Okonomiyaki is a dish for everyone

Mini Ebook: 5 Japanese okonomiyaki for One
In Japan, food is more than just nourishment. It is a way to bring people together and share an experience.
One of the most beloved dishes is okonomiyaki. This Japanese pancake is not only delicious but also highly customizable, making it a favorite throughout the country.

The name okonomiyaki literally means “grilled as you like it,” which reflects the countless variations of this popular dish. Whether you prefer juicy pork, fresh seafood, or a vegetarian version, okonomiyaki can be tailored to suit any taste.

Okonomiyaki offers an irresistible combination of crispiness, tenderness, and deep umami flavors. It is typically topped with a sweet-savory okonomiyaki sauce, a touch of nori, and much more, creating a perfectly balanced taste experience.

This dish is enjoyed in Japan for both lunch and dinner all year round.

In the “Mini E-book: 5 Japanese Okonomiyaki for One”, you will find five different recipes for this flavorful dish.

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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.

That’s why noodle soups are the most popular dish in Japan!

Noodle soup

Yes, it is true.
Noodle soups are the most popular dish in Japan, and there are several reasons for that.

It is the Japanese’s favorite fastfood. It is healthy, nutritious and low in fat. Noodle soups suits a busy day with long working hours, family and friends and is eaten all year round.

Noodle soup can be made in many different ways and each region of Japan specializes in their very own version. Indeed, most noodle restaurant have their very own unique signature that has been passed down through the generations. In Japan, noodle soups are most often made with ramen noodles, udon noodles and soba noodles.

Noodle soups are also made with different types of stock. The most popular are chicken stock, pork stock and fish stock.

On the Noodle soup course for beginners, you learn how to make the most used stock in Japanese cuisine. With the stock you will learn step by step how to make 2 very different types of noodle soups that can be enjoyed all year round.

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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.

Can fish from the supermarket be used for sushi?

No, fish from the supermarket should not be used for sushi.
Sushi is a dish where the fish is eaten raw. It is very important that fish is as fresh as possible to prevent you from getting sick.

The problem with fish from a supermarket is that they have to meet a number of criteria before they can be used for sushi.

You do not know where in the world the fish have been caught.
You also do not know if the fish meets the criteria required for it to be used for sushi.
You also do not know when the fish was caught.
You also do not know how long the fish has been on its way to a supermarket.
You also do not know how long fish has been stored at a supermarket before it is filleted.
Fish from a supermarket is packed in such a way that it is only suitable to be prepared for a warm meal.

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.

Tasty Japanese Noodle Soup – a healthy meal that slims down!

Sushi chef & sake sommerlier Zoë Escher
Do you love Japanese noodle soups?

Then you must try a tasty Japanese noodle soup. Not only is it a great tasting meal, but it’s healthy too!

The Japanese noodle soup, also known as ramen, is a popular dish all over the world. And with good reason. It is full of flavour, low in fat and packed with vegetables and meat, which boosts your body.

But the best thing about Japanese noodle soups is that they are a healthy meal. The soup is made from a Japanese stock that is full of vitamins and minerals, add noodles that do not make you feel stuffed and toppings that embrace the whole food pyramid.

And if you are looking for a meal that can help you stay slim, Japanese noodle soups are a great choice.

On the Noodle soup course for beginners, you learn step by step how to make 2 very different healthy noodle soups that are perfect on a cold and wet autumn day.

Now on Sunday 5 November the last noodle soup course of the year will be held, so what are you waiting for?

Come to the course and learn how to make tasty noodle soup course like Japanese chefs 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.

Do seaweed for sushi taste different?


Yes, there is a difference in the taste of seaweed for sushi.
There are 3 countries that produce seaweed for sushi and that is Japan, Korea and China. Within sushi seaweed, there are several different types it affects the taste, the structure of the sushi seaweed and the way the seaweed behaves when it is used for sushi.

I have tasted seaweed for sushi from Japan, Korea and China and it tastes different.

Some seaweed sheets taste part of the sea, so it may seem surprising if you are not used to it.
Some seaweed sheets are completely neutral in taste it has an advantage over sushi because it does not affect the taste of the sushi pieces.
Some seaweed can be a little rubbery in consistency when sushi rolls are made and when eating the pieces. It gives a different feeling when biting through the sheet.

Seaweed is very healthy, and you should finally eat loose of it when you have the opportunity.

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.

How much salmon is eaten in Japan?

Salmon
Salmon is a fish that lives in Scandinavia.
The climate in Japan is tropical which means different type of fish is living at those latitudes.

One of the fish that lives naturally in the oceans around Japan is the tuna. Tuna has been and still is one of the Japanese’s favorite fish for centuries. The tuna is having a hard time. The demand for tuna is very high, but there are quotas for how many can be caught per year.

In Japan, the interest in salmon has been steadily rising.
In 2017, Scandinavian salmon filled refrigerated display cases in local Japanese supermarkets. The Scandinavian salmon is of such good quality that Japanese fish buyers visit Denmark and other countries to assess the quality of salmon.

Among Japanese children and adults, salmon has become a sought-after fish. It is a fish that are suitable for many different types of dishes. Some prefer to eat raw salmon, while others enjoy cooking the salmon on a pan or in the oven. The possibilities are many.

At Traditional Japanese food course for beginners and Sushi course for beginners, you will learn how to make tasty dishes with salmon.

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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.

When do Japanese children learn to eat fish?


Japanese children are being bottled up with fish. It’s quite literal.
In Denmark, Danish children learn to eat moss and oatmeal at an early age. Healthy and nutritious food. Most people eat oatmeal to some extent for the rest of their lives.

In Japan, children also learn to eat a kind of porridge. The Japanese porridge differs in that fish is added. No, it is not fish pieces that are immediately the first thought. The porridge is supplemented with fish stock, a fish stock that both tastes and smells of fish. In this way, the children learn to eat fish quietly.

When the Japanese children are a little older, it will often be salmon that they prefer. The older they get and their taste buds develop, the more fish they learn to eat with great pleasure.

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.

How big is the selection of fish in a Japanese supermarket?


In Japanese supermarkets the fridge counter looks completely different than in Europe.
In the supermarket most of the products are written in Japanese characters and they have other products in the range.
The big difference in the selection of food products can be seen in the fridge counter. In Japan, fish is eaten as much as meat is eaten in Europe. This means that the selection of fish in fridge counter is large and varied. Every supermarket has high-quality filleted and whole fish packaged in a way that suits the average Japanese family.

In Japan, the season for raw materials is followed and, this means that the selection of fish changes from season to season. Japanese children learn from a very young age to eat many different kinds of fish prepared in many different ways.
That is why you find many unknown fish of different sizes in the fridge counter fish. Some of the fish are from Asia, while others come from the north, such as  salmon, which are known for their very high quality.

On the Sushi course for beginners you will learn about the most popular fish for sushi in our latitudes. Step by step, you learn from scratch to make tasty pieces of 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.

How often should you sharpen Japanese knives?

There is not a specific rule for that.

It depends on the material your knife is made of. Some Japanese knives need to be sharpened every time it has been used and others need to be sharpened a few times a year.

The knives that I use in my work as Japanese trained sushi chef are all purchased in Japan. They are high quality knives and made of high carbon steel.
The advantage of this type of knife is that the Japanese knives can become very sharp which has a positive impact on the meals that I prepare. The disadvantage is that the knives need to be sharpened very often. They do also tend to rust very easily.

Read more about Sushikok & 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.

Why is soy sauce served for sushi?

There is a definite reason why soy sauce is served for sushi.

In Japan, soy sauce is considered a spice. It’s a way to taste the sushi pieces. It is used in much the same way as we use spices in Europe.

However, there is a difference.
It is not equally valid what type of soy sauce is used for sushi or other Japanese dishes.

Some dishes are delicious and mild like sushi while others are stronger have a stronger flavor such as hotpot.
It is important that you use a soy sauce that goes well with sushi, so that the sushi pieces do not suddenly become too salty to eat. It can ruin the dining experience.

At the Sushi Course for Beginners, you will learn how to use as Japanese sushi chefs in Tokyo use.

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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.