Japanese or healthy cooking classes.?

Question

I am near Los Angeles and looking for a beginner cooking class, preferably a Japanese cooking class because I need to learn how to cook Japanese food (says my mom). I am not trying to do this as a career but I am sick and tired of being affraid of the stove. I just need to learn the basics of preparing food and I am not sure where to look. I tried to search for japanese cooking classes but no luck. Does anyone know of a place or a website? Maybe a good cook book or two for beginners?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Whole Foods offers cooking classes covering all sorts of topics from the basics of using a knife to ethnic cuisines. I'd recommend checking with your local Whole Foods and starting there.

As for cookbooks, I haven't found a really great Japanese cookbook for beginners yet but I can recommend some good basic cookbooks:

1. Joy of Cooking - any edition (used okay). This classic covers the basics of baking, cooking meats, veggies, etc. and explains the whys as well as the how tos. Most of the recipes are reliable.


2. How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman
An excellent, modern cookbook. I gave this to my brother for Christmas and he loved it!

3. America's Test Kitchen cookbooks feature product recommendations, clear explanations and reliable, fool-proof recipes.

Alton Brown has some good cookbooks out. Cook's Illustrated and Cooking Light are 2 very good magazines.

Online resources to consider:

Recipes and information:
www.foodtv.com
www.epicurious.com

Recipes and to get an idea about America's Test Kitchen & Cooking Light:
www.americastestkitchen.com
www.cookinglight.com

Mark Bittmans' website:
http://www.howtocookeverything.tv/htce/Home/index.html

After learning a few basics and getting an idea of what you look for in a cookbook, you can check out Japanese cookbooks at your local bookstore.

I prefer to go to my local Kinokunya bookstore. You can find Japanese cookbooks in English in some Japanese grocery stores or at a Japantown bookstore.

Answer 2

I would start with a basic cooking class to get you to feel more comfortable in the kitchen first and then you can experiment with different types of classes after that.

Answer 3

Healthy cooking classes