#423: SPOTLIGHT: Mike Lee

#423: Mike Lee

April 8, 2025

A Backbeat of Community

Question for Mike: 

Does one particular travel experience come to mind (whether travel for work or vacation) that had a substantial and LASTING impact on your life?

Mike's Response: 

Japan. I visited in 2008 for 15 days and that trip remains one of the most profound experiences ever. Having started a supperclub just a year earlier, cooking pop-up dinners for the public, the incredible food culture there deeply shaped how I cook and enjoy food, even today. The cuisine transformed my palate and techniques, but more significantly, the Japanese mindset of singular focus and relentless pursuit of perfection was the best gift I brought home.

What struck me was how few "jack of all trades" restaurants existed there. For yakitori, you visited places solely dedicated to it. Same for ramen or sushi. Unlike America, where restaurants typically offer wide selections, Japan housed thousands of single-focus establishments.

The prevailing chef mentality in Japan: focus on one thing and master it. This focused approach resulted in some of the best food I've ever experienced. While NYC has excellent Japanese food, in Japan, a $30 sushi bar in an alley rivals what might cost $300 in NYC. The floor for flavor in Japan matched the ceiling in NYC.

The weight gain—12 lbs in 15 days—was merely the physical manifestation of an inner transformation. Japan's culinary landscape didn't just feed my body; it nourished a conviction that would guide my professional life toward an unwavering focus on food.