My Favorite Cigar
Masayoshi Takayama • Michelin-Starred Sushi Chef • Montecristo No. 2
Masa isn’t just another pricey New York City sushi counter—it’s the most expensive restaurant in the United States. Flying fish into the country from Japan a few times a week all but guarantees that a meal at this three-Michelin-star establishment won’t be cheap. The man behind the operation, Chef Masayoshi “Masa” Takayama, curates some of the tastiest marine life to swim the oceans and prepares it in ways that transcend the platitudes of typical sushi. This is a realm where skill, talent and creativity come together with artistry and precision. And cigars play a part.
Trained in Japan, Chef Masa first started smoking cigars in the 1990s when he opened his Beverly Hills restaurant. Some of his customers would offer him Cubans as a gesture of appreciation. He accepted and has been smoking cigars ever since. While Davidoff is his everyday cigar, Chef Masa’s favorites are Cuban Partagás and Montecristo, especially the No. 2. He lights something up almost every morning while devising his menu with a pencil and notepad. “I love the aroma and the taste. It’s relaxing, and my brain works very well when I smoke a cigar,” says the 70-year-old sushi master. “To me, food, drink and cigars are all one.”
