"In Japan your education never ends. In 2012 I was introduced to a nigiri hand technique that takes 20 years to master I think that is fascinating" - Zoë Escher

In Denmark Zoë is a recognized sushi chef.

January 2019: Zoë was the judge for the daily newspaper Politiken in connection with testing food for their readers.
2016: Zoë held the official opening speech and opened the fair Formland Spring 2016 in Messecenter Herning in Denmark. At the opening of the fair there were 49 people from the press, 20 VIP and 271 exhibitors.
2015: Zoë has made sushi and Japanese dishes as private dining at home of US ambassador in Denmark Rufus Gifford.
2013: Rated as Denmark's sushi expert no. 1 by gourmet supermarket chain Irma. Zoë was also guest judget at Masterchef Denmark season 3. Zoë has made sushi and Japanese dishes as staff food to the 3 star Michelin restaurant Geranium.

Zoë is known from Danish magazines and TV such as Copenhagen Food, ALT for Damerne, Berlingske, Femina, IN, Mad & Bolig, TV3 and the consumer council magazine “THINK”.

Reference: Restaurant Geranium***, A.P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Ikea, Novartis, Velux, Takeda Pharma, Haldore Topsøe, Dansk Byggeri, Deloitte, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Symphogen and many more.

Sushi class for beginners

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sushi
The cooking class Sushi course for beginners is for people who would like to learn how to make different kinds of delicious Japanese sushi. In the long run you can save money by making your own sushi.

You learn how to boil the perfect sushi rice.
You learn about the Japanese ingredients used for sushi.
You learn about what you should be aware of when buying fish from the fishmonger.
You learn to prepare different kinds of raw materials for sushi.
You learn to make several different kinds of tasty sushi rolls.

Please read more about the cooking class  Sushi for beginners
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Zoë has held sushi courses and cooking classes for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

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Should 2022 be the year for where another scourge towards sustainability is taken?

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White soya sauce plate with sushi

In April 2021, a new EU directive entered into force.
To help the climate, it is forbidden to sell plastic packaging, tableware and much more. The EU has allowed a transitional phase for companies so that they can quietly phase out the use of plastics.

Fishmongers are well underway in terms of offering fish caught in many different places. Some fish have lived a wild life, some are sustainable, some have grown up in a fantastic marine environment and others have been farmed in good conditions. The selection will not be smaller in the future – on the contrary.

Now EU is minimizing the use of plastics to ensure a better future for all of us. It is a process approaching the goal step by step. There must be replacement for plastic soy sauce plate, small plastic soy sauce and disposable sticks.

In Japan, Japanese families are far ahead on that front. In Japan, soy sauce plate and chopsticks are used which are made of porcelain, it is a material that lasts indefinitely.
Japanese families use handmade wooden chopsticks in beautiful designs when enjoying sushi and other wonderful Japanese dishes. Chopsticks that can be used again and again.

You can also read more about Sushi course for beginners, where learn the Japanese approach to sushi and Japanese sushi.

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Zoë has lectured and held sushi courses for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

Sushi course for beginners is also for you who are in charge of the dinner on New Year’s Eve!

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New Year’s and New Year’s Eve are just around the corner.
One thing is for sure, it is celebrated in many different ways around the world. In Denmark, sushi is one of the favorite dinners on New Year’s Eve. It is a wonderful mix of fish, seafood and vegetables.

Sushi course for beginners is suitable for you who want to make sushi as an appetizer or a whole dinner.
There are benefits to making your own sushi dinner.

You can make sushi exactly as you like with your favorite vegetables and fish.
You know how to get the most out of your money when you buy fish from a fishmonger.
You know how to handle fish also according to the Danish Food Administration.
You know which Japanese ingredients are best suited for sushi.
You know how to make different kinds of sushi that are suitable for everyday and special occasion.

Read more about Sushi course for beginners

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Zoë has lectured and held sushi courses for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

Cooking class: Japanese noodle soup for beginners

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The cooking class Japanese noodle soup for beginners is for people who would like to learn how to make the Japanese noodle soup such as ramen soup.

A noodle soup is not a noodle soup in Japan it is the Japanese’s favorite fast food, which is healthy and stuffed with vitamins and minerals.

In this course, you will learn how to make dashi from scratch, just like Japanese chefs in Tokyo.
When you attend the course, you learn step by step, to use Japanese ingredients that give the unique flavors and aromas that know Japanese ramen soup.

Ramen

You learn how to make healthy and tasty noodle soups which is very popular on a busy day.
You larn how to make Japanese stock by using traditional Japanese raw materials.
You learn how to know the difference between different kind of noodle used in noodle soup.
You work with different Japanese cooking techniques and, cut different vegetables, meats and soy products.
You learn to make 2 tasty and healthy noodle soups that are made from scratch with classical raw materials.

NOTE: This year Noodle soup course is only planned on 4 September 2021 and 13 November 2021.

Read more about the cooking class Japanese noodle soup for beginners

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Zoë has held sushi courses and cooking classes for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

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Which chopsticks are best suited for sushi?

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It depends on how good you are at using chopsticks. If you are as experienced as the Japanese in Tokyo, then you can use chopsticks that are made in different materials. Lately I have been seeing chopsticks in steel.

The Japanese would never make chopsticks out of steel. They are too slippery to hold in the hand, difficult to grasp the food and they are difficult to eat with. Also, steel is not a material found in nature.

In Japan, the preferred material for chopsticks is wood. However, there are many different types of wood used for chopsticks. In Japan, the design of chopsticks plays a big role. They should be easy to hold between the fingers, easy to eat with and the design should be Japanese.

It is easy to see on chopsticks if they are easy to use. They are made in a design that makes them comfortable to hold in the hand. The outer part of the chopsticks will have a slightly rough surface like sandpaper. It makes it easy to hold on to the food.

The Japanese families like that chopsticks are made in many different designs and quality, so there is little to choose from.

Read about Sushi course for beginners

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Zoë has lectured and held sushi courses for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

When do the Japanese prefer to eat a bowl of hot noodle soup?

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Noodle soup
In Japan, a bowl of hot noodle soup is eaten all year round. Yes, even on hot summer days.
In Japan there is a large selection of noodle soups, each region and each noodle bar has their very own version. Some soups are made on chicken stock, while others are made on pork or fish.

Noodle soup is a healthy fast food that is eaten on all days of the week in Japan. It is a dish that fits into the hectic and busy life that many Japanese live. Many Japanese work an average of 10-15 hours a day.

In Europe so far, many people prefer to eat noodle soups in the autumn / spring and in the winter. In Europe, noodle soups are also eaten on slightly cloudy days.

Read about Noodle soup course for beginners

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Zoë has lectured and held sushi courses for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

Do all restaurants in Japan use the real Japanese wasabi?

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I have been traveling to Japan since 2004 to broaden my horizons and, learning new things from my Japanese teacher. Under normal circumstances, I travel to the Japan every year and on my many trips, I have had many gastronomic experiences ranging from everyday sushi to 2 star Michelin restaurants.

Real wasabi is widespread in Japan. However, not all restaurants use the real wasabi, even in Japan. Usually only Michelin sushi restaurants use the real wasabi.

I have tasted the real wasabi several times in Japan and, I cannot taste the difference. The strong taste disappears a little faster when it comes to the real wasabi.

Wasabi is a horseradish that grows in Japan. It has difficulty growing outside of Japan and therefore artificial wasabi is used. In Denmark, artificial wasabi is widespread it is only a few restaurants that import wasabi from abroad.

Read more about Sushi course for beginners

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Zoë has lectured and held sushi courses for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

That’s the reason why the Japanese drink a cup of miso soup every day!

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Many have become aware that the Japanese drink a cup of hot miso soup a day. Several in Europe have traveled on holiday in Japan and have noticed that, while others have heard about it.

In Japan, the classic Japanese miso soup is made from scratch. Beside fermented soybean paste, the soup is packed with vitamins and minerals that the body enjoys.

As the soup primarily contains miso paste, it has a high content of vegetable protein, which is healthier than animal product. Soybeans are a low-fat product as they do not contain fat such as a steak.

The soup is also rich in vitamins and minerals. Japanese seaweed is also included in the soup.In Japan, there are many different types of seaweed. Not all seaweed varieties are suitable for miso soup. Of course, it is important to choose the right one otherwise the soup tastes less good.

But such overall is seaweed is a very healthy vegetable. It is the vegetable in the world that contains the most vitamins and minerals.

Read more about Noodle Soup course for beginners, where healthy and nutritious Japanese ingredients and raw materials are a must in the traditional Japanese noodle soups.

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Zoë has lectured and held sushi courses for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

What is the Japanese view of soy sauce?

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White soya sauce plate with sushi
The Japanese have a slightly different view of soy sauce.
In Japan, soy sauce is considered a spice, it is a way to taste the food. In Japan, there are as many different kinds of soy sauce just as many as cheese in a Danish supermarket.

Not only that. It is quite common in traditional Japanese cuisine to use several different soy sauces in the same dish. This is because soy sauce is produced and matured in different ways everything it is used for.

It does matter which soy sauce is used for sushi or for traditional Japanese noodle soup. These are 2 very different dishes, where it is important to choose a soy sauce which gives the dish an extra spice without compromising the good taste.

In the Sushi course for beginners, you will learn which soy sauce is best suited for sushi.

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Zoë has lectured and held sushi courses for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

When do Japanese children learn to eat fish?

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Japanese children are being bottled up with fish. It’s quite literal.
In Denmark, Danish children learn to eat moss and oatmeal at an early age. Healthy and nutritious food. Most people eat oatmeal to some extent for the rest of their lives.

In Japan, children also learn to eat a kind of porridge. The Japanese porridge differs in that fish is added. No, it is not fish pieces that are immediately the first thought. The porridge is supplemented with fish stock, a fish stock that both tastes and smells of fish. In this way, the children learn to eat fish quietly.

When the Japanese children are a little older, it will often be salmon that they prefer. The older they get and their taste buds develop, the more fish they learn to eat with great pleasure.

Read more about Sushi course for beginners

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Zoë has lectured and held sushi courses for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.