By: Robert Lovi By: Robert Lovi | March 25, 2022 | Food & Drink, Lifestyle, Culture,
Chotto Matte, a pioneering global Nikkei dining destination with locations in London, Toronto, and Miami Beach, has announced that its first NFT will be released on April 5, 2022, in conjunction with NFT Week and the 2022 Bitcoin Miami conference.
Kurt Zdesar, a creative restaurateur, owner and founder of Chotto Matte, with more than 30 years of expertise in worldwide hospitality, created Chotto Matte in London in 2013. Chotto Matte has always been at the vanguard of innovation thanks to Zdesar's avant-garde vision, so it's no surprise that it's getting into crypto –or that it's one of the first in the hospitality business to produce an NFT with a membership-benefit aspect.
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"Innovation is a pillar of the Chotto Matte brand; from the menu to design, we always aim to push the boundaries," said Zdesar. "After great successes in the U.S., Europe, and Canada, the crypto space is another market I want to explore. It's the future, and there is so much yet to be done!"
Chotto Matte's first official NFT, dubbed "The Founder," will be a one-time-release collectible chip card that offers its owner unique membership access to an assortment of bespoke benefits, redeemable worldwide and designed to replicate Zdesar's advantages. Personal invitations to every Chotto Matte restaurant opening around the world, plus first-class flights and five-star accommodations; a yearly distillery, vineyard, and premium farm visit; a New Year's Eve dinner invitation for six at any Chotto Matte location; an exclusive at-home experience with Chotto Matte's executive chef; one major sports event ticket for two people per year (FIFA, F1, boxing, etc.); and more.
"The Founder" will be a Chotto Matte branded digital wallet that the user will be able to access via a page that will provide a list of their benefits. When a business owner wants to use a perk, they click on the event, and a Chotto Matte team member will contact them to coordinate. Only one Founder NFT will be made, and it is currently the only Chotto Matte membership available, further enhancing its exclusivity. However, as Zdesar explains, "This exclusive membership represents our first, but not our last, leap into the metaverse."
For $1 million, "The Founder" NFT will be available for purchase on Open Sea. On Tuesday, April 5, 2022, Chotto Matte will hold a special launch event from 7 p.m. to midnight. The event will run concurrently with Miami NFT Week (April 1-3 at the Mana Wynwood Convention Center) and the Bitcoin 2022 conference (April 6-9 at the Miami Beach Convention Center), both of which are expected to attract thousands of crypto enthusiasts, innovators, and regulators from around the world. The NFT's visual component is currently classified as top secret and will be released on the day of the event.
The event will feature live crypto-inspired performances, electrifying entertainment, and elaborate costumes during the opening to commemorate the restaurant's entry into the metaverse. Individuals with Whale or Industry permits will access a secret curated menu, including the most luxurious Nikkei delicacies, by flashing their badges –available to purchase only in Bitcoin. "It's guaranteed to leave you starry-eyed," Zdesar said.
The 10/31, a limited-edition Bitcoin-inspired drink created with Hakushu 12-year-old Japanese whiskey and topped with a dramatic combustible dollar bill that reveals a Bitcoin coin, will also be available with a crypto wallet. The date 10/31 references Satoshi Nakamoto's white paper, which transformed the world.
Chotto Matte Miami Beach is open for happy hour from 3-5 p.m. and dinner from 5 p.m. to midnight Monday through Friday, and noon to midnight Saturdays and Sundays. Chotto Matte will be open for dinner on April 5, and reservations are accepted. There is no need to purchase a ticket to attend the events.
The restaurant is located at 1666 Lenox Avenue. Call 305-690-0743 or visit the website for more information.
Photography by: Courtesy Remy Max