Akira Back

Akira Back is a Las Vegas chef of Korean heritage and former professional snowboarder.cite web | last = Womack | first = Jeremy | title = The Light Group’s Chef Akira Back Battles on Iron Chef America | date = 2008-03-13 | url = http://www.jeremywomack.com/2008/03/iron-chef-akira-back-vs-bobby-flay.html | accessdate = 2008-03-17 ] Back appeared on an episode of the television show Iron Chef America in 2008, battling Bobby Flay. [cite web | title = TV: Iron Chef America: Flay vs. Back: Food Network | publisher = [http://www.foodnetwork.com FoodNetwork.com] | url = http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_ia/episode/0,1976,FOOD_16696_55852,00.html | accessdate = 2008-03-17 ] Back was executive chef of Nobu Matsuhisa's namesake restaurant in Aspen, Colorado until assuming the position of executive chef at Yellowtail Restaurant & Bar at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada,cite news | last = Stonington | first = Joel | title = Local man ready to throw down on 'Iron Chef' | publisher = [http://www.aspentimes.com The Aspen Times] | date = 2007-09-07 | url = http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20070907/NEWS/70906006 | accessdate = 2008-03-17 ] which is scheduled to open in Summer 2008.cite press release | title = Yellowtail Sushi Restaurant & Bar to Offer Unparalleled Dining Experience in Modern and Luxurious Atmosphere | publisher = [http://www.yahoo.biz Yahoo! Finance] | date = 2008-02-20 | url = http://biz.yahoo.com/iw/080220/0364007.html | accessdate = 2008-03-17 ] He has also trained under Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto.

Biography

Early life

Back is a native Korean who moved to Carbondale, Colorado with his family when he was 15 years old. He attended Colorado Rocky Mountain School and became involved in snowboarding, traveling internationally and appearing in the publications Transworld Snowboarding and Snowboard Magazine. After sustaining injuries from snowboarding, including four shoulder separations, he decided it was time for a career change. He has also said that the lack of money earned from snowboarding influenced his decision to begin training as a chef and pursuing a culinary career.

Culinary career

Back began his training as a second chef at Kenichi Restaurant in Aspen, Colorado; he later helped open other locations in Austin, Texas and Kona, Hawaii. He then traveled throughout Japan and Europe, training with chefs Brian Nagao and Masaharu Morimoto. He returned to Aspen in 2004, where he became executive chef of Nobu Matsuhisa's restaurant Matsuhisa.

Back was approached by Las Vegas' Light Group to open the Yellowtail Restaurant & Bar at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino. Back has been working on menu development for the restaurant since April 2007; the restaurant is scheduled to open in Summer 2008.

Iron Chef

During the 2006 Food & Wine Magazine Classic in Aspen, a producer of Iron Chef America approached Back after tasting a menu that Back had presented. Back immediately agreed to appear on Iron Chef America, saying that he loves the show and "grew up with it". On an episode that aired March 16, 2008, he lost to Bobby Flay in a spinach battle, although the judges rated Back's plating as superior. [cite episode | title = Iron Chef - Akira Back vs Bobby Flay | episodelink = | series = Iron Chef America | serieslink = Iron Chef America | airdate = 2008-03-17 | season = 6 | number = 81 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.kenichirestaurants.com/ Kenichi Restaurants]
* [http://www.bellagio.com/ Bellagio Hotel and Casino]
* [http://www.lightgroup.com/ Light Group]