Since the Michelin Guide arrived in Canada in 2022, Yorkville’s Sushi Masaki Saito has remained the country’s only two-star establishment. Now, as we await the Guide's 2025 announcement in September, a new feature-length documentary by Rhombus Media is telling the story behind Canada's most celebrated chef.
Created by Toronto filmmaker Jamal Burger and Tokyo-based Jukan Tateisi, Still Single follows chef Masaki Saito closely for its 93-minute runtime. We discover how he operates his eponymous Toronto restaurant; track him abroad, as he globetrots in search of new flavours and inspirations; eavesdrop on the conversations that happened behind closed doors ahead of opening the highly anticipated LSL; and experience his personal and professional highs and lows. Burger and Tateisi keep the cameras rolling to capture an unflinching portrayal of the chef's life.
We meet his friends, family, and business partners; uncover how his humble Hokkaido upbringing shaped the chef he is today; and experience the relentless demands of his tumultuous schedule.
Still Single isn't all just drool-worthy montages of expertly executed food. Instead, the film resists the familiar trope of glamorizing a Michelin-starred kitchen, and offers a remarkably unrestricted glimpse behind the curtain of one of the brightest culinary minds in Canada. It's packed with anecdotes from Saito about how he runs his kitchen and his culinary philosophy — including why he thinks you should always cook hungry. He also offers a candid take on the state of Toronto and Canada's food scene, and his hopes for the future.
I had the chance to screen Still Single before its release at TIFF on Friday, September 5 and was enthralled by the unflinchingly honest portrayal of Saito's life and career. This is a must-watch for food- and movie-lovers alike.
Still Single will have its world premiere at TIFF on September 5, followed by its cross-Canada theatrical release in November. Don't miss it — grab your tickets now.
