The Journey of Katsuobushi and Dashi
Saturday, September 5, 2026
12:0 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Instructor: Chef Aiko
Location: The Center
$50 Center Members, $60 General Public
The Center is very excited to host visiting Chef Aiko from Himeji, Japan for her katsuobushi and dashi cooking workshop! Aiko is also a Japanese culinary instructor and cooking expert, sharing her knowledge of washoku and dashi culture through cooking classes and workshops in Japan and abroad.
This interactive workshop will give participants the special opportunity to use a traditional katsuobushi shaver from Japan, and experience shaving katsuobushi themselves. While enjoying the aroma of freshly shaved katsuobushi, participants will make their own dashi to enjoy as a broth, and enjoy dashimaki tamago (Japanese rolled omelet). This workshop will be more than just learning a new recipe or cooking technique. Participants will experience dashi with their own senses by shaving katsuobushi, smelling its aroma, tasting freshly made dashi, and discovering why dashi is considered the heart of Japanese cuisine.
Workshop Menu:
- Onigiri
- Dashimaki Tamago (Japanese Rolled omelet) served with dashi
- Miso Soup
- Teriyaki Chicken
About Chef Aiko:
Chef Aiko is a visiting chef from Japan, based in the city of Himeji, Japan in Hyogo Prefecture, about 60 miles west of Osaka and famous for its majestic Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Aiko became a chef because of her love of cooking and eating that started with the influence of her family growing up. She has previously lived in California and is excited to share her culinary skills with the community during her return visit to San Francisco this summer! Aiko is the chef of her own restaurant, where she hosts her Himeji Washoku Umami Cooking Exchange cooking classes for locals and foreign tourists alike. She loves meeting people from all over and sharing Japanese culture and Washoku cuisine, and is always eager to learn and try foods from places outside of Japan as well.
Check out Aiko’s restaurant and classes and beautiful photos of Aiko’s cooking on her Instagram accounts:
If you ever happen to travel to Japan, visitors to Himeji can book cooking lessons with Aiko through AirBnB Experiences.