Razor-sharp

MITSUNOBU NAGAE • l’abeille

WORK • Tuesday Routine

MITSUNOBU NAGAE • executive chef & co-owner • l’abeille
Neighborhood you work in: Tribeca
Neighborhood you live in: Battery Park

It’s Tuesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
Our French-Japanese fine dining restaurant, l’abeille, is open Tuesday through Saturday, so my work week begins on Tuesday. I usually start the morning by walking through the quiet restaurant to make sure everything is in order inside and outside of the kitchen, followed by a freshly brewed cup of coffee to kick off the day.

What’s on the agenda for today?
Today, I’ll check our reservations and meet with my sous chef to go over the week’s prep and any trials for new seasonal tasting menu items we’ve been developing. It’s a good moment to align on the big picture before service ramps up.

Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
This weekend, I’m planning to visit Hirohisa, a Japanese restaurant in Soho. On Sunday afternoon, I’ll stop by Lysée in Flatiron to pick up some sweets, perfect for satisfying my sugar cravings. I’d also like to wrap up the day with a Japanese-inspired cocktail at Bar Moga on West Houston.

What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
I recently bought a knife from my favorite Japanese knife maker, Takamura. It’s a beautiful piece, razor-sharp and a joy to work with in the kitchen.

What NYC store or service do you love to recommend?
For kitchen tools, I recommend browsing the Korin NYC showroom in Tribeca, and further uptown, JB Prince and MTC Kitchen NYC. They’re all great spots for finding high-quality restaurant and home cooking gear here in the city.

Where are you donating your time or money?
City Harvest, NYC’s first and largest food rescue organizations working to eliminate hunger in the city.