Kamanza Nagashima

A husband and wife team run the kitchen at this Michelin-starred traditional restaurant in Kyoto, where they serve up one of the best traditional meals in the city. The husband is an experienced nutritionist, intimately familiar with the best meat and produce that Japan has to offer. He made the jump to cooking after teaching himself the craft from scratch, and now he and his wife hold a Michelin star for their efforts — a true self-made culinary power couple. Their unconventional path to greatness means that they feel free to break away from strict tradition, creating their own unique style of menu with touches like shaved ice served between some courses.