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Uchi

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Uchi is a contemporary Japanese sushi restaurant located in Austin, Texas[1] which opened in 2003. The Japanese word "Uchi" translates to "house" in English, and the 2700 square-foot space is a refurbished home[2]. Owner and chef[3] Tyson Cole's menu consists of hot and cool tastings, sushi and sashimi , makimono, yakimono and tempura, and a changing omakase based on seasonal items. Diners regard the cuisine as non-traditional[1]

Uchiko

Uchiko, translated "child of Uchi" is Tyson Cole's second restaurant. The menu features Uchi's style of cuisine. Uchiko opened in July 2010, in Austin, Texas, with Paul Qui serving as executive chef[4].

Reviews and Features

Uchi's unprecedented success in a city more known for barbecue and brews than stylized fine dining has garnered the restaurant rave reviews from Texas Monthly[5], Fearless Critic[6], GQ Online City Guide[7], The New York Times[8], Southern Living[9], and Southern Accents magazine[10]. Articles about chef and owner Tyson Cole have been featured in The Wall Street Journal[11], Saveur[12], Oxford American[13], Tribeza magazine[14], Austinist[4], Austin Monthly Magazine[15], and Food & Wine Magazine [16].

Uchiko Reviews and Features

Uchiko opened in July 2010 and has already garnered high praise and attention. The restaurant has been mentioned in the Houston Chronicle[17], Nation's Restaurant News[18], Austin Business Journal[19], Austin American-Statesman[20], and Texas Monthly[21].

Biographies

Tyson Cole - Owner and Chef

Owner of Uchi and Uchiko, Chef Cole is an American sushi master. Named one of the Top 10 “Best New Chefs” in 2005 by Food & Wine Magazine[22], he led a team of Uchi chefs against Chef Masaharu Morimoto on the Food Network program Iron Chef America in March 2008[23]. He has also been named a semifinalist in 2008[24], 2009[25], 2010[26] for the James Beard Foundation Award in the category “Best Chef: Southwest”.

Paul Qui - Executive Chef, Uchiko

Chef Qui started working at Uchi in 2004—as an intern for free. His talents were quickly recognized and he rose through the ranks to become Chef de Cuisine at Uchi and now executive chef of Uchiko[27].

Philip Speer - Executive Pastry Chef

Chef Speer has been baking professionally since he was 17 years old and continues to perfect his technique at Uchi. He has won and been nominated for countless awards, including a semifinalist nomination in 2010 for a James Beard Foundation Award[28] for Outstanding Pastry Chef. He appeared as a judge on the Food Network show Throwdown! with Bobby Flay as well as competing on Iron Chef America as a part of Chef Tyson Cole’s team[29].

June Rodil - Beverage Director

A Philippines native who quickly rose in her career from server to beverage director, was awarded “Texas Best Sommelier” by the Texas Sommelier Association and Food Foundation of Texas in 2009[30]. She now serves as the beverage director of Uchi and Uchiko.

Health inspection scores

The City of Austin's heath inspection of Uchi on November 5, 2009 resulted in a score of 78. (100 indicates no violations; 70 or below is failing.)[31]

Awards

Cole, the staff, and the restaurant itself have racked up nemerous accolades since opening their doors for business. Notable awards for the company include

  • Rare Magazine – Best Fine Dining June 2010[32]
  • Rare Magazine – Best Service 2009, 2010[33]
  • Rare Magazine – Best Sushi 2008-2010[34]
  • Bon Appétit Magazine – Top Ten Sushi Spots April 2009[35]
  • The Fearless Critic – Best Restaurant in Austin 2008, 2010[36]
  • Players Club Magazine – Best Sushi in North America, #3 June 2008[37]
  • Zagat Guide – Best Food in Austin 2008-2010[38]
  • Houston Chronicle - Top Restaurants in Texas[39]
  • Austin Business Journal – Best Chef August 2007[40]
  • Austin American Statesman XL – Five-star review May 2007
  • Austin Chronicle reader’s poll Favorite Restaurant in Austin 2006-2010[41]
  • Austin Chronicle reader’s poll Best Sushi 2004-2010[42]
  • Austin Chronicle reader’s poll Best Chef 2005-2010[43]
  • Texas Monthly – Best New Restaurants in Texas February 2004[44]

References

  1. ^ a b Ranicki, Carla (November 2004). "Austin Power: Restaurant News". Retrieved July 7, 2010.
  2. ^ Frommers (2010). "Reviews and Ratings of Restaurants in Austin". New York Times. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  3. ^ D, Darcie (April 3, 2009). "Interview: Tyson Cole of Uchi". Retrieved July 7, 2010.
  4. ^ a b Joseph, Jaye (April 13, 2010). "Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival Interview: Tyson Cole of Uchi and Uchiko". Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  5. ^ http://uchiaustin.com/images/stories/press/2010_uchi_TexasMonthly-reviews.pdf
  6. ^ Goldstein, Robin (2008). "Incredibly, the fish and fusion at the best restaurant in town are still getting better". Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  7. ^ http://www.gq.com/food-travel/city-guides/austin
  8. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/indexes/2009/09/27/style/t/index.html#pageName=27austinw
  9. ^ http://www.southernliving.com/travel/south-west/things-to-do-in-austin-texas-00400000048735/
  10. ^ http://uchiaustin.com/images/stories/press/2009_uchi_SouthernAccents.pdf
  11. ^ http://uchiaustin.com/images/stories/press/2009_uchi_WSJ.pdf
  12. ^ http://www.saveur.com/article/Our-Favorite-Foods/6-Texas-Tastemakers
  13. ^ http://www.oxfordamerican.org/articles/2010/apr/05/great-white-hope/
  14. ^ http://www.tribeza.com/features/190.html
  15. ^ http://uchiaustin.com/images/stories/press/2008_uchi_AustinMonthly-Aug.pdf
  16. ^ http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/austin-power-restaurant-news
  17. ^ http://blogs.chron.com/forkandcork/2010/06/austins_uchiko_to_open_july_6_1.html
  18. ^ http://www.nrn.com/article/chefs-move-hendrix-mceachern-good-van-aken-cole
  19. ^ http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2010/08/09/story12.html
  20. ^ http://www.statesman.com/life/uchikos-key-player-767327.html?cxtype=ynews_rss
  21. ^ http://www.texasmonthly.com/blogs/eatmywords/?p=413
  22. ^ http://www.foodandwine.com/best_new_chefs/tyson-cole
  23. ^ http://www.foodnetwork.com/iron-chef-america/morimoto-vs-cole/index.html
  24. ^ http://www.jamesbeard.org/files/2008_semifinalists.pdf
  25. ^ http://www.jamesbeard.org/files/2009_JBF_RESTAURANTCHEF_AWARD_SEMIFINALISTS.pdf
  26. ^ http://www.jamesbeard.org/files/2010_SEMIFINALISTS_FINAL.pdf
  27. ^ Joseph, Jaye (April 13, 2010). "Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival Interview: Tyson Cole of Uchi and Uchiko". Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  28. ^ http://www.jamesbeard.org/files/2010_SEMIFINALISTS_FINAL.pdf
  29. ^ http://www.winefoodfoundation.org/intro/135-jei-grimes-sweeps-3rd-annual-pastry-competition
  30. ^ http://dobianchi.com/2009/09/09/super-texans-tasting-texas-with-the-austin-dream-team/
  31. ^ "Restaurant Inspection Scores". Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department. 2002.
  32. ^ http://issuu.com/raremagazine/docs/june2010/1
  33. ^ http://issuu.com/raremagazine/docs/june2010/1
  34. ^ http://issuu.com/raremagazine/docs/june2010/1
  35. ^ http://www.bonappetit.com/magazine/2009/04/our_favorite_sushi_spots
  36. ^ http://www.fearlesscritic.com/austin
  37. ^ http://uchiaustin.com/images/stories/press/2008_uchi_PlayersClub.pdf
  38. ^ http://www.zagat.com/About/Index.aspx?menu=PR105
  39. ^ http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2008_4523319
  40. ^ http://austin.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2007/08/27/focus6.html
  41. ^ http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Guides/Location?GuideLevel=Food&oid=oid:163503
  42. ^ http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Guides/Location?GuideLevel=Food&oid=oid:163503
  43. ^ http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Guides/Location?GuideLevel=Food&oid=oid:163503
  44. ^ http://www.texasmonthly.com/preview/2004-02-01/feature3