Toshi is a well known Executive sushi chef and sushi instructor in Los Angeles. He has almost all the movie companies in Hollywood as customers and do also have celebrities as private clients. He has 40 years of experience as a Executive sushi chef.
Toshi has a Japanese approach to sushi and a way of life. The Japanese culture is very result-oriented when it comes to work and sport. If I pracise kendo in Japan my progress will be tested every day.
When having af teacher like Toshi there are a few Japanese rules that I must follow. When I address him I must call him Toshi sensei or sensei. Sensei means teacher in Japanese.
When I show up in his restaurant I have to say “Ohayogozaimasu” which is a way greeting each other in Japan. Toshi speaks a little English and when he speaks you must be quite. When answering Toshi you say “Hai” which means yes in Japanese. He do not wants to hear the word Yes.
Toshi will test your skills or creativity every 14 days.
In a skill test you are tested on the following,
How sharp your sushi knife is?
The level of your sushi techniques?
The presentation of the sushi you have madee?
How long it took you to make the sushi?
How clean your chef uniform is?
How clean you have kept your work space?
The result of such tests is placed on a wall in the kitchen so everyone can read it.
He will also test your performance in the sushi bar. He will look at how you work as a sushi chef and how you handle customers.
Beside thay you will also have to learn all the ingredients and raw materials in Japanese.
In 2012 I was in LA where he introduced me to a nigiri technique that takes 20 years to master.
I have learned a lot from him. When I go to LA in September I look forward to learn new things.
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.