DK Publishing
Acquires First Book
From “Iron Chef”
NEW YORK, NY/5/22/06DK Publishing, international publisher of illustrated trade books, announced that it has acquired the first book from famed chef, Masaharu Morimoto. The title, Morimoto, will be released in September 2007. Morimoto is represented by Kim Witherspoon of Inkwell Management.
“Morimoto represents the very best of what’s exciting in culinary books today,” says Carl Raymond, DK’s Publishing Director, who acquired the title, “his work is rooted in Japanese cuisine but he often adds the unexpected ingredient from the Western world to create a whole new, balanced and dramatic taste.” In addition to over 120 recipes, Morimoto is a fully-illustrated look at the chef’s personal culinary journey and his unique philosophy of Japanese cuisine. Morimoto’s trademark style-a seamless and inspired integration of Western and Japanese ingredients-will be reflected in the design, organization and philosophy of his eponymous book.
Morimoto studied his craft for seven years at an acclaimed traditional sushi and Kaiseki restaurant in Hiroshima. At age 24, he opened his own ambitious restaurant nearby, focusing on melding Eastern and Western culinary sensibilities. After a remarkably successful five-year tenure, the young chef sold his restaurant in order to travel the U.S. and further expand his repertoire. Lured by the excitement of New York’s City’s thriving restaurant scene, in 1985 Morimoto abandoned plans to continue his travels around the country, deciding instead to settle in Manhattan.
As word quickly spread about Morimoto’s talents, Chef Nobu Matsuhisu recruited Morimoto to open Nobu restaurant in 1994, where he eventually became executive chef. In 2001, he opened his first Morimoto restaurant in Philadelphia’s Old City neighborhood. Since 1998, Morimoto has combined his passion for cuisine, competition, and performance as Iron Chef on the wildly popular Japanese television show, Iron Chef. He also appears on the Food Network’s Iron Chef America. In January 2006, Morimoto opened his first restaurant in New York City. Morimoto will be the chef’s first official book, and DK plans to publish it in fall 2007.
Penguin Group (USA) Inc. is the U.S. member of the internationally renowned Penguin Group. Penguin Group (USA) is one of the leading U.S. adult and children’s trade book publishers, owning a wide range of imprints and trademarks, including Berkley Books, Dutton, Frederick Warne, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, Grosset & Dunlap, New American Library, Penguin Books, The Penguin Press, Philomel, Plume, Puffin, Riverhead Books and Viking, among others. The Penguin Group ( http://www.penguin.com/) is part of Pearson plc, the international media company.
