East Asia: Umami, Heat, & Balance Spice Blending Workshop w/ ITSUMONO
About this Event
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.
MEET THE MAKER:
Jordan Segue is the founder of ITSUMONO, a Washington, DC-based spice company inspired by the flavors, traditions, and everyday cooking of cultures from around the world.
Jordan has been cooking since sixth grade, when he often arrived home before his parents and decided he couldn't wait for dinner. Growing up on Detroit's east side near Greektown, he developed an early fascination with food and flavor. Weekly meals often included the Syrian, Iraqi, and Lebanese cuisines of nearby Dearborn, while monthly family trips across the border to Windsor, Ontario introduced him to authentic Cantonese cooking prepared by chefs from Hong Kong.
His culinary influences are equally shaped by his Louisiana Creole heritage, family roots in Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, and a lifelong love of Japanese, Thai, Korean, Sichuan, and Burmese cuisine. Those influences eventually became the foundation of ITSUMONO, a line of globally inspired spice blends designed to help home cooks create bold, memorable meals with confidence.
A passionate student of food culture, Jordan believes that spices tell stories about history, migration, trade, and community. Through his workshops, he shares both practical techniques and the cultural inspiration behind the flavors, helping participants discover new ways to cook and connect through food.
His favorite food is barbecue, but the dish he is most proud of is seafood gumbo made entirely from scratch. When he's not developing new blends or recipes, Jordan can often be found on a comedy stage, singing karaoke, watching college football, or volunteering as an English teacher for immigrants.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 70.39
