Katsuya caught my attention after hearing a few locals raving over their sushi, After doing a bit of research I decided i’d give it a try. As we walked back towards the car from the Staples center I was so happy to see a Katsuya when I glanced to my left, we decided to pop-in a day in advance to scope out the scenery and make a reservation in person. At first glance you could tell that the restaurant was on the higher end and it was at that moment I realized that this would be the perfect space to shoot my launch video. I requested a menu to see if the items offered at the Hollywood location differed from the ones here, I received both a drink and dinner menu and felt a sense of excitement come over me as I envisioned myself flipping through the beautifully decorated book. "A gem" I thought as I grabbed it and looked it over.

The next morning I woke up with butterflies, anxiously awaiting 4pm. The thought that I was able to get an hour worth of shots in before the restaurant opened put my mind at ease a little, but as time went by I felt myself about to crawl out of my skin, "How will I perform", "Does my outfit look right", are the thoughts that ran through my mind making it harder and harder for me to go through with it. Once dressed, calm and at Katsuya in one-piece things seemed easier than expected. I knew then that I was placed where I was supposed to be, and doing exactly what I was put here to do. A sense of peace came over me as I snapped back to reality, an hour into directing, ordering, conversing and the guests started to pour in, celebrity guests (important lol) yet the staff remained helpful and focused on helping me finish my project ,something that I will forever be grateful for, that and this drink lol It's called geisha lips it marries Hennesy and Sake together in pool of pure perfection. I prefer a more juiced up drink, and this refreshment has definitely met my standards.

Its so easy to land on the wrong batch of sushi these days, I've been a victim so I know lol Which is why I wanted to be the judge of whether Katsuya's sushi lived up to my expectations. The ambiance wowed me while the drinks sat me down, but would the food live up to the reputation on this very busy day. One bite and bang The Lobster Rolls landed this establishment right on our list of culinary orgasms. Because each time I bit down to chew another bite I could taste the flavors intensifying, knocking at the roof of my mouth like " You believe them yet". Spiced lobster with hints of tuna finished with a dynamite sauce that sent my taste buds on the ride of a lifetime.

From the hot kitchen we ordered NY Steak Teriyaki served over fluffy Mitzuba rice sprinkled with roasted sesame seeds which added the perfect crunch to this dish. The juices from the steak mixed with the Teriyaki sauce made my senses go wild, I needed them to keep up the momentum.

As we stuffed our faces our videographer made sure to capture the perfect moments. A special thanks to Ahk who starved to get the shots he needed... his work and ethic continuously amazes me.

This Salmon on Cedar did its job at adding the earthiest vibes to the trip, packed with flavor and seasoned to perfection. The light but creamy kick from the peppercorn sauce played a major role in bringing out other key components in this dish, the juicy tomato and capers also went well with the texture of the salmon, this was without a doubt a mouth- pleasing experience.

L.A. EXPERIENCE