As the owner, head chef, and mastermind behind her restaurant n/naka, Chef Niki Nakayama serves up coveted kaiseki dinners, a structured multi-course meal that emphasizes seasonality and extreme technical prowess. Niki truly straddles the line of tradition and innovation, sourcing local ingredients and employing centuries-old techniques. And she just may be the only woman in the world who does it. But while Niki is the master of her kitchen and craft, getting here was a struggle. In this episode, we tell the story of how she risked it all to launch her restaurant in one of the most cutthroat industries: food. And we learn that a commitment to your creative vision, even if it’s doing it the hard way, can sometimes take you to the top. The Venture is hosted by Ashley Milne-TyteThis episode features:Niki Nakayama, owner and head chef at n/naka restaurantCarole Iida-Nakayama, sous chef at n/naka restaurantBesha Rodell, restaurant critic at LA WeeklyEric Rath, history professor at The University of Kansas Special thanks to:Dan Allen, FarmscapeSarah Rathbone, Dock to Dish LATo learn more about The Venture, go to virginatlantic.com/theventureLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices