Acclaimed Japanese chef Natsuko Shijo, of the popular Shibuka bakeshop Ete, has made history as the first Japanese chef to win the prestigious title of Asia's Best Female Chef in 2022. Shoji took the accolade at the recent Asia's 50 Best Restaurants awards having been lauded by renowned chefs around the world for some time now for her work blending fashion, seasonality and gastronomy.
Shoji cut her teeth training under Hiroyasu Kawate of Florilege before taking a bold leap out on her own, at the young age of just 24, opening her own restaurant Ete in the centre of Tokyo in 2014. This intimate six-seater restaurant and cake laboratory gave Shoji the time and space to develop her own style and showcase her eye-catching pastry dishes. As a reward for her hard work and growing notoriety, Shijo was awarded Asia's Best Pastry Chef in 2020.
Find out more about Natsuko Shijo on her Instagram here.
Image credit - www.theworlds50best.com