Why is it harder to cook sushi rice?

When I make authentic Japanese sushi I will cook the rice as it is made and served in Tokyo, then rice plays a very important role.

It does so because in Japan, the consistency of the cooked rice is as important as the quality of the fish used for sushi.

If you use fish of poor quality then your sushi will not taste very good. This applies also to sushi rice.

The cooked sushi rice must be at least of the same quality as the fish. They should be firm but soft. They should not be like porridge but they should not be raw inside either. It can be a difficult balance to hit.

In the sushi course for beginners, you will learn how to cook sushi rice as they are cooked in restaurants 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.

Memory: Opening of Formland Spring in the exhibition center Herning in Denmark, 2016

In 2016 I held the opening speech and opened the exhibition Formland Spring in the exhibition center Herning in Denmark. I was asked by exhibition center Herning if I was interested in making a speech where I talked about Japan.

I said yes of cause it is one my favorit topics.

I spoke about Japan, Japanese culture and design.

When I had declared the fair open Seido Taiko played Japanese drums.

At the opening, 49 from the press, 20 VIPs and 271 exhibitors attended.

Opening the fair and talking about Japan was a fantastic experience.

Read more about Sushi chef & sake sommelier Zoë Escher

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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.

Is there a difference between soy sauce?

Yes there is a very big difference between soy sauce.

In Japan, soy sauce is used as a spice it is a way of seasoning the dish food and give it the final finish.

In Japan, soy sauce is not just soy sauce. There are as many different kinds soy sauce just as many as the cheese shelf in an European supermarket. When the Japanese select a soy sauce they first look at the following,

Which dish should the soy sauce be used?
What other spices are used to taste the dish?
How powerful or mild is the dish?

This is because the Japanese want to use a soy sauce that highlights the right qualities without being dominant. It also means that it does matter which soy sauce is used for sushi.

At Sushi course for beginners I talk more about which Japanese soy sauce best suits 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.

How strict are Japanese sushi chefs in their handling of food?

Japanese sushi chefs are stricter when it comes to handling raw materials to sushi.

There are several reasons for this.

Japanese sushi chefs have a completely different view of sushi and, the ingredients used for sushi. Sushi is a dish that you do not fry or cook as we know from dishes such as lasagna.

Sushi is a dish that is cooked as little as possible, which means that it places greater demands on the way in which food is prepared. This applies right from the purchase of fish and vegetables, storage, freezing, preparation of raw materials and preparing the food.

Japanese sushi chefs have a more in-depth knowledge of the different fish species for sushi because it takes longer to be trained for sushi.

At Sushi course for beginners you will learn how to handle raw materials and make sushi like Japanese sushi chefs in Japan.

Read more about the Sushi course 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.

Is there a difference between Japanese knives?

Yes, there is a huge difference between Japanese knives.

In Denmark most Japanese knives are made of stainless steel. These knives are of good quality that do not need much maintenance. But, they will never be as sharp as Japanese knives which are made in a different type of steel.

The knife blade of Japanese knives has a special design and they can become very sharp if sharpened the right way. The steel used for that type of knives affects the various raw materials. By using various cutting techniques you can emphasize the aromas, taste and quality of the raw materials for sushi.

At Sushi course for beginners you will learn how to apply the basic Japanese cutting techniques.

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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?

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.

In Japan, sushi restaurants only uses fish that are in season

In Japan, Japanese sushi chefs have a different view of fish. From childbirth Japanese children learn to eat all the ocean has to offer.
As a restaurant guest in Japan you will find that the menu in sushi restaurants looks different.

It is very normal that there are approx. 20 different kinds of seafood on the menu. In addition, the Japanese sushi restaurants replace the menu card several times a year.

This is because many fish can only be obtained in certain months over a year. Some fish species have to swim many kilometers every year, for example, to spawn.

If a fish is not in season it is not on the menu card.

At Sushi course for beginners you learn to cook tasty sushi with the most sought after fish for sushi in Denmark.

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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 tuna is best!

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In Japan you can buy tuna of different qualities. Some tuna fish are more exclusive than others.

It is relatively new that you can buy tuna of high quality in Europe.

A quality that is hard to get since the Japanese are a people who value tuna of the highest quality. They are also a population that would like to pay for quality.

The pictures show tuna of high quality.  I prefer simplicity when it comes to sushi so I can really taste the quality of the fish. However, I NEVER compromise on the Japanese techniques for preparing the food for sushi.

Read more about Sushi chef & sake sommelier Zoë Escher

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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.

The reason why you training as a Japanese sushi chef never stops

In 2002 I heard about the concept “In Japan your training will never stop”. At the time, I didn’t really think about it.

It is true.

In 2006 I was trained to become a Japanese Sushi Chef & Sake Sommelier in Los Angeles by a very skilled Executive Sushi Chef with 40 years of experience.

In 2012 I traveled back to Los Angeles where I improved my techniques and was introduced to a nigiri technique that takes 20 years to master.

In September this year, I visited the restaurant in Los Angeles where I assisted a Japanese sushi chef named Mino who has worked as a sushi chef for 36 years.

Just before turning back to Denmark my Japanese sushi chef  instructor Toshi said that I can come and go as I pleased which means that my training is not finish.

Rad more about Sushi chef & sake sommelier Zoë Escher

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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.

The reason why my Japanese sushi chef back ground a little different?

What many are not aware of is that I first started training the Japanese fencing called kendo in Denmark.

In 2004, I traveled to Japan for the first time on a training camp. During the stay I was introduced to Japanese cuisine both traditional dishes but also sushi.

In 2006, I was educated to become a Japanese Sushi chef & sake sommelier. Since then, I have traveled to Japan almost every year to inspire Japanese gastronomy, practise kendo kata and visiting friends.

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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.