Chef Erika is a traditionally trained Sushi Chef of 16 years’ experience. She has worked in kitchens around the world and has learned French and Italian techniques from local and international chefs. She has run her own catering company and mobile sushi lessons (Sushi Socializers) through her own company Sushi Maiko for the past 10 years.
Upon returning from Japan in 1992, Erika started classes at the University of Colorado Boulder. For “special occasions” her father would take her to Sushi Zanmai on Pearl Street. One fateful day, the owner of Zanmai offered Erika a job–her first in restaurant! Through the patience of some of the chefs, and a lot of perserverence and elbow grease on her part, Erika became the third female sushi chef ever trained at Zanmai. in 1995, Sushi Zanmai boasted the world’s first all-female sushi chef lineup for a celebrated “Ladies’ nite” every Thursday night–“one of the best staffs I’ve ever had the honor of being a part of” Erika says. After a brief stint in Italy, and a saucier class in Denver, Erika decided to finish her English and Science degrees at CU and become a professional chef.
She hopes to share her knowledge and experience with you–come play in the kitchen!