(BOSTON, MA) August 18, 2015 — James Beard Award Winning Chef Tim Cushman & Nancy Cushman, owners of o ya restaurant, announce the opening of Hojoko, their second restaurant concept in Boston this August 2015 at The Verb Hotel in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood.
Hojoko is a Japanese tavern immersed within the irreverent culture on display at The Verb. Featuring a menu that includes robata-grilled yakitori, creative maki rolls, a selection of over 20 sake cups and a beverage program ranging from detailed Japan-inspired craft cocktails to multiple frozen drink machines and a section that riffs on the sake bomb, Hojoko transports guests into a Japanese tavern featuring a playful 60’s surf vibe and classic diner fixtures.
Chef Tim Cushman, an alumnus of Berklee College of Music and practicing musician, and Nancy Cushman were inspired by previous trips to Japan when conceptualizing the Hojoko aesthetic. Merging their vision and Chef Cushman’s distinct flavors, the opening of Hojoko completes The Verb’s reimagined take on the historic Fenway Motor Hotel.
Sample menus, high-resolution images and interviews with Chef Tim and Nancy Cushman are available upon request. For more details, please visit us at hojokoboston.com
ABOUT CHEF TIM CUSHMAN
James Beard Award-winning Chef Tim Cushman is Chef Owner of o ya, a contemporary Japanese restaurant, in Boston. o ya was named by New York Times as the #1 new restaurant in the U.S. in 2008 and was awarded a rare food score of “29” in the 2011/12 Zagat Guide. Cushman was also picked as a Best New Chef in 2008 by Food & Wine magazine. Food & Wine also selected o ya as one of the top 10 new restaurants in the world. Bon Appetit and Details magazines have recognized o ya as one of the top 10 sushi restaurants in the U.S. In 2012, Eater recognized o ya as one of nine exceptional omakase menus across the U.S. In 2013, Headline News featured o ya as one of Travel & Leisure’s top 3 sushi restaurants in the U.S., and in 2014, The Daily Meal named o ya as the #2 best Asian restaurant in the U.S. and the #36 best restaurant on their Top 101 Restaurant list. o ya is also recognized in Foodies Top 100 as a top restaurant in the world. Chef Cushman has spent the last 30 years cooking around the world in Japan, France, Thailand, Italy, Germany, Hong Kong, London, Mexico and Taiwan. He served for seven years as a Corporate Chef with Lettuce Entertain You in Chicago where he developed menus for new concepts. In 1994, Cushman launched a consulting business to develop menus for restaurateurs, from independents to large operators. Presently, Cushman is Chef Owner of o ya and consults on various restaurant projects.
ABOUT THE VERB HOTEL
The Verb is a dynamic reimagining of a classic mid-century motel, which reconnects it with the rich musical and artistic roots of the surrounding Fenway neighborhood. Located at 1271 Boylston Street in Boston, the property builds on the legacy of the Fenway Motor Hotel that first opened its doors in 1959; fully restoring its now iconic modernist architecture. With an unconventional, often irreverent attitude showcased through its interior décor, and rare music and pop-culture memorabilia from Boston’s heritage, supplied and curated by the Boston Phoenix archive, the concept seamlessly melds the best of Boston’s past with the spirited culture of modern-day Fenway. Developed by Samuels & Associates in partnership with Weiner Ventures and Spot-On Ventures, The Verb is an Elkus Manfredi Architects designed hotel. Managed by Crescent Hotels & Resorts, the property features an outdoor pool and 93 guest rooms at an affordable luxe price point. The Verb’s signature restaurant and bar, Hojoko, from James Beard Award-winning Chef Tim Cushman and wife Nancy Cushman, opens its doors July 2015. For more information, visit theverbhotel.com.
