Sumi Saikawa, cooking teacher

Sumi Saikawa
Sumi's Kitchen In Sydney

Sumi's Kitchen In Sydney

location_on Sydney

local_activity classes: Japanese CookingCooking

5.0 (124)

I was born in a Zen temple in Kobe Japan, which was an amazing environment to grow up in as a little kid. I was always in the kitchen to help make shojin ryori with mum (Temple cooking) for as long as I can remember for the temple. This was where my curiosity and fascination of food came from especially its part to play in culture and role it plays to keep the body and mind healthy.

From there, I graduated from university and worked as a dietitian in Japan for many years before meeting my husband and coming to Australia. My husband and I immigrated to Australia over 27 years ago now where we have made ourselves a family with 2 (not so young anymore) children. Now, I run lots of health oriented - cooking classes including "shojin ryori" for people living in Australia and Japan from all stages of life from the elderly to children.

My meal style: I try to give to initiative to prepare the foods even in a busy life. I appreciate the foods and I try to make food which will make me be happy.






Classes






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Reviews

(124)


Seul Lee Mar 2024


Sumi was very friendly, loved her class!
I will definitely revisit her class in the near future

Everlyn Chiang Mar 2024


We attended a Japanese Sweets class. The teacher was incredibly nice and lovely. She was patient, knowledgeable, and made the class enjoyable.

The venue was comfortable and conducive to learning. The materials were provided.

In the class, we learned how to make three types of nerikiri sweets: sunflower, fireworks, and Milky Way, all made of white bean paste. The instructions were easy to follow, and I gained valuable skills in Japanese sweet-making techniques.

The class was definitely good value for money and what I liked most about the class was the hands-on experience and the opportunity to create beautiful and delicious Japanese sweets. The teacher's guidance and encouragement made the whole process enjoyable and fulfilling.

Thank you Saikawa-san.

Elizabeth Kelly Mar 2024


I have always loved wagashi sweets so it was a beautiful tranquil experience to learn how to shape these myself and learn three different seasonal designs.

Cooking class review by Elizabeth Kelly - Sydney

Joshua Chant Mar 2024


Great experience and insightful intro to Japanese culture and sweets. The tea ceremony was special too.

Kylie Riashi Feb 2024


My husband and I did the Vegan & GF Japanese cooking class with Sumi.
I highly recommend it!
Sumi is a lovely soul and a great teacher.
She has structured the class very well and was also very organised.
The class ran smoothly and I didn't have any questions by the end.
Very much enjoyed!

Vegan and Gluten Free Japanese Cooking Class review by Kylie Riashi - Sydney

Jamie Horsfield Feb 2024


This class was amazing. Cooking everything fresh and from scratch made it so much more enjoyable

Sumi is very knowledgeable and was a pleasure to learn from her

Karen Leggatt Feb 2024


I had a great morning, Sumi is a wonderful teacher and the food selection choices were perfect. Everything about today was fantastic and I would highly recommend to anyone.

Stefan Sperl Feb 2024


It was soo good and nice to learn new things about the japanese food and how to cook it

Sandeep Mirpuri Feb 2024


Sumi is a great teacher. She was very organised and had everything we needed arranged, including nicely printed recipes that we were going to use. She has a lovely kitchen and home where she hosts her class. All in all it was a fantastic experience made special by how friendly and involved Sumi is in her class

Gluten Free and Vegan Sushi Making Class review by Sandeep Mirpuri - Sydney

Jason Wu Dec 2023


Great class, with hands on experience. Instructions were easy to follow with a recipe guide given to take home.

Cooking class review by Jason Wu - Sydney

Lois Cho Dec 2023


Sumi was so informative and patient. My team absolutely loved the wagashi workshop! The three wagashi we made were really cute too.

Noureldin Tarraf Dec 2023


The class so well organized and ran so smoothly. Sumi is so friendly and helpful. And the results were so yummy! Looking forward to making this at home!

Cooking class review by Noureldin Tarraf - Sydney

Mrs Jessica Lilley Dec 2023


Sumi was a great instructor and her kitchen set up was perfect. I loved the hands on cooking we all participated in to then form a meal to share together at the end. So delicious! Highly recommend!

Vegan and Gluten Free Japanese Cooking Class review by Mrs Jessica Lilley - Sydney

Joann Abrahamse Dec 2023


Highly recommend this class. I’ve already used the cooking skills gained to make a number of dishes for the family, that were enjoyable to make and eat. Would also highly recommend buying teacher Sumi-san’s cookbook, finding it very useful post the class in combination with the skills from the class.

Cooking class review by Joann Abrahamse - Sydney

Nicole Flex Dec 2023


Sumi was a wonderful teacher, class was well planned and paced
Friendly and fun atmosphere, Sumi shared not just great recipes and cooking tips but also insights on food and culture
Overall an enjoyable morning and beautiful food too!

Jackie Harris Dec 2023


My 4 girlfriends & I had a fantastic time learning the art of Japanese Dessert making. Concentration was the key but we laughed alone, were given lots of help from Sumi & ended up taking home the cutest treats for Christmas.

Caroline Lee Ming Dec 2023


A very inviting atmosphere. Sumi was very patient, knowledgeable and engaging. The food was delicious! Thank you for an awesome class!

Cooking class review by Caroline Lee Ming - Sydney

Michelle de Vries Nov 2023


Sumí was fantastic. I highly recommend this class. It was well organised, easy to follow along and a lot of fun making the dishes and then enjoying them for lunch.

Cooking class review by Michelle de Vries - Sydney

Sergio Perez Nov 2023


Sumi's cooking class at her cozy place with green views was a delightful and charming experience. The food was spectacular, highly recommended!

Diana McKay Nov 2023

2 ClassBento workshops attended


Sumi is a very patient teacher and we made three lovely fresh wagashi sweets. We really enjoyed the class - ありがとう ございます

Rita Savanah Oct 2023


Thank you Sumi for a wonderful learning experience. From the moment we arrived we felt comfortable in your kitchen. Not only did we learn the art of cooking Japanese food we also learned about Japanese culture. The food was delicious as was the company. Highly recommend .
Rita and Séan.

Cooking class review by Rita Savanah - Sydney

Georgia Wilson-Williams Sep 2023


Sumi was an incredible host and teacher as we learnt how to prepare a delicious vegan & gluten free zen meal. The lush location in St Ives, and her friendly pups, added to the atmosphere of the day too. The experience was unique, with thorough explanations of the traditions and nutrition of the food we were preparing as well as physical recipes to take home. Sumi is knowledgeable, prompt and friendly. A highlight was learning about kelp stock, & sharing the class with other foodies who we worked and ate alongside. Thank you Sumi for a lovely Sunday of learning!

Vegan and Gluten Free Japanese Cooking Class review by Georgia Wilson-Williams - Sydney

Darian Quadrio Sep 2023


An excellent way to spend a few hours. Food was delicious, company was great, teacher was organized, venue was serene. A beautiful experience.

Tom Smith Aug 2023


The entire experience was enjoyable from start to finish. Sumi was well organised and a great guide.

Vegan and Gluten Free Japanese Cooking Class review by Tom Smith - Sydney

Michelle Li Aug 2023

3 ClassBento workshops attended


My girl and I booked this class to celebrate daddy’s birthday. It’s fabulous!

Cooking class review by Michelle Li - Sydney

Sue Gilchrist Aug 2023

2 ClassBento workshops attended • 3 reviews


Could not recommend this class more! There was a great balance of having techniques demonstrated to us and doing the cooking ourselves. The food was delicious and the setting was lovely too.

Sue Gilchrist Aug 2023

2 ClassBento workshops attended • 3 reviews


The whole experience was wonderful. Sumi is an excellent supportive and informative teacher. The hands on cooking experience really helped with the learning. The meal we all cooked as a team was delicious. And the setting in Sumi's home in the Aussie bush was lovely. Highly recommended. We'll be back for the sweets course.

Rachel Simkover Aug 2023


Amazing class! Instructor was knowledgeable and a great host. We had a lot of fun and left inspired.

Vegan and Gluten-Free Japanese Sweets Class: Autumn Menu review by Rachel Simkover - Sydney

Emma Kelson Jul 2023


We did a large group booking for a 12 year old as a birthday activity. We had a fantastic time. Sumi was great, clear in her instruction and patient. She was also very flexible with our needs. Would recommend. Thanks Sumi!

Anne O'Connell Jul 2023

2 ClassBento workshops attended


A great 'hands on' class with Sumi, creating (and consuming,) delicious dishes, in her large kitchen overlooking a tranquil national park.

Felicia Suteja Jun 2023

2 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews


Sumi was an amazing teacher and answered many of our questions. Her home felt very peaceful, my mum and I really enjoyed our class :) The tea ceremony at the end of our wagashi making class was really memorable. The wagashi and tea were delicious as well! I would definitely recommend her classes for people who would like to try something fun in a relaxing environment.

Cooking class review by Felicia Suteja - Sydney

Julia Kagi Jun 2023

2 ClassBento workshops attended


Sumi was a fantastic teacher. I enjoyed learning about how to prepare the marinades with vegetables which I wouldn’t normally use. Very informative and interesting and was easy to follow.

Sofia Yusman Jun 2023


Sumi was excellent in explaining how to make wagashi, the materials provided was great and has everything. Would recommend the class to anyone interested in traditional Japanese sweets.

Vegan and Gluten-Free Japanese Sweets Class: Autumn Menu review by Sofia Yusman - Sydney

Leanne Freel Jun 2023


Brilliant teacher, very interactive and a beautiful home. The course was very interesting and so much fun. I would definitely recommend this for anyone interested in learning more about cooking

Cooking class review by Leanne Freel - Sydney

Raquel Wachter Jun 2023


Sumi was so nice and we had the best time! She explains things well, answers questions, and then you get to divide into groups to make the best Japanese vegan lunch ever! It was so much fun, I wish I could learn more from her, so we bought her cookbook too to bring home with us. Highly recommend for a fun date or even would go solo to learn and be surrounded by likeminded individuals!

Amrita Sur May 2023


Sumi is a wonderful teacher and a host! My partner and I had a lot of fun learning how to make all the dishes for the day and learning from Sumi. I highly recommend this experience for anyone looking to learn some of the basic skills in Japanese cooking, yet have an awesome experience!

Charlotte Lantai May 2023


Our teacher, Sumi, was very organised, providing us all with colour-print-outs of all the recipes, sending us email reminders of what to bring and more! Her place is open, functional and welcoming, with a big kitchen and a separate dining room. She explained how to cook each of the dishes well and showed us the types of miso and other ingredients she will use. I liked how she split us up to cook the different dishes. She was very well-equipped, with several utensils for us to use at the same time. She supervised us and was ready to answer any questions. Her timing was perfect, too. I liked the presentation of the dishes, too. She’s a lovely, friendly and knowledgeable cooking teacher. I loved our classmates, too - all passionate about Japanese food and culture!

Agnes Choi Apr 2023

4 ClassBento workshops attended • 3 reviews


I really enjoyed our wagashi class. Our teacher, Sumi Sensei, was very good in explaining and demonstrating the steps for each of the three wagashi we made today. The pace was just right and relaxing. So nice to take home the beautiful wagashi.

David Luttrell Apr 2023

2 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews


Great class. Lovely to learn the proper way to cook some delicious food. Sumi was a great teacher and host.

Alicia Tan Apr 2023


Sumi was a wonderful and hospitable teacher. The recipes she taught us were easy enough for us to recreate at home and we had such a good time!

Samantha Baker Apr 2023


Sumi is a lovely and knowledgeable teacher. The kitchen set up is great, supplied with everything needed to cook the wonderful food. The class involves a good combination of demonstration and hands on experience.

Meng Ye Mar 2023

3 ClassBento workshops attended • 3 reviews


the workshop was great! learned a lot of Japanese culture. Overall, it was amazing experience. the Cake tasted so yummy.

Meng Ye Mar 2023

3 ClassBento workshops attended • 3 reviews


Teacher was very nice, taught us how to create and make matcha green tea. She was very positive, and I could feel she loved teaching. Love class bento!

Raveena Taurani Mar 2023


Sumi is an excellent teacher! I had such a great learning experience attending this class. All the materials were laid out before I arrived and even though I arrived early, she made me comfortable enough to come inside and sit. We learnt so many amazing dishes like Sushi, Miso Soup, Burdock Root Stir Fry, etc and I got enough time to practice on my skill to make a sushi roll. Great value for money as you get involved in the entire cooking process right from the start. Sumi is kind, patient and extremely knowledgeable. So grateful I could attend her class! Thank you so much for such a great Sunday!

Cooking class review by Raveena Taurani - Sydney

Karmen Sbisa Mar 2023


I purchased 2 tickets as a birthday gift for my friend so we could go together. The teacher, Sumi, was very welcoming and knowledgable. We were a small group of six people and when the cooking class ended we were all invited to sit around the table and eat what we cooked together which was a nice opportunity to have a chat with the other participants and exchange opinions in an informal setting. The experience overall was a good value for money. Thanks Sumi! Chiara

Peter Akkari Mar 2023


Incredible class with an amazing knowledge teacher.

Would go back in a heartbeat. Loved it!

Sarah Summers Mar 2023


A beautiful few hours with a great group of people and lovely teacher. A blend of watching and learning and shared cooking. Wonderfully arranged from start to finish. Highly recommend.

Cooking class review by Sarah Summers - Sydney

Emily Antcliff Feb 2023


Sumi was a lovely host and my husband and I really enjoyed such a personalised class. A great balance of teaching and hands on experience. We would love to come back and try all her classes!

Vegan and Gluten Free Japanese Sweets Class: Summer Menu review by Emily Antcliff - Sydney

Peta Walton Feb 2023

3 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews


Sumi is a wonderful, informative and patient teacher who made us feel very welcome. Would strongly recommend taking this class as you get to make so much and then enjoy relaxing afterwards!

Naomi Blair Feb 2023


Sumi is a great teacher and her house is a calm environment with Japanese affects. The food was so yummy and pretty simple to recreate at home

Cooking class review by Naomi Blair - Sydney

Rae Dec 2022


A very engaging and informative class with clear communication in a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Sumi was a wonderful hostess.

Annalissa Roy Nov 2022

3 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews


Sumi was a lovely host, clearly explaining each part of the meal and techniques. The notes will help me try this style is cooking again, especially the details about exactly which ingredients I need and how to prepare them.

Gluten Free Shojin Ryori Japanese Cooking Class review by Annalissa Roy - Sydney

Mark Rutter Nov 2022

2 ClassBento workshops attended


Sumi was a good teacher. She was warm and personable, explained the structure of the class, what she and we would be doing, the different ingredients, and how to prepare and cook them.

Attending the class in Sumi's home was enjoyable and comfortable. Her kitchen and dining area was large enough for the group size.

The range of Japanese, vegan, gluten-free dishes was excellent and the number of dishes was management in the time we had.

The other people in our class were varied in their backgrounds, knowledge, and ability. We enjoyed learning with them.

It was a good experience to sit down together and eat the lunch we had just made. The flavours were delicious.

We would recommend the class to anyone. You don't need to be vegan or gluten-free to enjoy it. It was good value for money.

Vegan and Gluten Free Japanese Cooking Class review by Mark Rutter - Sydney

Chinatsu Ayai Nov 2022


We had a great time not only make beautiful Japanese sweets but also chatting with beautiful nature view.
The teacher is so nice and kind. I highly recommend this class to enjoy the Japanese sweets and culture.

Vegan and Gluten-Free Japanese Sweets Class: Spring Menu review by Chinatsu Ayai - Sydney

Angela Maier Nov 2022

2 ClassBento workshops attended


Sumi was a great teacher, and so generous with her knowledge. The food we prepared was really tasty. I had a lovely time and look forward to making these recipes at home.

Juultje Loo Nov 2022

2 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews


What a great class! Sumi is great tutor and knowledgeable dietician. Health based, fabulous recipes and very helpful on what ingredients to use. Thank you very much.

Cooking class review by Juultje Loo - Sydney

Helen Tang Nov 2022


We really enjoyed learning to make these super cute sweets! And it was great learning about Japanese tea ceremony as well. It was a lovely afternoon.

Stacey Philpot Oct 2022


Sumi was wonderful and attentive, she welcomes you to her home and is lovely to spend time with.

The food was yummy and you get verbal and practical information.

We had a lovely time and her two dogs (that I sought out) were lovely, calm and cuddle friendly :)

Yoshiko Maezima Oct 2022


Thank you so much for your wonderful teaching of the traditional Japanese Sweets Class. The tea ceremony was also very interesting. I enjoyed the class very much and highly recommend this class to anyone

Cooking class review by Yoshiko Maezima - Sydney

Dawn Uchida Oct 2022

8 ClassBento workshops attended • 6 reviews


This was a wonderful class. The Japanese dishes Sumi taught us tasted so clean and nurturing. I never realised vegan Japanese cooking could be so delicious! She was a great teacher, explaining everything well and answering all questions. Highly recommend this class and hope to be back again.

Cooking class review by Dawn Uchida - Sydney

Ann Toy Oct 2022


This was a most enjoyable experience despite of my lack of artistic skill. Sumi was a patient teacher, well organised with materials and printed handouts. It was a fun and interesting workshop and has inspired us to learn more about Japanese cuisine and tea ceremony culture.

Sophie Ferguson Oct 2022


So much fun- we loved our morning with Sumi. So knowledgeable and tasty. Can’t wait to use these recipes in our home cooking.

Vegan and Gluten Free Japanese Cooking Class review by Sophie Ferguson - Sydney

Sebastian Kemp Oct 2022


It was an outstanding class. The host was wonderful, instructions were clear, she was patient and so happy to share about her Japanese heritage. The location was wonderful, so peaceful. What a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours.

Leanne Barnett Aug 2022


We had a wonderful time at the vegan/gluten free Japanese cooking class. Sumi welcomed us into her home and was warm and friendly and settled us quickly in. She was informative & interesting as she demonstrated some ingredient preparation. We then had a turn at preparing the food under her guidance. It was fun and easy to follow the recipes & Sumi was at hand to help out when needed. The results were excellent- the food was fresh & very tasty and we've all been inspired to try the recipes at home. I highly recommend the class- a fun & delicious way to spend a morning.

Caroline Hill Aug 2022

2 ClassBento workshops attended


We were warmly welcomed by Sumi. She was very knowledgeable and explained Nerikiri Wagashi. She was kind and patient teaching us as we made our own Japanese sweets which we then enjoyed with matcha. She explained the tea ceremony and we served tea to each other. Highly recommend for a lovely relaxing afternoon learning about Japanese sweets and culture.

Vegan and Gluten Free Japanese Sweets Class - Winter Menu review by Caroline Hill - Sydney

Colleen Moggach Aug 2022

2 ClassBento workshops attended


Sumi was a great teacher, I thoroughly enjoyed the class, and the food was excellent!

Linda Mitchell Aug 2022


Amazing experience and we learnt a lot. Sumi took the time to explain a lot of interesting aspects of the food and cuisine, demonstrated things clearly and helped along the way. The food we made was absolutely delicious and beautiful!

Vegan and Gluten Free Japanese Cooking Class review by Linda Mitchell - Sydney

Carolina Siufi Aug 2022


We really enjoyed the whole experience. The teacher was very helpful and the food was absolutely delicious. Can't wait to start cooking at home.

Cooking class review by Carolina Siufi - Sydney

Victoria Bismire Aug 2022

4 ClassBento workshops attended • 4 reviews


Absolutely loved the class, Sumi is very friendly and very informative. I would not have thought it possible to learn make such exquisite wagashi in one afternoon, but under her guidance they appeared as if magic. Thank you Sumi!

Vegan and Gluten Free Japanese Sweets Class - Winter Menu review by Victoria Bismire - Sydney

Wenni Chong Aug 2022


Great class with fun and enjoyable experience. Learn alot on making sweet Japanese desserts with our teacher Sumi. And its something we learn and can do again at home.

Elaine Lim Aug 2022

3 ClassBento workshops attended


Sumi is very knowledgeable and detailed in explaining the steps by steps.

You get to enjoy the nerikiri wagashi at the end with a tea ceremony too. Super fun class.

Cooking class review by Elaine Lim - Sydney

Annabelle Lee Aug 2022

5 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews


Sumi was a great teacher, she’s very patient and detailed. Had a very great experience making matcha and Japanese dessert!

Dawn Uchida Jul 2022

8 ClassBento workshops attended • 6 reviews


Sumi-san was a wonderful teacher. Very patient, detailed and thoughtful. We learnt how to make three type of Nekiri Wagashi which were beautiful and delicious and were able to experience a green tea ceremony at the end of the class. Highly recommend this class to anyone that has an interest in making Japanese sweets, its a great experience.

Susan Young Jul 2022

2 ClassBento workshops attended


Lots of Fun, with my first Class Bento class!

Sumi was a welcoming, friendly host and very well prepared. She provided good notes, including recipe and colour pictures which were helpful.
Very clean equipment and working space. Good use of time throughout the session.

Really loved the hands on shaping and colouring of each of the 3 wagashi sweet designs we made, especially for the Winter Season!
The demonstration and instructions were quite straightforward, not too difficult to follow.
The end results were also very pretty, so fresh and delicious.
The simplified matcha green tea ceremony at the end of the session, using some traditional tea ceremony implements, was also really fun experience and provided another interesting window into appreciating Japanese ceramics and culture.
Going home, I felt quite confident that I will be able to find the correct ingredients and make more of these sweets myself at home. And also hopefully experiment with making new shapes.
A great afternoon overall!
Thank you, Susan Y

Vegan and Gluten Free Japanese Sweets Class - Winter Menu review by Susan Young - Sydney

Gabriella Kovacs Jul 2022


Sumi was very accommodating when I needed to reschedule the first class I booked. On the day of the class she provided us background information on sweet making in Japan, which gave us cultural insight into the practice. Her house was well set up for the class, and Sumi was a wonderful host who always ensured we had enough tea to enjoy throughout the session. She patiently guided us through the steps of constructing the sweets, and ensured that we all left with treats to take home. My partner and I often struggle with crafty/fiddly tasks, so we were both surprised by how easy it was to construct the sweets when we were guided by Sumi. The paste was made by hand so it was tastier than other Japanese sweets I have tried. I would definitely recommend this class to anyone who is interested in Japanese culture, veganism or sweet making in general.

Cooking class review by Gabriella Kovacs - Sydney

John Gunda Jul 2022

2 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews


The activity is really fun and the teacher is nice and very helpful throughout the class. would comeback to other different theme as well.

Andrew Howard Jul 2022

4 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews


Great authentic experience & delicious. Thank you Sumi. Looking forward to the next cooking class you offer.

Nita Byrne Jul 2022

2 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews


Very informative and enjoyable class
Sumi was very patient and helpful
Venu was really great

Cooking class review by Nita Byrne - Sydney

Lori Bernstein Jul 2022


Such a lovely class! Sumi was amazing and the tea ceremony was fabulous! Would definitely recommend

Cooking class review by Lori Bernstein - Sydney

Jo-Anne Ho Jun 2022

2 ClassBento workshops attended


The Japanese sweet making class was an enjoyable experience for our girls day out. We all had fun weighing, rolling, moulding and colouring the paste into delicious tasting sweets in a relaxed environment. Sumi was patient and her instructions easy to follow. She guided and helped us when we needed it. The tea making ceremony rounded off a fun and relaxing experience.

Vegan and Gluten-Free Japanese Sweets Class: Autumn Menu review by Jo-Anne Ho - Sydney

Grace Ho Jun 2022


Great fun class. Sumi is such a lovely, gentle, patient and informative teacher. I learnt a lot about making Japanese sweets as well as Japanese tea ceremony culture. The location set up is really great for the class, lots of space. I'm planning to repeat the recipe and technique at home.

Cheryl Wong Jun 2022


Sumi was very patient and explained the steps of making the ingredients and sculpting the Japanese sweets very clearly. She explained and demonstrated how to make the bean paste and taught us how to form and sculpt the Nerikiri. There were some interesting techniques and tools used and overall the experience was fun and calming. It almost feels like your in Japan during the 2 hours of the class. Overall, it was fun and a good insight into Japanese culture and Japanese tea ceremony.

Cooking class review by Cheryl Wong - Sydney

Rachel Macdonald Jun 2022


We had a great time in Sumi’s class. Perfect length and great instructions. Thank you.

Cooking class review by Rachel Macdonald - Sydney

Mei Soong Jun 2022

10 ClassBento workshops attended • 7 reviews


Very good class and Sumi was very patient with us. Thoroughly enjoyed the class. Delicious

Vegan and Gluten-Free Japanese Sweets Class: Autumn Menu review by Mei Soong - Sydney

Cecilia Chan May 2022


My family & I enjoyed the lesson very much. Sumi was friendly, professional & presented everything well. Everything was well prepared & thought out. The venue was clean & comfortable. We all learned something new & had fun at the same time.

Lai Clare Apr 2022


It was very well prepared and detail, I have learned a lot, thanks Sumi for the great learning experience

Adriana Litver Apr 2022

6 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews


Wonderfully authentic and very informative. Will definitely sign into another class with Simi she was a hospitable and patient teacher

Heezee Lu Apr 2022


I love the course and it helps me to be mindful while creating the dessert. Relaxing and exciting at the same time under our experienced teacher, Sumi San. Thank you and highly recommended especially the face to face experience.

Cooking class review by Heezee Lu - Sydney

Mary Trevisan Apr 2022


I attended Sumi's class as part of a small private group booking. Sumi is a very gracious host and a good teacher. She is a clear communicator who had all of the supplies we needed ready to go. We all learnt a lot from the class and we are all keen to use our new skills at home.and to attend further classes in Japanese sweet making
Everything from the venue to the supporting materials to the lesson and tea ceremony was fantastic. I highly recommend this class.

Vegan and Gluten-Free Japanese Sweets Class: Autumn Menu review by Mary Trevisan - Sydney

Isaac Leung Apr 2022


Saikawa-san is an expert in her craft, and she patiently walked us through the techniques and process of creating the Japanese sweets.
Due to the time constraints of the class, we walked through the theory for creating the materials, and also had a demonstration of the preparation of nerikiri, rather than going through the full process of actually preparing the bean paste from the raw materials, but the instructions in the provided sheet were clear and concise.
While canonical wagashi preparation involves the use of a number of specific tools, this class utilised more common tools, focusing on techniques that allow the preparation of wagashi for home cooks.
The workshop was held at the host's home, which has a rather large kitchen area, just right for the number of people in this intimate workshop. Also present were Haru and Aki, who were very cute and enthusiastic dogs.

Vegan and Gluten-Free Japanese Sweets Class: Autumn Menu review by Isaac Leung - Sydney

Pem Sukhum Apr 2022

2 ClassBento workshops attended


Teacher was pleasant. Class was not exactly what I expected, as we didn't make the ingredients themselves, but it was made up for by the printed notes and demonstration. Kitchen space was great and spacious but we spent time in the dining table. The tea ceremony segment was interesting. Overall the actual class was more of a sculpting class than a cooking class, but still interesting, with nice take home notes for practice at home

Halina Rubenstein Apr 2022

2 ClassBento workshops attended


Great teacher, very informative and a intimate class of 4 people made for a great afternoon.

Vegan and Gluten-Free Japanese Sweets Class: Autumn Menu review by Halina Rubenstein - Sydney

Jessica Chan Apr 2022

3 ClassBento workshops attended


I really enjoyed the afternoon with Sumi. She is a great teacher and is attentive to students’ needs. It was fun and a very rewarding class.

Christine Sheeley Feb 2022


I really enjoyed the zoom class with Sumi. It would've been amazing to do it together face to face, but given the virus, zoom was good . I enjoyed preparing - and eating - our meals, and I'm looking forward to making them at home . Thanks for the recipes too.

Tina Leung Feb 2022

3 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews


I enjoyed learning how to cook healthy vegan and Gluten free Japanese dishes from
Sumi San. Her explanation was clear and the steps are easy to follow. Thank you for organising and sending the Ingredients pack! Sumi San is a great & dedicated teacher!

Saloni Sharma Jan 2022

2 ClassBento workshops attended


We had an amazing online class with Sumi and I would recommend this. She was very friendly, thorough and gave clear instructions. Looking forward to more classes with Sumi in future!

Shera Bucchianeri Nov 2021


Amazing class Sumi is the best Everything was sooo delicious She made sure we had what we needed before class & offered substitutions as needed, which was very sweet. Highly recommend!

Cooking class review by Shera Bucchianeri

Pamela Sherwin Oct 2021


A lovely class. Fantastic to be shown the hands on one screen in addition to the entire person. Valuable preparation techniques were shown. Clear instructions, a worthwhile course.

Naomi Naiza-Webb Oct 2021

2 ClassBento workshops attended


Fantastic class, I loved that we cooked in real time and had a full meal to serve at the end of 1.5 hours. Food was absolutely delicious.

Gluten Free Shojin Ryori Japanese Cooking review by Naomi Naiza-Webb

Hannah Gray Oct 2021

2 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews


This was such a great class! And oh my goodness the food was absolutely delicious.
Thanks Sumi I had a lot of fun

Gluten Free Shojin Ryori Japanese Cooking review by Hannah Gray

Tania Farrar Oct 2021

3 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews


This was a great class and the food was delicious. Clear instructions and very inclusive

Joseph Paul Sep 2021


Loved it - thanks so much Sumi, will be joining more classes for sure. The food was delicious too.

Cooking class review by Joseph Paul

Chiemidaly Sep 2021

2 ClassBento workshops attended


Thank you Sumi!we all enjoyed it.
My family loves Shojin Ryohei.
Ginger rice is fantastic.
ChiemiDaly

Scott Venables Jun 2021


Sumi was an amazing host and teacher. It felt like walking in to a traditional Japanese home and we were made very comfortable immediately.
The place was spotless and covid friendly.
Sumi’s passion for Japanese food was evident and she loved teaching us the traditional way of how to cook vegan Japanese food, and also other options to alter it for those who would be comfortable to have meat proteins. It was hands on, interactive and fun! Lots of great pics were taken. It was lovely to sit at the end with Sumi and eat the food we made as a group and learn more about her time in Japan and Australia and what led her to running this course. 5 STARS!

Vegan Japanese Cooking Class - Autumn review by Scott Venables - Sydney

Louie Leung Jun 2021


A most enjoyable experience - cultural, culinary, social. Easy to follow and casual, you leave with the confidence boosted from having prepared many dishes in a short time and the detailed notes provided. Sumi offered her unique insight and cultural context in a presentation to set the tone for how we prepared the cuisine. Her kitchen is perfectly set up for demonstration and hands-on learning, comfortable for first time visitors. Ingredients used are simple; adapted for local convenience and availability. Yet students were still gaining familiarity and appreciation of what is used at a Japanese kitchen. Simple recipes allowed many dishes to be practised, encouraging for cooking them again at home. Sumi was very generous of her time. It was a perfect ending to share 5 dishes prepared with fellow students over tea.

Christine Graf Jun 2021

3 ClassBento workshops attended


The class was fantastic. We learnt a lot, the food was delicious, and our teacher was friendly, knowledgeable and lovely. It was nice to be in a comfy home kitchen rather than a commercial/class one too!

(The only thing I haven't really appreciated is unrelated to our lovely teacher, it is the constant badgering from Class Bento for a review. It's only been three days and I've received multiple texts and emails. Today I got told it's my last chance? I'm very busy during the week sorry, I promise I'll review but please let me so it in my own time so it can be a thoughtful, well considered one. Also didn't really like the "helpful tips" about what to write. Make them an option if I want help, not an invasive pop up)

Sarah Andrews May 2021


We had a lovely morning with Sumi. She is super knowledgeable about Japanese ingredients and made the class really fun and interactive. We had a beautifully presented lunch at the end of the class and we all learnt a lot. Thank you Sumi!

Cooking class review by Sarah Andrews - Sydney

Carmen Chan May 2021

2 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews


We had a fun afternoon learning about authentic Japanese cooking from Sumi. The venue was spacious and welcoming. Definitely a fun experience and the food was delicious - couldn’t believe we made it ourselves! Felt like we were in Japan for a few hours! Thank you Sumi.

Nectaria Alex May 2021


Beautiful clean venue, Sumi was very lovely and we learnt a lot of things! Thank you Sumi

Andrew Howard Apr 2021

4 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews


Sumi was great with our children. And we bought ingredients on the way home so we could practice our new skills straight away. Thank you Sumi.

Nicola Rai Apr 2021


A relaxed vibe and knowledgeable teacher. I learnt more than I expected and I am keen to put it into practice. I would certainly do another class with Sumi to learn more about how to make Japanese dishes here in Australia.

Cooking class review by Nicola Rai - Sydney

Analise Bauchinger Apr 2021


Thank you, Sumi. My mother and I really enjoyed the cooking class. Everything was great.

Cooking class review by Analise Bauchinger - Sydney

Carla Rowe Apr 2021


Sumi is an excellent teacher. We had a wonderful time learning how to cook with her. All the recipes were delicious! We will definitely be making these at home. Thanks for a great time Sumi

Cooking class review by Carla Rowe - Sydney

Stefania Kikuchi Apr 2021

2 ClassBento workshops attended


Sumi teacher was great and very helpful during the workshop. All materials were provided! And got to eat what we cooked. Lovely place, easy to find car parking and lots of fun. スミ先生お料理教えて下さってありがとうございました

Cooking class review by Stefania Kikuchi - Sydney

Mann Bookluck Mar 2021

2 ClassBento workshops attended


Relaxing setting with easy to follow style of cooking, the reward is a tasty Japanese banquet to finish off the class. Thank you Sumi it was an enjoyable session.

Cooking class review by Mann Bookluck - Sydney

Tamara Khayatt Mar 2021


Sumi was very welcoming and had everything well prepared and ready to go for us. The instructions were excellent and we were able to get hands on and cook a beautiful lunch that we all shared together. Will definitely be using my new skills and would definitely recommend.

David Doniguian Mar 2021


My wife Kate and I really enjoyed our cooking class at Sumi's. Sumi is very lovely and hospitable. Her teaching skills are good as well as she explained thoroughly each step of the recipes first before letting us do the cooking ourselves. Sumi also provided tips on potential substitutes for ingredients and accommodates all dietary requirements. On top of that, the menu proposed was made of a great variety of dishes and each of them was delicious. Finally, sharing the lunch together at the end made the whole experience even more authentic.
Highly recommended!

Sophie Wainwright Mar 2021


Overall an amazing experience Sumi is a lovely teacher with so much knowledge of the Japanese culture and food.

All good was amazing, her place is beautiful & we enjoyed an amazing lunch after lots of cooking.

Would recommend, a great weekend activity! Also recommended other great Japanese experiences across Sydney.

Thanks so much

Cooking class review by Sophie Wainwright - Sydney

Alix Smith Feb 2021


Sumi was a fantastic teacher who made my partner and myself feel very welcome. The venue was well set out for the lesson with good visibility and a good class size. Sumi gave a great background as to why certain ingredients were used as well as alternatives. My partner and myself thoroughly enjoyed the experience and will definitely be putting our new found skills to use. Thanks for having us.

Dunya Can Feb 2021

2 ClassBento workshops attended


Thank you for opening your home up to us and welcoming us to your kitchen.

Sumi and her daughter were so lovely and Sumi was a great instructor. The variety of dishes we made were fun and simple, we will definitely be recreating this at home.

Charlie Cavill Feb 2021


Sumi hosted an amazing class that was interesting, informative and fun. Sumi is a lovely host and a great chef who showed us many great recipes. Would recommend to anyone.

Kerrilyn Stratford Feb 2021

2 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews


Loved the class. Sumi was very well prepared, presented the recipes clearly with good instruction. The dishes were delicious and I look forward to making them for friends and family.

Cooking class review by Kerrilyn Stratford - Sydney

Ruth Blades Jan 2021


Sumi’s class was amazing. We took a friend as a birthday gift and we all had a great time. Sumi has a very interesting background and was clearly very passionate and knowledgable about food, we came away feeling confident to recreate the dishes at home, and source good ingredients thanks to Sumi’s tips. Her kitchen is beautiful and a great setting to cook and have a delicious lunch in. Thank you Sumi

Vegan and Gluten Free Japanese Cooking Class review by Ruth Blades - Sydney

Aneka Henshaw Sep 2020


Sumi was lovely, we learnt lots of Japanese cooking and all the food was delicious. Would recommend to absolutely anyone. Not too difficult and there is plenty of guidance to help beginners but still very interesting for more experienced participants. Would do again, definitely.

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