Miami Restaurateur Alvaro Perez Miranda Appointed Goodwill Ambassador for Japanese Cuisine
On Tuesday, February 28, 2023, Japan’s Consul General Kazuhiro Nakai will award Miami restaurateur Alvaro Perez Miranda the title of “Goodwill Ambassador for Japanese Cuisine,” an appointment that recognizes the work of professionals who promote the knowledge and dissemination of Japanese culinary culture abroad. Perez Miranda, the Venezuelan restaurateur and art dealer behind the much-acclaimed Hiyakaya and Wabi Sabi, is the first Latino in the U.S.. to receive this recognition.
“I am honored to receive this order from the Japanese government,” says Perez Miranda. “My passion for Japanese culture is what drives my work and the authenticity of Japanese cuisine is the main element in my restaurants. We cater to consumers that seek quality over quantity; our food is prepared with genuine sensai, a delicate balance of freshness and simplicity.”
Perez Miranda, who lived in Japan for 15 years, has been promoting the allure of Japanese food in Miami since 2018, when he debuted Wabi Sabi on NE 79th street, an eatery with an upscale menu of sushi, fast-casual donburi (Japanese bowl meals) and omakase platters. His fine-dining spot Hiyakaya, opened its doors in 2020 in Wynwood, a restaurant designed as an art installation with a beautiful dining room and wood ceiling decorated in curved wooden arches. At Perez Miranda’s concepts, master sushi chefs Masayuki Komatsu, Hiro Asano, and Tomo Inoue work with an array of seafood brought daily from Tokyo’s famed Toyosu fish market to craft genuine Japanese dishes with expertise and precision.
Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) has been nominating Goodwill Ambassadors for Japanese Cuisine since 2015. The list of past nominees include chef David Bouley and Michelin-starred chef Yoshihiro Murata, as well as Nobu chain’s chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa.
Through his ambassadorship, Perez Miranda will continue promoting Japanese cuisine and food culture in the United States. His Wabi Sabi’s sister restaurant Midorie just debuted in Coconut Grove and his omakase eatery Ogawa in Little Riveris slated to debut in Miami this year,
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Restaurateur and art dealer Alvaro Perez Miranda is the owner of Japan Authentic Food Systems and the Black Ship Art Gallery. Born in Venezuela, Perez Miranda lived in Tokyo for 15 years and has overseen more than 70 gastronomical projects throughout his career. He presently showcases his love for art and authentic Japanese cuisine at his Miami restaurants, the Edomae-style Hiyakawa in Wynwood and fast-casual concepts Wabi Sabi on NE 79th street. Perez Miranda will be debuting two new concepts in 2023, Midorie in Coconut Grove and the upcoming omakase eatery Ogawa in Little River.