culinary school

Is it a good idea to buy fish for sushi in the supermarket?

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I think that it is a bad idea.

Sushi is a dish where all the fish is basically eaten raw. This means that fish must be as fresh as possible and of the highest quality.

The quality of fish used for sushi is only available in a limited amount in the world seas. This is known to all who sell fish.

If you buy fish in the supermarket, then you do not know where it has been caught. There are some places in the world where the fish are better than other.

Besides, you also don’t know how old the fish is. On the packaging of fish sold in the supermarket you will be able to see when it has been packed and shelf life. It is far more difficult to find out when the fish has been caught.

On the Sushi course for beginners I talk a lot more about fish for Sushi.

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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.

Do you know how use Japanese knife techniques?

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The level of gastronomy in Japan is very high one reason for that is that Japanese chefs spend several years learning how to use different cutting techniques.
In Japan the quality of the dishes depends on your ability to prepare raw materials by using different cutting techniques.

If you do not know how to use your knife you will find it difficult to make a extraordinaire tasty dishes.
You will not be able to bring out the unique flavors of the ingredients and create unique dishes.

Using a knife the right way is just as important when making sushi as in making traditional Japanese dishes.

Read more about Traditional Japanese cooking class 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.

Can all types of fish be used for sushi?

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Basically all types of fish can be used for sushi.

However not all types of fish are suitable for being used for sushi. There are many types of fish which do have a high enough quality for sushi. For fish to approved for sushi the fish has to meet specific requirements. Fish used for sushi have the finest quality and the reason that is that fish is eaten raw.

Most people know that the tuna is a threatened fish species.
It is partly true. The tuna used for sushi is threatened. There is plenty of tuna in the sea which just cannot be used for sushi because the quality is not high enough.

It is the fishmongers who know if the fish is suitable for sushi. This is because they know where they bought the fish.

On the Sushi course for beginners you learn more about the fish used for sushi.

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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.

Memory: Japan’s most famous kendo dojo

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I am jumping a bit in time for 2017.

In summer 2017 I was in Tokyo and I had an appointment with my teacher that I should have some kata practice.

I had to be dressed and be ready for training at. 6.00 am. When you have an appointment with my teacher, you will NOT be late unless you have been run over by a bus.

I showed up at the address and couldn’t get through the grid gate to Noma dojo. The Noma dojo was built in 1925 and it is the most famous kendo dojo in Japan and, to train, one must be invited.

Next to the building is a police station. All police officers in Japan practice kendo it is part of their job. Some of the best kendo athletes in the world are police officers. I went in there and explained to the officer who did not speak English that I was going to Noma dojo to practice.

He went along to the grid gate. I show him my teacher’s business card and point to the gate. He called spoke to a woman lady and, shortly after, the gate was opened. He points out which way to go.

During my stay I practiced a few times in Noma dojo. For me, training in such a beautiful and historic kendo dojo is a great experience.

The photo shows my teacher Hirakawa sensei (older gentleman) and a colleague Okada sensei that is very famous 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.

What is the biggest challenge as a beginner?

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There are many challenges if you’ve never made sushi before.

There is of course a big difference if the sushi is made at home or in in a restaurant.

There is a few challenging such as,

Selecting the Japanese ingredients and raw materials used for sushi.
To cook tasty and perfect rice.
To fillet and cut fish in the right quality for sushi.
To prepare various raw materials for sushi
Create tasty sushi so the raw materials are in harmony and becomes a unique dinning experience.

My most important task at the different sushi classes  that I give is to teach my attendants the Japanese tools to make tasty sushi in a quality that you can delight family and friends with homemade tasty sushi.

Please 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.

Gem

How often do the Japanese eat cabbage?

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Most people believe that sushi is one of the most important dishes in Japanese cuisine. The Japanese love sushi, but sushi makes up less than 15% of Japanese cuisine. That’s because Japanese cuisine has so many tasty dishes and unique styles to offer.

One of the ingredients that the Japanese eat almost every day is cabbage. In Japan, cabbage is not just cabbage.

There are several different types of cabbage and different kinds of kale. Some varieties of cabbage and kale are eaten raw and others are best suited for squeezing juice.

There are also the varieties of kale that are prepared in different ways e.g. for a soup.

Common to all of them is that cabbage and kale is prepared in a delicate way so it is a gastronomic experience to eat cabbage and kale several times a week without it getting boring.

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.

What is Japan’s preferred fast food?

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The Japanese prefer the fast food dish ramen soup. There are several reasons for that.

It is a dish that is suitable for a busy everyday life. The Japanese live a life as busy as so many others consisting of work, family and various activities.

Ramen soup is a healthy and low fat dish. In Tokyo it is often made of fish stock.
It is a very popular dish in Tokyo which takes a noodle bar less than 5 minutes to cook.
It is a dish that most Japanese eat in less than 10 minutes with chopsticks.
Ramen soup is a dish that is made in many different versions from noodle bar to noodle bar. Yes, every noodle bar has their very own version.

On the Noodle Soup course for beginners you will learn how to make ramen soup as it is served in Tokyo.

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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.

Will fresh fish still arrive in Denmark even though the borders are closed?

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Yep, it does.

Although the government has closed down for people to travel in and out of Denmark this does not apply to food.

There are many supermarkets that have ordered extra goods so their stock is full of goods. Special stores such as fishmongers still get fresh seafood delivered several times a week from abroad.

It ranges from tuna in Japan to salmon from the Faroe Islands. However, the fishmongers may well find that the amount of tuna entering Denmark is less than it usually. This is not because the quantity of goods from the producers has decreased.

There are some food suppliers in Denmark who order fewer products from abroad at the moment. This is because the restaurant industry has been shut down for a period of time.

However, the most sought after items such as fresh salmon, marinated herring and other Scandinavian seafood will be found at the fishmongers.

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.

What is Japanese mindfulness?

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In Japan, Japanese children learn from a very young age how to find inner peace and cultivate mindfulness.

In Japan, there are many Japanese children who practice the martial art kendo. It used as a children’s education. Through the martial arts kendo the children learn how to show consideration, respect, strengthen the mind, find peace within and be present in the moment. As an adult the children will benefit later from that when they make a career in a hectic cities such as Tokyo.

Since children have learned to find inner peace and balance at an early age it will be easier for them to navigate in a world that is becoming more and more interchangeable. They will be able to handle the unexpected circumstances with greater strength.

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.

Recipe: Pickled Chinese radish

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The recipe is for a glass.

Ingredients:

4 cup rice vinegar (Uchibori – comet su)
1 cup sugar
1 Jam glass (h: 13 cm x w: 10 cm)

Course of action:

1. Rinse the Chinese radish and peel off the skin.

2. Cut the Chinese radish into 3 millimeter thick slices on a mandolin.

3. Heat the rice vinegar and sugar in a saucepan.

4. Boil the vinegar marinade until the sugar has dissolved.

5. Add the Chinese radish slices in a sterile jam glass.

6. Pour the vinegar marinade over.

7. Let it all cools down.

8. Close the glass and refrigerate for 4 days.

9. Ready to be eaten.