Michael Otaka,
Sommelier
The son of diplomats, Michael Otaka came into contact with many cultures at a very early age. He loved the aromas and spices associated with different countries, so much so, that at the tender age of 7, he had already started to cook! Because he was often present at diplomatic receptions, he developed an avid interest in wine, sake and all kinds of beers.
Unsurprisingly, given his background, his next step was to enrol at Les Roches, a hotel school in Switzerland, where he earned a Diploma in Hotel Management. At the Stonehedge Inn in Tyngsboro (Massachusetts), he was offered the position of Sommelier. When he arrived, the cellar had 600,000 bottles of wine representing 650 vintages. After years of effort, he built up the collection to more than 2,000 types of wine and 115,000 bottles, garnering the Wine Spectator’s Grand Award.
Following this honour, Otaka moved to Quebec where he worked at the Auberge du Vieux-Port in Montreal, then at the prestigious Manoir Hovey in North Hatley. He worked for a number of years at the renowned Bistro 4 Saisons in Orford, also part of the PAL+ Group.
Michael is well known for his great professionalism but also for his kind nature and his personal approach. He is a major asset to Kóz bistro! Don’t hesitate to ask him questions about the delicious wines you’ll be drinking.
michael@bistrokoz.ca