Celebrity chef opening first Colorado restaurant in Vail

Celebrity chef Makoto Okuwa is adding Colorado to his lengthy culinary profile.

Okuwa, who has made several appearances on the Food Network’s “Iron Chef America” with his mentor Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, is opening his first Colorado restaurant, Makoto Vail, at the Grand Hyatt Vail for the upcoming 2023-24 ski season.

“Chef Makoto was looking for a place outside of his traditional locations, and the mountain setting was very unique,” said Kevin Shields, the hotel’s general manager. “We happened to throw our name out there, and told him we were looking for a signature chef.”

Okuwa, who learned to make sushi in Japan at the age of 15, began his culinary career in the United States 20 years ago, working for Sushi Taro, a former Michelin-star restaurant in Washington, D.C. Now, he owns several acclaimed restaurants around the world, like Love, Makoto, a food hall in D.C., ...