Today we’d like to introduce you to Nando Chang.
Nando, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born in Chiclayo, Peru. My mother is native Peruvian and my father was also born in Peru but he is of Chinese descent I immigrated to the United States when I was 14 years old along with my 11-year-old sister Valerie.
My father had a business administration degree in Peru but he was unable to validate it once we moved to Miami, so he decided to take a job in a Japanese restaurant, he liked his new job so much that he started pursuing a career as a sushi chef, as my sister and I both started helping him on his catering and cooking events and eventually value and I both pursued our own individual careers in different cuisines. At the same time, my journey in the states had brought me a newfound passion for music, in particular, Hip-Hop music and I also pursued this dream while operating the family business.
In February of this year, we opened Itamae, a Peruvian Japanese Sushi Counter located in the design district, with the intentions of showcasing a Peruvian Japanese fusion that is heavily influenced by flavor profiles associated with the northern cuisine of PERU.
On May 25th of 2018, I released my first album named “Cholito Samurai” through Universal Music Group and Machete Records, it is an Urban Latin Record a fusion of Hip-Hop mixed with live instruments and Andean sounds.
The record was executively produced by 5-time Grammy nominated producer Martin Chan of Afonico Music & Grammy nominated producer BeatsNDaHood.
Has it been a smooth road?
I think the struggles have been the same for us as many other families and in particular immigrant families who have to overcome many language and cultural barriers as we settle in a new country but for the most part its been a smooth road in terms of the different quality of life this great country has been able to offer my family. Before we came to the United States my dad and I had a pretty good talk about what he expected out of me and what to expect once we finally moved, and the one thing that has always remained true is that he told me from the beginning that this country would give my sister and I the best chance to become whatever we wanted to be.
At 29 years old after many years of hard work and dedication and I’ve been fortunate enough to become an artist and an entrepreneur, I don’t know what my life would have turned out so far if I had stayed in Chiclayo but I know that I extremely grateful for the journey that my family and I have shared with one another so far, and my dad was right, hard work pays off.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Itamae – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Itamae is a Peruvian Japanese Sushi counter located in the heart of design district.
We specialize in Nikkei cuisine, dishes like makis, cevichitos, tiraditos, tatakis, etc.
I am most proud of the fact that I get to work in my family business with my dad and my sister because helping them succeed on an everyday basis has been really special.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
What I like best about Miami is the people from Miami, we’ve been fortunate enough to share cultures with people from so many different backgrounds in the world. What I like least about our city is the traffic.
Contact Info:
- Address: St. Roch Market, 140 NE 39th St Suite 241, Miami, FL 33137
- Website: www.itamaemiami.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itamaemiami/
Image Credit:
Andrea Morales, Bruno Villena
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