Intro to Japan as Inspiration

 Japan as Inspiration is a three-week course taught by Chef Martin Matysik. In this class we are going to utilize the skills and knowledge learned in the two previous blocks, basic Japanese cuisine and advanced Japanese cuisine. In this block, each day we have an ingredient we have to spotlight and incorporate into a bento box. The bento has 8 components; appetizer, tsukuri, nimono, yakimono, gohan/pickles/soup, dessert. We will be given freedom to make whatever we want as long as it uses Japanese components and the item of the day. We will also go through different stations throughout the section and have a chance to be on each station once. The day themes are tomato, chicken, asparagus, shellfish, cod, shiitake, blood orange and lastly eggs. 

      My expectations for this class is to be able to think more outside of the box and to able to be creative. I would like to be able to explore how far I can reach with still being able to incorporate basic knowledge of Japanese cuisine.  I hope to be able to create a recipe of my own and to be able to test and learn from my mistakes. As chef says " it won't be perfect at the first try, it takes time to test something and then learn and grow from there." I wish to be able to take criticism and to be able to give critiques as well. I think it is a great opportunity to gain others opinions to better ones recipe. I look forward to what others and myself come up with !