East Asia: Umami, Heat, & Balance Spice Blending Workshop w/ ITSUMONO

Class Description:

Explore the vibrant and deeply satisfying flavors of East Asia in this interactive, hands-on culinary workshop. Over the course of two guided hours, guests will learn how to create craveable dishes by understanding the essential elements of umami, aromatics, and balanced seasoning.

Together, we’ll examine the building blocks of East Asian flavor, from layering savory umami and using aromatics effectively to balancing salt, sweetness, acidity, and heat. Through guided tastings and flavor exercises, participants will learn to think about seasoning like a chef—not simply follow recipes.

Guests will taste prepared blends and ingredients, map their own flavor preferences, and create a custom seasoning blend to take home. Demonstrations will showcase how these techniques can be applied to simple, everyday dishes, making it easy to bring bold, balanced flavors into home cooking.

Whether you’re an experienced cook or just beginning your culinary journey, this approachable and engaging class offers practical skills, memorable flavors, and inspiration for your next meal.

In this workshop, guests will:

• Learn how to build rich, umami-forward flavor
• Explore the role of aromatics in creating depth and complexity
• Discover how to balance salt, sweetness, acidity, and heat
• Participate in guided tastings and flavor comparisons
• Complete a flavor mapping exercise to identify personal taste preferences
• Create a custom seasoning blend to take home
• Learn techniques for layering flavor in simple dishes
• Discover ways to apply these principles to everyday cooking
• Participate in a Q&A and discussion with the instructor

No cooking experience necessary! Just come ready to taste, experiment, and discover the flavors that inspire you.