Zoë Escher

Is it difficult to cut fish for nigiri?

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FiskIt is difficult to cut fish nigiri and there are several reasons.

There are not two species that are exactly alike.
Even within one species there is a big difference such as tuna.
The size of the fish will be different and the structure and the fibers of the fish meat is also different. That will have a direct impact on how you slice the fillet.

You can always tell if a fish for nigiri is cut the right way. The the fish slice is silky and almost melts in your mouth.
To get the experience it is important to have knowledge of the fish and Japanese cutting technique to fillet the best way possible.

Read more about Sushi Chef & Sake Sommelier Zoë Escher

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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.

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Which fish does Japanese sushi chefs use to make a fish stock?

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Fish make up the whole foundation of Japanese cuisine.
A classic fish stock is used in many different way with the Japanese cuisine. It is used for soups, dressings, marinating, sauces or cooking of raw materials.
The most favorite Japanese fish used for the popular fish stock Bonito. The fish is available in many different qualities and it is the one who gives the unique flavor and aroma that characterizes Japanese cuisine.

The fish bonito is one of the most important raw material to a Japanese chef. It is found on the shelf in most restaurants in Japan.

At Japanese noodle soup for beginners course the attendents will learn how to make the fish stock as it is made in Japan.

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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.

Which sushi mat is best for making sushi?

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In a month I teach several sushi beginner classes in Copenhagen.
At the courses I meet attendances who bring different types of sushi mat to make aromatic and tasty sushi rolls.

Unfortunately, not all sushi mats are suitable for sushi.

In recent years, I have met attendances who have brought a sushi mat made of silicone. Silicone mat is totally unsuitable for sushi. It does not have the size or flexibility which is requires to make delicious sushi rolls. The material means that you do not have the optimal conditions.

There is also another type of sushi mat that I would not recommend either. The sushi mat is made of wood but the shape of the mat makes it harder to make sushi rolls. The sushi mat also leaves marks in the rolls.

The bamboo mat that Japanese sushi chefs and I use are very hard to get in Denmark. This is because those who sell bamboo mats for to sushi are not skilled sushi chefs.

Read more about Sushi chef & Sake sommlier Zoë Escher

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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.

What is a classic Japanese dinner?

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TokyoA classical Japanese dinner is very different from a European dinner.
The Japanese eats many small meals for dinner. A Japanese meal consists of 6-10 small dishes with seafood, rice, various vegetables and different kind of meat. Japanese dishes are very light in texture and is usually enjoyed over several hours.

Like so many others Japanese work many hours per week which means that they do not have time to cook dinner during the week.
I Tokyo you will finde a wide range of take-away stands and noodle bars which serves noodle soup of very high quality. The noodle soup is cheap and many Japanese visits a noodle bar several times during a week.

In this way Japanese still manage to eat healthy and have a varied diet.

Please read more about the class Traditional Japanese cooking class for beginners.

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

Gem

Gem

Gem

Gem

How long does it take to learn to cut fish for sushi?

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How long it takes learn depends whether the sushi should be served at your own home or in a restaurant.

If you are going to learn how to cut fish for sushi which can be served in a restaurant then it takes several years. There are not 2 fish species that are the same and here are also no 2 cutting techniques that are the same.

One might think is not it just cutting some slices?

Sushi should be a nice and delicate eat where the fish melts in the mouth. In order to get that texture you need to know how to master different Japanese knife techniques. Of course, it takes some time.

On the Sushi course for beginners you learn to use different Japanese knife techniques to cut fish for sushi rolls.

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

Japanese food stalls at the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo

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Japanese food stalls at the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo.
At Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo you will find some small food stalls in the side streets, worshiping small dishes on the outside grill. It is dishes consisting of seafood such as squid, oysters and scallops.

On the picture you can see a few oysters with sea urchins a delicate eat in Japan.

Read more about Sushi chef & sake sommelier Zoë Escher

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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.

Japanese noodle soup lures on a busy winter day

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When I get home late in the afternoon it’s not always that I just have time to spend a couple of hours of cooking a tasty meal.

An evening meal that I eat on a daily basis must be a easy to cook while it is still healthy, nutritious and tasty.
On my many trips to Japan I noticed that Japanese noodle soup fits perfectly with the busy life. I prefer to eat a tasty Japanese noodle soup that is made on a unique and special fishery stock. It is stock that is foundation of Japanese cuisine.

From I am entering the door in myhome it takes max. 15 minutes to prepare a bowl of steamy hot noodle soup.

On Japanese noodle soup course for beginners you learn to make 2 very different Japanese noodle soups as they areserved in Japan.

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

What is authentic Japanese sushi?

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NigiriAuthentic Japanese sushi  taste a lot more then European sushi. The Japanese sushi chef know how to bring out the unique flavor of the fish.

Japanese sushi chef’s knowledge of the fish and the way the specific fish should be filleted and sliced to Nigri or sushi rolls are essential for the taste experience and the way the sushi are plated.

The quality of the dining experience depends on how experienced the sushi chef. You may also find that if you visit the same restaurant two days in a row then sushi taste different depending who is working that day.

As a Japanese-trained sushi chef I have learned that no matter what kind of fish you use for sushi the food you serve to the customer must always be the same no matter what day of the week the customer visits the restaurant.

Read more about Sushi Chef & Sake Sommelier Zoë Escher

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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.
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Gem

How to avoid special stores when you buy ingredients for sushi?

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If you do not know what ingredients Japanese chefs use to make sushi you might be several stores befor you are ready to make sushi.

There are many store that do not know which ingredient are the best for sushi. The only one who knows that Japanese trained sushi chef or attendances who have taken a Japanese sushi class.

Yes, it does matter which ingredients to use if you want to make authentic Japanese sushi. At sushi course for beginners I will tell you more about where to buy Japanese ingredients for sushi.

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.

Japanese green tea

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One of the guys from Yushinkan dojo in Tokyo has a tea shop.
In 2004 when I visited Tokyo for the first time I practised kendo with Sato.

Just before I left Tokyo in July this year I visited his tea shop. He offered several tastes and I ended up buying tea in abundant quantities.

I am so happy to follow his advice about what kind of green tea types I should buy. I bought several different really good quality and this one is so nice in taste. Below you can finde a few more pictures.

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Read more about Sushi chef & sake sommelier Zoë Escher
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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.