears, reveals.” —Chef Sōrei Shibata