Denmark's Most Experienced Sushi Chef Zoë Escher

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 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

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. Møller – Mærsk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Ikea, Novartis, Velux, Takeda Pharma, Haldore Topsøe, Dansk Byggeri, Deloitte, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Symphogen and many more.

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

April 3, 2023November 16, 2021 by Zoë Escher

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.

Which fish is most often eaten in the fall in Japan?

April 3, 2023November 6, 2021 by Zoë Escher

Mackerel is a fish that is very popular in Japan.

In Denmark, mackerel is most often eaten as smoked pepper mackerel. A freshly smoked pepper mackerel tastes great.

In Japan, fish is not smoked in the same way as in Denmark. The Japanese prefer to eat fresh fish cooked in several different ways.

Mackerel is a fish that the Japanese especially enjoy in the fall. All fish have a cycle and mackerel is an autumn fish in Japan.

It is a fish that is suitable for sushi.
It is a fish that is not eaten without any kind of preparation. It is always put in rice vinegar and marinated before being used for sushi.

It is also a fish that is enjoyed in traditional Japanese cuisine. The whole fish with head and tail is grilled. It is also served that way. As a guest, you sit with chopsticks and separate the fish and eat the meat.

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.

Which pumpkin do the Japanese prefer to eat?

April 3, 2023November 1, 2021 by Zoë Escher

In recent years, pumpkins have become more and more popular.
Halloween is an American tradition which a number of years ago found its way to Denmark. Cutting orange pumpkins has gradually also becomes a tradition in Denmark.

Because of Halloween, more and more people want to eat pumpkins. Today there are many different kinds of pumpkins and have found their way to the Danish supermarkets.

Most people are familiar with the orange pumpkin called Hokkaido, which is available in all supermarkets. It was once cultivated in Japan, from which the name originates. Today it is grown outside Japan.

This dark green pumpkin which I got know when travelling in Japan, is available in Denmark, but only at few supermarket.

It’s called Kabocha.

In Japan, it is eaten in many different ways in traditional Japanese cuisine.
I tasted it for the first time in Japan in 2004. I got it for lunch where there was a piece in a bento box. I also ate it in the evening at the home of one of my teachers in Tokyo.

It is a pumpkin type that I have learned to like a lot the Japanese way.

Read more about Japanese noodle soup course for beginners, where noodle soups are made with Japanese ingredients and ingredients in the same way as, Japanese restaurants in Tokyo.

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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 kind of sushi is most popular outside of Japan?

April 3, 2023October 27, 2021 by Zoë Escher

There is a certain type of sushi that is very popular outside of Japan, it is sushi rolls.

In most of Europe and especially Denmark, sushi rolls are very popular.
In Europe, we do not eat as much seafood as the Japanese. It takes less fish to eat before we are satisfied and happy. This makes sushi rolls an obvious choice.

Sushi rolls can be made in many different ways with fish and shellfish.

In Japan, it is normal to use local ingredients for sushi such as mushrooms and plums.
In Europe, local ingredients are also used for sushi like different kinds of vegetables you will find on the menu in sushi restaurants.

The most important thing is that sushi rolls are made from ingredients that complement each other in this way, so that it becomes a tasteful experience to eat the food.

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.

Why is ramen noodle soup the most sought out fast food in Japan?

April 3, 2023October 22, 2021 by Zoë Escher

Ramen noodles are the most popular fast food in Japan. There are several reasons for this.

The Japanese live a busy life like so many others. They work an average of 10-15 hours a day.
In the big cities, a noodle bar is located in most streets. When the Japanese are on their way home from work, there are many who visit a noodle bar on the way.

From the time they pull a food ticket in the vending machine to a bowl of smoky hot noodle soup placed in front of you, not many minutes go by. For most Japanese, it takes no more than 10 minutes to eat the food until they are on their way.

In Japan, there are many types of noodles soup.

Many eateries have developed their very own soups, which have been passed down from generation to generation. It also means that it is a new experience to visit the local noodle soup bars as soups are not the same.

On the Noodle soup course for beginners, you will learn step by step how to make 2 very different noodle soups including a ramen soup as it tastes 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.

What is the purpose of pickled ginger for sushi?

April 4, 2023October 17, 2021 by Zoë Escher

Most people enjoy pickled ginger when eating sushi. It is on most sushi plate.

In Japan, ginger is included in Japanese cuisine, as is salt and pepper in Danish cuisine.

Many thousands of years ago, the Japanese began pickling ginger. At that time, refrigerators did not exist and, it was the best way to retain vitamins and extend shelf life.

The purpose of pickled ginger for sushi is to clean the mouth between the sushi pieces. It happens completely automatically when you eat ginger the powerful and spicy taste to tease the senses and leave the mouth ready to enjoy the next piece of sushi.

But, it is not a “must” to eat ginger between the sushi pieces.

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.

What Scandinavian fish do the Japanese love?

April 4, 2023October 11, 2021 by Zoë Escher

Yep, it’s good enough.
There is a fish species in Scandinavia which is imported to Japan. It is the fish that most people in Denmark like, namely salmon.

In Scandinavia, the selection of high quality salmon is very large freshly caught salmon from the Faroe Islands and Norway land daily in Denmark and wild salmon from Iceland on a regular basis.
The salmon is of such a good quality that Japanese fish importers have visited Scandinavia to take a closer look at the fish.

Salmon is a fish that is not found in the wild in Japan. It is a tropical climate in the latitudes where completely different fish species thrive and which are not available in Denmark.

The Scandinavian salmon is very popular in Japan and, found in the refrigerated counter at supermarkets throughout the country.

At the Sushi course for beginners, you learn how to make delicious and tasty sushi with the coveted Faroese salmon. Of course, it is not just any Faroese salmon it is the best in the world.

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.

What to do during the autumn holidays – sushi?

April 4, 2023October 8, 2021 by Zoë Escher

Just around the corner, autumn and the autumn holidays await.

Time for coziness and togetherness.

Some people go for walks in the woods collecting mushrooms, others bake a classic apple pie or simmering food.

The autumn holidays are a time of presence and togetherness, so why not challenge yourself that the whole family will enjoy?

I’m talking about the Sushi course for beginners, of course. A course where you learn step by step how to make sushi rolls, which are perfect for private dinners.

It does matter what ingredients are used for sushi. In the course you will get to know the Japanese ingredients that Japanese sushi chefs use. You should preferably have full value for money when you shop into your Asian business.

In the course you will learn about does and don’t when it comes to buying and handling fish and other fresh ingredients for sushi.

You can’t miss the Japanese cutting techniques. There is a reason why fish cut with Japanese techniques melts on your tongue and sends you into the sky. Yes, sushi made with Japanese techniques tastes enchanting.

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.

Sushi courses are still held in small classes

April 4, 2023October 3, 2021 by Zoë Escher

In the last 1½ years I have held many small open sushi courses with approx. 9 participants, and I will continue to do so. Even if the restrictions are lifted.

I do this because I found the perfect setting for my courses.

Sushi course is a course where several different ingredients are used at once, it requires more table space.
Sushi is also an eating that requires you to have room to move, ie. you can move your arms freely when cooking.

The advantage of the small teams is clearly that Zoë has more time for the individual participants and, the many good questions that arise during the course.

I can see that the attendants are enjoying that there is plenty of space. They relax and can focus on acquiring the skills needed to make tasty sushi at home in their own kitchen.

It is not only sushi courses that are run in small groups. This applies to all courses held by Sushi Chef Zoë Escher.

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 comfort food that warms on a cold autumn day!

April 4, 2023September 28, 2021 by Zoë Escher

The hot summer days are coming to an end and we are approaching autumn.
Autumn is a changeable time reminiscent of a bag of mixed sweets, sun, wind and rain and sometimes on the same day.

Autumn is one of the most beautiful seasons.
Nature and forests show themselves from their most beautiful side. The forest abounds with mushrooms and just around the corner awaits the classic root vegetables.

In Japan, noodle soups are tasty and healthy dish are enjoyed all year round. It is a dish that is very popular when summer turns into autumn. It is a dish that warms on the changeable autumn days.

A classic Japanese noodle soup contains fish, meat, noodles, vegetables and seaweed in other words it is one of the healthiest fast foods on a busy day.

In the Noodle soup course for beginners, you will learn how to make tasty soups from scratch with Japanese noodles, soups that have the same unique aromas and flavors as if served in restaurants 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.