sushi course for beginners

How long does it take to become a sushi chef in Japan?

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Sushi chef & sake sommerlier Zoë Escher
In Japan, it takes several years to be trained as a Japanese sushi chef. There are several reasons why

In Japan, there is a slightly different approach to taking an education. In Japan, you are never really finish your education. This means that the better you become at your skills, the more difficult are the techniques used as well.
It is very normal that it takes 10, 20 or 30 years to master sushi techniques at restaurant level.

The quality of sushi in Japan is something completely different than in Europe.
In Japan, the level of Japanese sushi restaurants is very high. The higher the level in the Japanese restaurants, the longer it takes to become good at mastering the various cooking techniques.
It is very normal that it takes several years to learn how to cook sushi rice to perfection. The Japanese customers only want to eat sushi which is made with rice which is perfect in consistency.

In Japan, the sushi restaurant follows the season for fish. There are typically 10-15 different fish on the menu.
As a sushi chef, you need to know how to handle the different fish species and be able to turn them into delicate and tasty sushi pieces.

Read more about Sushi Chef Zoë Escher & 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.

Why is soy sauce served for sushi?

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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.

Where is it best to buy sushi knives?

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It is best to buy sushi knives in Japan.

A sushi knife is not just a sushi knife. There are many things to keep in mind when buying a sushi knife.

In Japan, there are many different Japanese sushi knives of different sizes.
In Japan, sushi knives are made in different types of steel, some knife blades are easy to maintain and others are more challenging.

Some Japanese sushi knives are made of cheap steel, while others are made of exclusive steel, which has a long shelf life.

The shaft of the knife is also different. On traditional Japanese sushi knives, the handle is made of wood. In Japan you can buy sushi knives where the shaft is made of cheap wood, but you can also buy knives where the wood is exclusive. The actual design of the shaft also varies.

The weight of sushi knives is different. Some knives are light while others are heavy.

In Denmark, the selection of sushi knives is very small. In fact, it is far too small. The knives I use all come for Japan. If I need a new Japanese knife, then I will only buy it in Japan.

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.

What is best to drink to sushi?

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What is best to drink for sushi depends on where in the world you are.

Denmark is a country where wonderful wines are enjoyed all year round. Wines that go well with heavier dishes with meat or fish and seafood dishes that is lighter.

On a warm summer evening, I would suggest that you drink cold white wine that goes well with seafood. There are several different white wines and, I would recommend that you look past a wine merchant, they will be able to make the perfect match.

Champagne is also a very delicious wine to drink for sushi. The fine bubbles go really well with sushi. In Denmark, bubbles are most often drunk at special events. White wine and/or champagne are good choices for sushi.

In Japan, sushi restaurants most often serve cold beer for sushi. At the exclusive restaurants such as Michelin restaurants, you as a guest are offered sake. Sake is not just sake. Of course, it is important to sake wine that goes well with sushi.

When it comes to sushi, the selection of drinks is huge.

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 is the menu replaced at sushi restaurants in Japan?

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At sushi restaurants in Japan, the menu is changed quite often.
The Japanese restaurants follow the season for ingredients and so do sushi restaurants.

What few people think about, there is also seasonal fish.
In Japan, not all types of fish are available all year. Most fish swim many kilometers either to seek warmer water in winter
or to spawn in spring.
All fish have their very own life cycle for when they are born, where they grow, some are caught and other swimmers continue to spawn.

Japanese sushi restaurants prefer to use fish on the menu when they are in season that tastes best and has the most flavor. It also means the menuis changed continuously.

Some sushi restaurants also have the fish of the day on the menu. It often happens that the fishing boats catch a little different when they are out with the boats at sea.

At Japanese sushi course for beginners, you will learn which fish are most often used for sushi in Denmark. You will also learn how to handle and prepare the fish for sushi. You can read more about Japanese 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 many squid do Japanese people eat in Tokyo?

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Japan is one of the countries where all seafood is extremely fresh. Seafood is also very fresh. It is rare that you can go into a European fish store and buy a fish that has just been caught 3 hours before.

In Japan, it is very normal to eat squid that is only a few hours old.

Squid is a kind of shellfish that must be extremely fresh otherwise it ca become gummy in consistency. In Japan, squid are eaten as much as salmon is eaten in Europe. It is freshly caught in abundant quantity.

Grilled squid as seen here in the picture is a popular way to eat squid. When grilled on low heat for several hours, it becomes completely buttery and full of flavor.

In Tokyo, there are food stalls that stand and grill freshly caught squid every day.

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.

How many types of sushi are there?

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There are 5 different types of Japanese sushi.

Uramaki
Most people have encountered uramaki. It is a sushi roll which is available in one size. Sushi seaweed and the filling are inside the roll, while there is rice on the outside of the roll. In Japan, sushi restaurants sprinkle sesame seeds on the rice that covers the roll.

Maki
In Europe, maki is the most popular sushi rolls. In Europe you can order maki in 2 different sizes. Hosomaki is the smallest roll it is characterized by having filling in the roll. The sushi seaweed is on the outside of the sushi roll.

Futomaki is the big roll. It is a roll with several different kinds of ingredients, ranging from fish to different kinds of vegetables. To keep all the ingredients in place, sushi seaweed is wrapped tightly around the roll.

Temaki
In Europe, temaki is not so widespread. In Japan, there is a roll served in restaurants. It is a roll that looks like a cone with different kinds of fillings. Abroad, it goes by the name of hand rolls.

Sashimi
In Europe, sashimi is eaten to a lesser extent. It is fish without rice and vegetables. In Japan, sashimi is very common. It is at least as popular as the other types of sushi. In Japan, fish is cut in many different ways and the dish is served in several different ways.

Nigiri
Nigiri is fish with rice. In Japan, nigiri is very common. There are typically 20 different fish on the menu in Japanese sushi restaurants. There are many Japanese in Tokyo who choose to eat nigiri only when visiting a sushi restaurant. That way, they get to taste several different kinds of fish.

At the Sushi course for beginners, you learn that you can make tasty that can be served for everyday and occasions.

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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 big difference in rice for sushi?

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There is a big difference in sushi rice.

There are many countries that grow sushi rice. Japan, the United States, China and Korea grow large quantities of sushi rice every single year.

Within each country there are many different types of sushi rice. It can be compared to if you buy a bottle of white wine from France. In France, there is not just one who produces white wines. No, there are many different types of grape and wineries that produce white wines.

Like grapes for white wines, there are also types of sushi rice that are complex, ie. very difficult to cook and that has an impact on sushi restaurants, but also for you at home who want to make cook quality sushi rice.

In the Sushi course for beginners, you learn step by step how to cook sushi rice, so that the rice you cook at home is of a quality that is suitable for 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.

Is there a big difference in the quality of fish?

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Yes it is there.

There is a big difference in quality compared to whether it is a fish that you have to cook or whether it is a fish that is to be used for sushi.

Does it matter?

No, it’s not.

One of the criteria is that a fish must be as fresh as possible. If the fish is not fresh enough then you can risk getting sick.

In addition, it is also important where the fish has grown up. There are some areas in the world’s oceans that have just the right conditions in terms of the quality demanded for sushi.

At the Sushi course for beginners, you will learn what questions to ask a fishmonger when buying fish for sushi

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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 all types of vinegar be used for sushi?

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Not all types of vinegar are suitable for sushi.

There are many different kinds of vinegar in Denmark. There are some vinegar made in Denmark, others in Thailand, China or Japan.

It is always best to use Japanese vinegar for sushi and there are several reasons for that.

Japanese vinegar is made of rice grains. Since the Japanese vinegar is made on rice, the sour / sweet vinegar flavor suits the sushi rice.
If the vinegar were made on, for example apple the rice vinegar would have a completely different taste.

Rice vinegar is also used to preserve sushi rice so it can be kept at room temperature. Beside that, vinegar is also used as a kind of spice.

The aromas and fine flavors found in Japanese rice vinegar help to give the sushi rice the unique taste that characterizes Japanese sushi rice.

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, Accenture audit Elbek & Vejrup and many more.