Akio Kon, an Akita, Japan native and acclaimed sushi chef, is bringing an autumn sushi dinner to Ellen’s on Front in Greenport.
Starting Oct. 16, Kon will host two seatings — one at 5 p.m. and the other at 7 p.m. — for 10 guests every Thursday.
Jennie Werts, Ellen’s on Front executive chef, and owner Andrew Werts welcomed Kon in with open arms.
“I’m very happy to do this at their beautiful restaurant and in the heart of Greenport where I reside and fish,” says Kon. “I like the chi here, so I feel very comfortable and I think the guests will feel the good energy too.”
The menu will feature Peconic Bay scallops, Montauk tuna, Atlantic salmon and loads of other local ingredients.
“As a professional fisherman, I want to provide guests with as much locally caught fish and seafood as I possibly can,” says Kon.
In his most recent role, Kon was the sushi mastermind and executive chef at Stirling Sake in Greenport until 2020. He has brought omakase and sushi dinners to Jedediah Hawkins Inn, Little Creek Oyster Farm & Market and select North Fork wineries.
“My passion for fishing is what brought me to Greenport originally,” says Kon. “I had just moved from Peru to New York City in 1992 to work for a Japanese restaurant and one of the chefs there told me that fishing was good in Greenport. So, whenever I came out here, I would stay at the Silver Sands Motel and go fishing with the locals.”
His training started at 15 years old when, in the pursuit of becoming a commercial fisherman, he became assistant to the chef on a fishing vessel in Japan. From there, he fulfilled his career dreams while also mastering Japanese cuisine.
Kon then served as executive sushi chef at Matsue, a popular Japanese restaurant in Peru, and years later taught Japanese cuisine to chefs in Panama for another restaurant under the same brand.
Before moving to the East End in 2015, he had a nearly two-decade-long career on an elite team of sushi chefs in New York City.
He’s looking forward to this new endeavor, and is most excited “to be able to show guests that local fish and seafood make the freshest sashimi and sushi you can get; I’m also looking forward to seeing all my fishing buddies and sushi enthusiasts too.”
To make a reservation, call 631-333-2743 or email [email protected].
