A Meal that Touches the Heart

Take your Japanese culinary experience to the next level in this workshop that allows you to participate in the preparation of a three-course, home-cooked meal. Far from the elaborate kaiseki meals that can be prepared only by chefs who have spent years honing their skills, Mami, a local chef and pâtissier, guides you in creating a simple yet heartfelt meal that you can learn to prepare in your own home using local, seasonal ingredients. The dishes include a vegetable dish, a fish dish, and a sushi; the actual ingredients will change with the seasons. Set in a stylish century-old liquor shop, you’ll also enjoy several types of Japanese sake that will be paired with each course. As the entire experience is conducted only in Japanese, your host Eric, using his own background as a Kyoto-based chef, will explain the details throughout your time here. Along the way, you’ll gain insight into the traditional Japanese approach to food, built on harmony, seasonality and visual presentation.

This experience offers rare insight into everyday Kyoto cuisine. Chef Mami walks you through each step of a seasonal three-course meal, explaining how the average Kyoto resident selects ingredients, balances flavors, and adapts to what’s available. You’ll gain an understanding of how Kyoto’s food culture reflects subtle shifts in season and regional sensibility. You’ll not only get to enjoy a home-cooked Japanese meal prepared by an experienced chef but also take part in the preparation of each dish. You’ll acquire valuable skills that enable you to prepare these simple dishes at home and learn how to plate and present them from the perspective of a Japanese chef. Preparing these foods on your own in the future will bring back the wonderful memories of your time spent in Kyoto. The experience ends with a shared table and open conversation. You’ll have time to ask about Kyoto's unique cuisine, sake, and culture — with two hosts fluent in the food, culture and spirit of the place.

Originally from Toronto, Canada, Eric has been living in Kyoto for over 22 years. He first came to Kyoto to complete his Master’s degree in Japanese Art History and has worked as a teacher and translator. Since 2022, he has been running a monthly pop-up restaurant, serving Cantonese-inspired dishes. Well connected with the art and culinary communities in Kyoto, he is eager to share this wonderful city with visitors.

A healthy appetite and curiosity to learn about Japanese cuisine.