Jamison Blankenship, left, and Robby Cook, right: the men behind Morimoto.Photo: Melissa Hom

Names: Jamison Blankenship and Robert Cook

Age: 37 and 29, respectively

Restaurant: Morimoto

Backgrounds: Blankenship, Morimoto’s chef de cuisine, grew up in New Orleans, but didn't start in the restaurant business until he was 31. He worked in Washington’s famous Citronelle, and for two years had his own restaurant in D.C., before joining Morimoto as a sous-chef when it opened two years ago.

Cook, the restaurant's head sushi chef, had a Lana Turner moment as a sushi assistant at Koi: Masaharu Morimoto came in, saw Cook working the line, and offered him a job on the spot.