What characterizes the Japanese food pyramid?

Sushi chef & sake sommelier Zoë Escher

The Japanese food pyramid differs significantly from European diets and pyramids.

At the bottom of the food pyramid, you will find rice.
The Japanese diet is based on rice as the main source of carbohydrates, and it is the foundation of the diet.

Fish and shellfish is a big part of the food pyramid. They are rich in healthy omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. Most of the protein that the Japanese eat comes from the sea.

Vegetables, seaweed and soybeans are important ingrediens in Japanese food. They contribute to a high intake of fiber, vitamins and minerals.

Beverages such as green tea and water are an important part of the Japanese food pyramid in order to get enough fluid and boost the body with antioxidants.

On the other hand, the Japanese eat very little meat compared to Europe. And when meat is finally eaten, it is also in small portions.

In Japan, fruit is often thought of as a dessert.
After a midday meal consisting of several dishes, the dinner is rounded off with freshly cut fruit.

On the Traditional Japanese Food Cooking Class for Beginners, you learn step by step how to make tasty dishes from classic Japanese cuisine.

_
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 is your shortcut to more vegetables

Futomaki
Many of us would like to eat more vegetables on a daily basis. Vegetables are full of important vitamins, minerals and fibre, all of which contribute to a healthy body.
In a busy everyday life, it can be challenging to eat the recommended vegetables. If you are looking for a delicious and easy way to get more vegetables into your diet, sushi could be your shortcut.

Although many people think of fish when they hear the word “sushi”, vegetables are also an essential part of this wonderful dish. From fresh cucumbers and avocado to steamed asparagus and marinated radish – sushi offers a world of vegetables presented in a new and exciting way.

Eating raw vegetables is healthier than cooked vegetables. The various raw vegetables used in sushi boost your body with vitamins.

Not only do you get lots of vegetables with sushi, but the seaweed nori, which is often used to make sushi rolls, is full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. This makes sushi both tasty and healthy to eat.

Sushi is more than just raw fish.

On the Sushi course for beginners, you learn step by step how to make tasty sushi from scratch.

_
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.

How many types of fish can you find on the menu at a sushi restaurant in Japan?

Stepping into a sushi restaurant in Japan is far more than just sitting down for a meal. It is an entryway into a culinary world marked by tradition, innovation, and an impressive variety.

Japanese sushi culture is internationally renowned for its precision, aesthetics, and dedication to high-quality ingredients. A quick glance at the menu reveals the extensive diversity of fish and seafood used in Japanese sushi cuisine.

But how many different types of fish can you actually expect to find?

In traditional sushi restaurants, you can typically choose from 15 to 20 different types of fish and seafood. At more modern or exclusive establishments, the selection can reach up to 30 varieties, especially if the menu changes with the seasons.

It’s entirely common to encounter classics such as tuna, salmon, red snapper, shrimp, squid, sea urchin, yellowtail, mackerel, eel, and flounder, to name just a few.

In our Sushi course for beginners, you will learn step by step how to prepare delicious sushi using the most popular types of fish enjoyed in Denmark.

_
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 Japanese chef’s view of fish?


Japanese chefs have a different view of fish.

In Japan, Japanese chefs use only raw materials that are in season.

A Japanese fish named Katsuo which is in the family with the tuna is in season 2 times a year. In spring it swims from southern Japan to the north. In spring, it is low in fat whereas in autumn when caught in northern Japan it is fat. On its swim from south to north it has eaten many small fish.

As a restaurant guest you can only find it on the menu card for a few months a year.
This is something that restaurant guests enjoy since the menu of Japanese restaurants in Tokyo changes very often.

Read more about the class Traditional Japanese cooking class for beginners.

_
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 characterizes Japanese fast food?

Japanese fast food differs from other fast food as we know for example pizza, shawarma or a burger.

 


The Japanese fast food is healthy and nutritious.

Yes, it is a fast food.  It takes shorter time to make the dish and about 7 minutes for Japanese to eat it. It is also the only thing they have in common with European fast food.

The Japanese are very conscious about what they eat they do not compromise on their health. For example, Japanese noodle soup more specific ramen soup. It is a dish that is healthy and nutritious because the dish is composed in a way so that it supplies the body with lots of healthy vitamins and minerals while being delicate and tasty.

Yep, the Japanese do not go down on the good taste.

On noodle soup course for beginners that teaches you to several different tasty soups from scratch so that you do not miss the healthy vitamins and minerals. You can read more about the soups here.

_
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.

Enjoy Christmas time with a healthy and tasty ramen soup, as it is made in Tokyo


December equals food and coziness on several levels for me.

Drink mulled wine and eat apple slices. Eat wonderful dinners at the city’s restaurants and not least Christmas lunch. Of course I also have to snack a bit like Christmas cookies and Christmas candy.

In order for the whole thing to not go overboard I have also put in a few days with a little healthier food. I do this by eating ramen or udon soup as it is served in Tokyo.

It fits in perfectly with the busy Christmas days, as it does not take much time to make when the fish stock is made. It’s a great taste, it is bursting with vitamins and minerals while detoxifying the body.

I’m probably not the only one who feels this way, which is why I have planned a noodle soup course just before Christmas before it starts. You can read more about the class Noodle soup for beginners

_
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 first thing Japanese people notice when they eat sushi?


When a Japanese person orders sushi, they use other criteria to evaluate the food.

When it comes to sushi the Japanese’s favorite food is nigiri. The selection of fish in Japan is very large and it is very normal that you find 15 to 20 different fish on the menu.

What a Japanese person primarily looks for when eating sushi is whether the rice is cooked to perfection. The consistency of sushi rice should be soft but also firm. It should not be like porridge, but the rice grain should not be hard or raw inside either. It is a balance that is difficult to get.

If the rice is not cooked to perfection, I will affect the dining experience.  This is because quite a few ingredients are used for sushi. You use the best fish in the world, but if the rice is cooked to perfection the dining experience will fall apart.

In the Sushi course for beginners, you learn step-by-step how to cook sushi in a quality that is suitable for use in sushi.

_
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.

Fish for sushi must be of the best quality and why?

There are many people who do not fully realize that there is a difference in the quality of fish. For sushi, only the best quality fish should be used and there is a reason for that.

Sushi is a nice and delicate dish and you must have knowledge on how to use very high quality fish so you can turn a simple looking piece of nigiri to a gastronomic experience.

The quality of the fish is also assessed on the basis of when the fish is caught. The fish must be as fresh as possible and it should preferably only be a few hours old. Then the bacterium in the fish has not begun to develop.

At the Sushi course for beginners I talk more about fish for sushi

_
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.

Ramen noodle soup can be eaten all year in Japan!

In Japan, the ramen noodle soup is not only eaten in winter. It is a dish enjoyed all year long and there are several reasons for that.

Ramen noodle soup is a healthy and tasty fast food to suit the busy day of Japan. It is also a dish that does not take many minutes and makes once you have made the fish stock that forms the whole foundation of the Japanese kitchen. Yes without it there is no Japanese kitchen.

On noodle soup course for beginners the attendants learn to make 2 very different tasty noodle soups. Noodle soups where authentic raw materials from Tokyo are used in the preparation of soups.

You can read more about Noodle soup courses for beginners

_
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.

Is authentic Japanese sushi healthier than European sushi?

Yes, and there are several reasons for that.
Japanese sushi basically consists only of rice and fish. When the food is so simple fewer additives have been used in the preparation of the sushi.

In Europe and especially Denmark there are many sushi restaurants that use different complement for their sushi. It may be mayonnaise in different shades and other tasty topping. Mayonnaise is a food that is not particularly healthy it adds more calories to the food.

At Sushi coursefor beginners the attendants learn the Japanese approach to sushi ie. to use Japanese ingredients, cooking techniques and hand techniques. Methods that you can use to make your favorite sushi rolls at home in your own kitchen.

_
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.