From appearing on MasterChef Junior at the age of 10 to working in high-end Momofuku kitchens, Josh Reisner has already had a long culinary journey as a chef in his early 20s. That journey is about to hit a new milestone with the opening of Kuroneko, a chef-driven ramen shop at 218 E 10th St. in the East Village.
Although his culinary career started in television, Reisner told What Now New York that he’s worked at just about every level in a professional kitchen. His recent success as executive chef at Do Not Disturb in the West Village inspired him to finally strike out on his own and open Kuroneko.
“DND really took off last year,” he said. “I was seeing that, and I was like: Okay, it’s really time to open up my own spot.”
Reisner said the upcoming restaurant, slated to open in June, will be inspired by his extensive training in Japanese kitchens, his Singaporean heritage, and a love of Western European cuisines. The result will be a focus on “Nouvelle Asiatic“, which combines the 20th-century French cooking movement with Asian technique and flavors. The highlight will be a contemporary ramen menu anchored by freshly-made noodles. There will also be a section of the menu dedicated to small plates, such as crudos, ceviches and classic dim sum dishes.
At the bar, a specially curated beverage program will include light cocktails, along with beverage pairing options of spritzes, sakes, and wines. Reisner said the beverage program will strictly offer small-batch producers to honor craft and each purveyor’s story.
As for the name, Kuroneko — or Black Cat in Japanese — will pay homage to the people Reisner has lost in his life, demystifying the notion of a black cat as bad luck.
