Koji Workshop is back this summer by popular demand.
Koji is an essential ingredient for traditional Japanese seasoning such as miso, soy sauce, sake, shochu, mirin and vinegar.  Koji-kin (Aspergillus Oryzae), a well-known useful microorganism, is cultured with steamed rice or soybeans to produce koji.  Since the recent boom of shio-koji (salted rice malt) and its effects to boost immune system, Japanese have become more aware and appreciative of the fermented foods.  Not only good for your health it enhances umami flavor.
In cooperation with Aedan Fermented Foods, the Japan Society is proud to present our Japanese cultural Workshop: Koji – Wisdom of Japanese Fermented Foods again this year. Join us to learn more about koji and add the tasty Japanese fermented foods to your diet for a healthy life.
Ms. Mariko Grady, Founder of Aedan, will give us a brief lecture of koji and its merits, followed by samples of dishes of her own using miso and shio-koji.  She is happy to share a couple of her recipes and demonstrate some key points for cooking with koji.  Aedan products will be available for purchase at the end of the workshop.  No Japanese skills are required to participate in this event.
This event has limited space and registration is first come first served. Please register early to ensure your spot in the workshop.
Location                                                                 
Japan Society of Northern California                        
500 Washington St., #300
San Francisco, CA 94111
Date & Time
Friday, August 28, 2015
5:45 – 6:00pm  Check-in
6:00 – 7:30pm  Program
7:30pm – Q & A
Cost
$11  Japan Society Member
$16   Non-Member
The deadline to RSVP for this event is Wednesday, August 26th.
No refunds will be issued for cancellations received after this date.
To register, please click here
Aedan Fermented Foods and Ms. Mariko Grady
The name Aedan ‘叡伝’ comes from two Kanji characters, ‘叡’ means wisdom, ‘伝’means hand down (as information) from generation to generation. Our founder, Mariko, creates a small batch of fermented products using the knowledge passed down from her Grandfather’s miso making business and mother’s home miso recipes in Japan. Using this traditional knowledge, she has adjusted and perfected her recipes to match the unique flora and environment of San Francisco.
In 2011 after the devastating Tsunami struck Japan, our founder, Mariko sold her natural fermented products to friends to fundraise for Japanese victims. The popularity of Mariko’s delicious fermented foods spread quickly by word-of-mouth in Japanese mother’s and friends community. After this fundraising, Mariko started to write Aedan’s weekly newsletters to share fermented foods and her wisdom on leading a happy healthy life. In May 2012, Mariko joined the incubator kitchen program at La Cocina in San Francisco and since then has worked to develop her Aedan fermented food product line.
Aedan products are now available at Rainbow Grocery and Bi-Rite Market in San Francisco.  Please check out her Miso Making class on August 24 at 18 Reasons.