As a part of our series of interactive virtual events, the Japan-America Society was proud to present our Virtual Japanese Cooking Class & Demo featuring Atlanta’s own Nakato Japanese Restaurant. During this exclusive event which featured access to discounts for online orders with the Nakato, our viewers followed along as the restaurant’s current owner, Sachiyo Nakato Takahara and Chef Ikumi led a demo including some of Nakato’s specialities, Temari Sushi and Chawan Mushi.
The class featured an introduction by Mrs. Takahara, of the Japanese dishes, giving viewers an opportunity to learn about the name origin of dishes, as well as their unique attributes. Chef Ikumi took over from there, moving step-by-step into the cooking process, giving tips along the way. Explanations for some of the distinctive Japanese cooking methods for the featured dishes were given through the demo, making for an experience that immersed our viewers into what makes Nakato’s cuisine so special. Additionally, there were ample recommendations on where to buy authentic Japanese tools and ingredients for the best possible end result.
Our Executive Director, Yoshi Domoto, was in constant communication with Mrs. Takahara and Chef Ikumi, asking questions essential to the preparation process and assisting in guiding our viewers through the demo. After the demo, Mr. Domoto continued to facilitate the Q&A portion of the class, allowing our viewers to ask about best practices for cooking, the restaurant’s most popular dishes, how to order during COVID-19, and more.
After the dishes were finished, Mrs. Takahara was able to walk viewers through Japanese eating practices tailored to the particular foods, previewing what one might expect when eating them in Japan. Finally, she explained the guidelines for the restaurant’s eventual reopening, planned for later this summer.
We encourage you to order from Nakato via their curbside pick-up and delivery system until they are able to reopen to the public! You can order from them via this link.
Official Blog of The Japan-America Society of Georgia 