Arkadiusz, originally from Poland, already has 10+ years of experience as a sushi chef at one of the most famous world-class Japanese restaurant brands that many celebrities love. While working in many cities and countries (because the restaurant brand owns many branches across the world), he is now in Istanbul.
While working as a sushi chef there, he has been taking our courses, both Sushi Masterclass Foundation Course and Advanced Course, from our academy.
Meet Arkadiusz from Poland
Can you tell us what brought you to become a sushi chef?
The main reason was the feeling I got when I saw people’s reactions to the dishes I made. The interactions with people as a sushi chef are like nothing else, and it is such a great feeling when you receive a compliment from your guests.
What do you find fascinating about Japanese cuisine/sushi?
As Japan has four seasons and the ingredients available each season are often different, the characteristics of dishes vary throughout the year. That makes the cuisine even more appealing.
The cuisine is delicate. As a chef, it is essential to treat small details with care while keeping every aspect in harmony.
Great to hear that. Do you have a dream as a chef?
Well, my short-term goal is to become a head sushi chef in the near future. But, when it comes to a longer-term dream, I am still on the journey of searching for it.
Either way, it would be necessary to have solid knowledge and techniques while I figure out my longer-term goals. When I found the courses from MJCA, I thought it was a perfect opportunity because I could learn them directly from Japanese master chefs.
The Struggles
Tell me about your struggles to learn more about sushi or Japanese cuisine.
Because I work with such amazing chefs every day, I can learn a lot from them. However, the fact that I have never been to Japan makes me wonder, “Am I doing it the right way?” I even wonder whether I have the right skills as a professional sushi chef.
The restaurant operation often gets very busy, and I do not get to ask questions to other chefs. That makes me think there is something else I can learn or room for improvement in knowledge and techniques.
As much as I am grateful for the opportunity to work at this prestigious restaurant, I appreciate the environment where I am today. However, we chefs are all rivals at the end of the day, and it is sometimes hard to get as many culinary tips or as much knowledge as I wish from my fellow chefs.
With these struggles, I was looking for a place where I could improve my skills. One day, I found this Sushi Masterclass at MJCA. They seemed perfect for my need, which is to receive personalized feedback and professional advice from Japanese master chefs. So, it was an easy decision for me to give them a try.
Working with MJCA
You have 10+ years of experience and worked for a top restaurant, but you still took the “Foundation” course and “Advanced” course. Was it helpful?
In fact, there were many parts that I had already been aware of in the course. However, there is always room to learn something new. The course helped me go back to the basics and fill the knowledge gap that I had.
Overall, I learned a lot from the foundation course and am glad I took it. The foundation course surely helps an experienced chef like me earn a more solid foundation in the art of sushi with the help of real master chef teachers.
Glad to hear that. How do you like the 1-on-1 Live Feedback Session with a master chef?
Live 1-on-1 feedback sessions with a master chef have a significant impact on my learning. Getting positive feedback from him has led me to gain some confidence. Also, he points out some small yet crucial details I never thought of. His instruction is precise and detailed, so I learn these important details every time.
I can also ask him questions without worrying about being judged, and I can get trustworthy answers. Now I have a good place to ask questions and get the right answers. It is very useful for me.
Has anything changed since you started taking the academy’s courses?
Recently I got very positive feedback on my sushi skill from someone in a very senior position at the restaurant. It is something that only rarely happens, so it was a great outcome for me.
Wow, congrats! Do you think MJCA’s program helped you get the compliment from the legendary chef?
I would definitely say so. Generally speaking, there are not many chances at a workplace where you can get a proper lecture from well-trained chefs. So, the only way to improve your skills is to watch and learn from other chefs. But, the problem with this learning style is that I don’t know what I am doing well or not.
But, thanks to the personalized & detailed feedback from the master chef through this program, I could deepen my understanding of why each step of making nigiri is important and what I can change in order to get a better result. I put these new insights from the session into everyday practice, leading to a compliment from the owner. So, I am sure that the program helped me get praised this time.
So, I am telling my fellow chefs that investing your time and money in polishing your skill is worthwhile, and I can recommend this program for it.
Try It Yourself
Even if you are a professional sushi chef, there might be limited opportunities for you to take lessons or advice from experienced chefs. In such cases, it is beneficial for you to consider online programs like MJCA’s.
One of our main courses at MJCA, the Sushi Masterclass Foundation Course, has provided both experienced chefs and complete beginners with the essential foundation for making sushi. The course covers skills and techniques from choosing rice and fish to presenting sushi on a plate.
After completing the course, Sushi Masterclass Advanced Course will be your option if you want to take your skills to another level.
