Japanese Foodstory Cooking Class

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to be invited to a sneak preview of Japanese Foodstory's upcoming holiday cooking class and being a total cooking wreck and a bit of a health nut, I figured what better way to learn some culinary skills than through healthy Japanese cuisine. The studio is located in the heart of art district on Spring St. there are no shortages of independent parking lots around the area, depending on the day/time you go, it'll range around $5-8.

Prepped for cooking (Photo by Gurl in LA)

Upon arrival, i was greeted by Marian B (aka Marian The Foodie), who then introduced me to Yoko Isassi and her assistant. Everything was already set up on the cooking island ready for us to get to work. While waiting for the others to arrived, I took myself on a little tour of the studio; a nicely decorated studio, simple yet full of culture. Not a bad view of a street art in the next door parking lot either.  I also love the little Asian bowls lined up along side the window.

Yoko showing the class how to make sushi balls
(Photo by Gurl in LA)

Once everyone arrived, Yoko immediately got us started.  This isn't just like any other cooking class where there are no interactions with other attendees, this one, everyone works as a team and forces you to interact with each other. I think this is absolutely wonderful especially for social, singles, and team building events.  Yoko was very thorough with her instructions and would kindly ask each person to perform a specific duty. If all tasks are being done by others already, don't be afraid to just jump in and help as well! That's what this class is about; socialize, interact, learn and eat!


Once all the cooking was done, Yoko and her assistant prepped the presentation of each dish on the dining table.  The dishes we made were as follows:

- Daikon Salad
- Dashi broth marinated cherry tomatoes
- Chicken & Veggie Gratin with white miso sauce
- Salmon, squid, pickled mustard and halibut temari
- Strawberry jelly cake

Kyoto style suhsi balls (Photo by Gurl in LA)

Needless to say, we enjoyed the fruits of our labor with each and every bite.  Overall, I had such a wonderful experience during the 3 hours we were here.  I highly recommend Yoko's classes to anyone who wants to learn Japanese dishes in a fun, stress-free, and cultural environment. If you have any questions, Yoko will not hesitate to answer! She's truly an awesome teacher!

Enjoying our meals (Photo by Gurl in LA)

If you want to impress your family with some delicious Japanese cuisine this holiday, register for their special Part 1 Holiday Cooking Class being held on November 17th, 2012.