A Memorable In-Home Sushi Class Experience in Sommerschield

My In-Home Sushi Class at a client's Home Last Week

Last week, I had the absolute pleasure of hosting an in-home sushi class at a client's crib. The adventure kicked off in Bairro do Jardim, where I hopped into a Yango taxi. Pedro, our lively and chatty driver, took us on a scenic ride along Maputo's stunning coastline to dodge the traffic. Thanks to his slick shortcut, we were set to arrive a cool 40 minutes early!
My helpers were with me, and they couldn't resist clowning on my obsession with punctuality. Feeling the hunger pangs from our rushed start, we made a pit stop at a coconut stand around the Laurentina area, at 25 de Setembro. Despite my usual pre-event butterflies and lack of appetite, I joined in and realized just how hungry I was. By the time we reached the Centenario Shopping area along Avenida de Marginal, I had finished my coconut water and needed a machete to crack open the coconut and devour the meat. 
At this point, Pedro got so caught up in the lively conversation between my helpers, Olga and Katia, who were roasting me about how I never eat when I'm working, that he almost missed a turn. This led to a brief but thrilling detour, adding a dash of excitement to our journey!

Preparation and Setup

Before heading out to Suma's, i meticulously packed all the necessary ingredients and equipment, double-checking to make sure nothing was left behind. There was a hilarious moment when, in my eagerness to get everything ready, i almost packed portion plastics thinking they were plastic aprons! I couldn't stop laughing, imagining everyone wearing tiny plastic containers as aprons. It was a lighthearted start to what promised to be an epic day.

Arriving at the Client's Home

As we rolled up to Suma's crib, her husband greeted us with warm smiles and let us in. Later on, the kids and Suma herself showed up, coming back from their own errands. They were not only polite and well-behaved but also hyped to dive into the world of sushi-making. With Olga and Katia's help, we quickly set up our sushi station, also joining the two tables we found there.
But, of course, no setup is complete without a little humor! In their usual whirlwind of efficiency, Katia and Olga accidentally placed the soy sauce bottle right next to the Coke bottle. This led to a hilarious mix-up when I accidentally took a swig of soy sauce instead of the cold drink! Recounting the moment later on, they said the look of surprise and disgust on my face was priceless, and it gave them a few secret good laughs. 

The Sushi Class

Olga and Katia, bless their hearts, are a bit clumsy with the camera despite their top-notch organizational skills. We can't afford a pro-photographer, so it's all on us. For homes with dim lighting, I usually bring my DIY (Do It Yourself) lighting system—cheap stuff from Xipamanine. It's just a light bulb I screw into a socket, attach a long cord with a plug, and boom, we got light! We grab the bulb by its neck and move it around over the plates, then position the camera phone to get the best shots of the sushi.
This time, I got a bit too confident and left my trusty light at home, thinking the room's lighting would be enough. Spoiler alert: it wasn't. But hey, Olga still managed to get some great shots with my phone, even with a few funny mishaps. Picture us juggling a light bulb and a phone, trying to capture that perfect sushi moment—it's a comedy show in the making! 
 At one point, the phone almost took a dive into a bowl of soy sauce, and another time, Katia tripped over a stray cucumber slice, nearly sending the camera flying. Despite all that, she got some fantastic shots.

Conclusion

The class was straight-up fantastic. Suma and her fam were quick learners, paying attention to every detail and asking all the right questions. It was a joy seeing their enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Two weeks earlier, they had me over for an in-home sushi dining event for 15 of their folks, and they loved it so much they wanted to learn how to make sushi themselves.
At one point, I got a wild idea to suggest we create a giant roll mixing everything in, but I decided to chill and stick to the plan. It was a blast from start to finish!