Miso Making Workshop / Pillars of Japanese Cuisine
expert/guide: Junko Hamilton
Why a Culinary Experience in Japan?
Japan is one of the few countries to have their entire country’s cuisine listed as intangible heritage by UNESCO. Washoku (Japanese cuisine) highlights quality ingredients, harmony with nature, and appreciation of the seasons. The nature of it speaks volumes about Japanese people and to see it prepared before eating adds another layer of respect for this heritage cuisine. Through food, you can deeply experience the culture. Experiencing it with a private chef gives even deeper insight and allows guests to interact, ask questions, and learn how to bring some of these culinary traditions home with them.
Why Miso Making?
Fermentation culture has gained rapid traction across the world, both for its health benefits and culinary diversity. Miso is a staple of the Japanese cuisine, and also plays a role in why people live so long in the land of the rising sun. This miso making workshop is really a masterclass in miso, where participants will learn not only how to make miso from start to finish, but also why it’s important, different types of miso and how they are made, how to cook with miso, other ways to use the raw ingredients, and of course eating a meal prepared by an expert that utilizes all of these components. Overall, the experience can take 2-3 hours (can be catered for guests with time restrictions or requests).
Why Pillars of Japanese Cuisine in Kyoto by the Sea?
Pillars of Japanese Cuisine is the concept for this experience, focusing on a few of the ingredients and sauces that make of the foundation of so many Japanese dishes. Learning how to make Japanese dashi (soup stock), ponzu sauce, and other simple recipes that Japanese utilize in daily cooking is a great way to begin your Japanese culinary journey. The cuisine offered in the area is based off of locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, with an emphasis on food that is good for the body. This region has a 36,000 year history, reaching back to hunter-gatherer groups. Nutrient rich volcanic soil, the proximity of mountains to the sea, an abundance of natural springs, clean ionized air, and a huge diversity of wildlife make this region the premier location for a culinary journey.
Why Miso Making in Kyoto by the Sea?
Researchers have not only keyed in on the importance of fermented food, but the people who live in the Kyoto by the Sea region. The people of the Tango Region (part of Kyoto by the Sea) are living healthily past 100-years-old, and include among their annals the world record holder for oldest verified male in history. The concentration of centenarians is so high that this is the location researchers have honed in on to study longevity. These studies have garnered international attention, and now research groups, doctors, and other health professionals are looking to this area to learn the secrets.
About our specialist
Junko Hamilton is an experienced cooking instructor across various cooking styles including Japanese, Irish, and other European cuisine. She has a deep knowledge of the culinary arts with a particular focus on fermentation and the relationship between food and health. She lived in Dublin between 2008 and 2014, and worked in the food arena there leading and running workshops for many well-known chefs and restaurants throughout Europe. She has appeared as a guest lecturer at Electric Picnic, Experience Japan, and a host of similar events. She is a strong proponent of, “you are what you eat.”
The miso making experience is best during the winter months. But all year round, Junko runs the Pillars of Japanese Cooking class which focuses on the key foundational recipes that make up the basis for a lot of Japanese cuisine. There is still an emphasis on miso and fermentation culture. This cooking class is more of a lecture and eating experience thatt will teach participants how to make some of the most important sauces used in Japanese cuisine. Junko will cover everything from how to make them, foods to pair them with, and even where to get all of the ingredients near you when you return home. You will leave with a deep knowledge, understanding, and recipes just in case you forget how to make the recipes!
Where is this experience?
Interested in booking this experience? Looking for more information? Let us know!