YUKIO HATTORI, founding member

Is a household name in Japan where he is considered to be the leading authority on Japanese food. In fact – he is credited with first introducing major chefs like Ferran Adrià to the delights of Japanese ingredients (wasabi, miso, etc.). His career is prolific. As well as presenting the popular TV show Iron Chef (which is also huge in the US), he is the head of Tokyo’s biggest cookery school, Ecole de Cuisine et Nutrition Hattori (and the fifth generation in his family to hold the post). Yukio is also Director of Toyko Taste. His personal mission is to reintroduce the dying art of cooking in the home (and passing down family recipes) in a modern world addicted to unhealthy, processed foods. This extends to campaigning to get better food for hospital patients, advising chefs on how to use more natural ingredients, and even improving space food for astronauts.