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.

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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.

Tuna is just tuna

TunaIn 2012 I visited my Japanese sushi chef instructor Toshi in Los Angeles. I got some private lessons in his restaurant where he introduced to a nigiri technique that takes 20 years to master. 

One day one of his talented Japanese sushi chefs showed me 2 different kinds of tuna. Tuna is called  toro and the piece on the left side is matured up to 3 weeks before it is used 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.

Gem

Why is local fish not used for sushi?

FiskIt’s really good questions that I sometimes get on my sushi courses.

In Denmark we have a lot of fish of very high quality suitable for sushi. It is especially whitefish found in Danish waters.

In Denmark most people are familiar with salmon, tuna and tiger prawns. Seafood is to find on any menu regardless of where in the world you are.

In different parts of the world have local seafood which can be advantageously to use for sushi. In Japan you can find sea urchin which is a fine and delicate shellfish.

Why there are no more local fish that has found its way to the menu is a good question. The consumers do also have the courage to eat sushi prepared with local fish.

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 tuna in Japan?

The tuna selection is very large in Japan and there are several reasons for that.

There live about 130 million citizens Japan who are fond of tuna of different qualities. It is from the exclusive tuna used in Michelin restaurants for tuna, used in small street eating places.

The Japanese are fond of food and particularly tasty food of high quality. In Japan tuna is not just tuna. There is a big difference if there is a young or slightly older tuna fish that is being caught.

There is a big difference between the quality of the tuna meat depending on where the tuna meat is cut from the fish.

You will experience different types of tuna when you are in Japan or in a large such as Los Angeles, California.

You can read more 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.

What kind of tuna is the most eaten abroad?

Most people have the impression that the classic red tuna we know in Denmark is also the most popular fish abroad.

In countries like US and Japan there are many other types of tuna.

Most people in Denmark do not really know about the white tuna and called Yellowtail. It is fish that has at least as nice and delicate taste as the red tuna. In US and Japan many do prefer the white tuna. The white tuna has different flavors, shades and aromas which make it suitable for sushi and dishes where the red tuna does not fit properly.

At Sushi course for beginners you learn to make sushi with the most popular fish in Europe 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.

How does the cold sea water affect fish species?

FiskThe water in Scandinavian are cold compared to tropical climates. It obviously affects what kind of species in the sea.

In Danish waters are the fish type whitefish. The term covers species such as turbot, cod and pike which I often see in the window of a fishmonger. White fish is a fish that swims slowly therefore the meat is white.

The tuna as also known as one of the ocean’s fastest swimmers that is way meat is red.

If your ar interest to learn more about whitefish and tuna 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

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.

Is it unhealthy to eat a lot of tuna?

The tuna is a popular fish eaten all over the world.
As most people are aware that tuna contains a little mercury because we are having difficult in taking care of the planet.

The National Board of Health recommends that you do not eat more than 200 grams of tuna per week.

The Japanese are only population in the world who eats the most tuna. The Japanese population eat approx. 80% of all the tuna sold on the world market. Although they consume large amounts of tuna that far exceed the 300 grams per week they are still the population who live longest.

I am not worried about eating tuna. I think hair dyeing is more unhealthy to the body than 200 grams of tuna.

Read more about 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.

Japanese donburi with tuna

In 2013 I made this beautiful fisherman dish which called doburi.

The dish looks very simple but it is certainly not. If you make a dish that is so simple then the sushi rice must be cooked to perfection.
The tuna must be equally large and cut on such that the slices are silky and melt in the mouth. Needless to say, you must handle the cutting techniques used to cut tuna.

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.

Is it a good idea to eat sushi when you are pregnant?

Both yes and no.

The Japanese eat very raw fish as a nation and they are a population that has children like all other countries.

During the training to become Japanese Sushi chef I learned about the Japanese rules that apply to pregnant women. According to the Japanese rules you should not eat raw tuna during the first 3 months of pregnancy. Then you can eat sushi everyone else.

I have full understanding of those who choose not to eat raw fish throughout the pregnancy. I also have full understanding of the pregnant women who choose to enjoy fish while they are pregnant.

I do not perceive raw fish as the biggest “sinner” in relation to pregnancy. I will be more concerned about the chemicals and additives that are in hair dye, makeup, perfume etc which a lot women.

Read more about 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.