As Japanese cuisine has become more accessible worldwide, the demand for learning the dishes has also risen. However, it is hard to find high-quality professional-level Japanese cuisine courses from highly-experienced Japanese chefs. It is unfortunate because there are many chefs and home cooks out there who want to learn the cuisine.
You could find a sushi school in your neighborhood, but the teachers might not meet your expectations due to their lack of proper training or experience. At the same time, it is not hard to see many star chefs show their flashy techniques on social media to increase their fame, but who explains what it really takes to master those techniques and teaches you how to do it STEP BY STEP? Unfortunately, very very few chefs would. Those who claim they can “teach” their techniques are usually amateurs who never had the fundamental skills and experiences to work for renowned restaurants.
Simply put, it is nearly impossible to find a way to learn sushi skills from Japanese cuisine experts, let alone from Japanese master chefs. Especially if you are outside of Japan, it is already hard enough to find a way to improve your skills.
Even if you are in Japan, what are the chances you can actually learn the skills from master chefs? Sadly enough, if you do not speak the language, that makes it even harder. If you are in Japan, you could go to sushi schools taught in English, but of course, it usually costs several thousand dollars just for the fee. If money is not an issue for you, go for it.
One of the reasons our academy started offering online courses is to help these enthusiasts to improve their skills wherever they are in the world. And one of our eye-catching courses is Sushi Masterclass -Foundation (Certificate Plan). This sushi chef school program has six modules, including learning-by-doing methods and live feedback sessions from master chefs.
In this blog, we will explain every reason why our online sushi chef school is the one not to miss.
What is Online Sushi Chef School?
An online sushi chef school is where you can acquire sushi-making skills and knowledge from master chefs or experienced chefs with virtual content. Sushi chef training usually involves hands-on instructions and repetitive practices, which you can also do online.
Our Sushi Masterclass -Foundation- Course with Certificate is a 6-week program, including individual live feedback sessions with a master chef. You will also have access to a high volume of essential information regarding sushi-making skills. These video materials and written instructions will help you acquire the foundational yet profound knowledge of rice, fish, knife, plating, nigiri, rolls, etc.
As mentioned above, the plan includes learning-by-doing lectures and live feedback sessions with our master chef. So, you can reflect your knowledge from the course to the hands-on training, where a master chef will complement your learning. In other words, you can input and output knowledge and skills.
Here are some Q&As for you to comprehend our course more.
Do I have to finish the course within 6 weeks?
Technically no. Although having a live session per week has a huge advantage, you do not necessarily finish the whole course within six weeks. However, you can expect to improve your skills constantly if you keep up the pace to work on the six modules.
Will I still receive a certificate even though it takes longer than 6 weeks to complete the course?
Yes. Note that you will receive a certificate upon the completion of the course. As stated earlier, you do not have to finish the course within six weeks while it is recommended.
Do I have to take a session every day?
No. Regarding a live session, we will aim to schedule a session once a week. As for online self-study materials, you can work on them at your own pace.
Do I have to take a session at a fixed date/time?
Not necessarily. For each live session, our staff will liaise with you and a chef to schedule a session, considering your work/study schedule.
3 Reasons Why MJCA Online Sushi Chef School is Good for You
This sushi chef school program is a premium learning experience for anyone who wants to learn Japanese cuisine. Our master chefs are top-notch experts in Japanese cuisine who have been in the industry inside and outside Japan for a long time.
Mr. Takahashi, one of our master chefs, worked in a most-renowned kaiseki restaurant in Japan for 15 years. He also served as a popular sushi instructor at Tokyo Sushi Academy for four years. With his experience, he has helped many chefs and home cooks to improve their skills.
Based on the knowledge and experience of experienced chefs like him, we have our own original, tailored, and structured educational content. Let’s take a peek at what you can expect from our course below:
1. Detailed Step-By-Step Video Content & More
Our video content is carefully designed and developed to demonstrate the details of the techniques you are trying to master. Every technique is broken down into smaller steps that are easier to understand and follow. Videos also include a lot of master chefs’ pro tips that you can find nowhere else.
On top of this video content, you will have full and immediate access to all the course materials you purchased, such as written instructions, recipes, self-learning support tools, etc.
2. Real Master Chef Teachers
Sure, you may be able to get some information about sushi-making skills online. But is it possible to learn professional techniques and tips directly from master chefs on the Internet?
The answer is obvious. They are extremely hard to get. Unless you are in training in Japan, you will not be able to take down knowledge from master chefs. But then again, you are less likely to be trained in a restaurant in Japan if you do not speak the language.
At Master of Japanese Cuisine Academy, we make it possible for you to learn them directly from master chefs. And you can ask questions in English.
3. Personalized Feedback and Mentoring with Master Chefs
As a student, a few main perks you will receive are:
- Five live feedback sessions with a Japanese sushi master chef (Language: English)
- Personalized feedback from master chefs
Our 1-hour live feedback session is straightforward and takes place via ZOOM. Before a session, we will ask you to provide videos and pictures based on a weekly assignment – videos of your motion of slicing fish, photos of the presentation of your finished sushi plate, etc.
You, a master chef, and one of our team members will be in the sessions. Looking at those materials, our master chef will provide you with precise advice and tips you can work on. It almost feels like you and the master chef are in the same room where you can receive their full support and knowledge.
Why is Personalized Feedback Important?
At this point, you might wonder, “Isn’t video content enough for learning sushi-making skills? Why is personalized feedback important?”
That is because the techniques and knowledge you can learn from video content are standardized. And they may not solve your questions since each student has different goals and challenges, such as no accessibility to ingredients and proper tools and different levels of cooking experience. And it is hard to find answers just by reading some information online.
Although we try to cover as many potential issues as possible, there is a limitation to addressing all the individual and unique challenges with a one-way learning method.
Another reason MJCA emphasizes feedback is that it is simply the most effective and fastest way to improve. With experienced eyes, the master chef can immediately tell you what you are doing well and what to do differently. You need feedback to avoid repeating mistakes a thousand times before you realize that you are doing wrong.
That is when personalized feedback and mentoring sessions become handy and helpful. They can maximize your learning experience, and you can apply the input to your daily cooking.
Real Life Feedback
Below, let’s look at examples of how our former students received personalized feedback from our master chefs.
Mustafa’s Experience
Mustafa, a sushi chef in Morocco, had already acquired good sushi-making skills. Yet, our master chef pointed out some points he could improve on.
The advice from our master chef included that the shape and size of the nigiri were not identical. It made them look not as appealing as they should. Also, it is vital to consider the color of the whole picture. Sushi rolls are mainly white and light colors, so plating them on a darker plate would create good contrasts, which make the entire sushi plate more appealing.
As often discussed, presentation is essential when serving sushi to your guests. We can agree that sushi is not all about how fresh the fish is or how flavorful the rice is. A good presentation can enhance your guests’ experience and even their perception of the sushi.
Ganesha’s Experience
Ganesha, a sushi chef in India, also received personalized and detailed feedback from our master chef.
As for the presentation, the same goes for Ganesha as Mustafa. However, she also received more detailed feedback and crucial tips. For example, human brains generally recognize things from left to right, so placing tuna – the most colorful and appealing fish – on the left may impress your guests more.
Also, it is better to consider the color contrast and arrange a strong-colored fish (toro and salmon, etc.) next to a light-colored fish (squid and white fish, etc.). For example, the order of toro → white fish → salmon → white fish → mackerel → prawn from left to right would look more sophisticated.
Judging from the pictures, our master chef also mentioned that she could improve her way of slicing fish. Also, he pointed out that she needed to time it right to boil shrimp perfectly because the tails of the shrimp looked a little too dark.
As you can see above, knowing the basics does not mean that you are presenting a sushi plate correctly. There could be so much more to understand to improve your sushi-making skills. In our course, you can learn the skills, such as how to slice fish properly for sushi, the detailed steps of making nigiri pieces correctly, the right way to present a plate, etc.
Start Taking Classes at Online Sushi Chef School Now!
Finding a sushi chef school outside Japan is challenging even though you see a huge demand for it. Our sushi chef school program is there to solve this problem. At our online academy, you have this rare opportunity to learn sushi-making skills from Japanese master chefs in English.
Receiving direct advice from real master chefs is helpful. It will encourage you to seriously consider learning more about the basics of the art of sushi. We are confident that our original mentoring program with a personalized feedback system will help you to take your skills to another level.
Let’s dive into the world of sushi with our online sushi chef school program!
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