Since opening in 2011, Origami,
recognized by many as one of the best
Asian restaurants in the Crescent City,
has provided authentic Japanese dining
at its historic Freret Street location. The
essence of Origami, itself a statement of
artistic endeavors, is visible throughout
the structure at 5130 Freret St.
The Japanese cuisine art form combines
cleanliness and the ambiance of the dining
area, creating a complete and satisfying
culinary experience. The moment that you
enter Origami's doors, the restaurant vibes
an atmosphere unlike any other; from the
detailed art on the walls to the sushi bar
and its stylish accents.
Like the current mayor of New Orleans,
LaToya Cantrell, the first woman at the
Restaurant
Strives to
Represent
the Best of
Japanese
helm in the City's 300 years of existence,
Mitsuko T. Tanner, the driving force
behind Origami, is one of the first female
sushi chefs in the Big Easy.
Mitsuko, which means “bright child,”
hails from Japan, but she has lived in New
Orleans for about 30 years. Along with
partners, Thuan Vu and Atushi Morishita,
Mitsuko has created some of the most
artistic Japanese cuisine the world has
ever known, whether in Japan or on Freret
Street. Diners are invited to explore their
palate’s boundaries by pairing traditional
Japanese offerings with new and refreshing
flavors and textures. Customers can
enjoy Origami's vibrant fusion of traditional
Japanese and Southern cuisine.
As a child, Mitsuko’s entire family
Origami
Cuisine,
Culture
By Breakthru Media Staff
(father, mother and siblings) had businesses.
They owned wholesale produce
companies, seafood, meat and vegetable
companies. Watching her family, from
setting up the business to dealing with
the more complicated issues, Mitsuko
nurtured an inherited business acumen.
The knowledge was one of practical experiences,
as opposed to “academic ones."
Mitsuko’s early years in the U.S., spent
in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, were
sort of a culture shock. After a few years,
however, it became a very pleasant place
to raise her two sons.
Mitsuko explained that “It was a big
adjustment, even with the smaller issues,
visual ones, like the landscape of the city.
Japan was mountainous and hilly; Baton
8 | BREAKTHRU MEDIA | breakthrumediamagazine.com MAY / J U N E 2 0 1 9
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