Japanese Canadian Heritage Cooking Class: Amara Yamamoto—Making Yummy Gyoza

AMARA'S GYOZA WORKSHOP FEATURES:

• How to make a traditional pork filling
• Learning how to fill 'n fold your gyoza wrappers like a pro!
• Pan-frying your gyozas to crispy and steamy perfection
• Gyoza dipping sauce intro - classic v. new wave?

• Gyoza plates incl hot rice, salad, pickles, Japanese tea, plus dessert TBD...

Cook's Bio: Chef Amara Yamamoto’s culinary journey began at just 13 years old, when she started selling homemade pies to family and friends. Her early passion for baking led her all the way to Paris, where she studied at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu. There, she built a strong foundation in classic French pastry, chocolate work, bread making, and sugar sculpting.

After earning her diploma, Amara completed an internship at a Michelin-starred restaurant inside a Palace hotel, and went on to work in several renowned patisseries throughout Paris. In 2014, she expanded her expertise in artisan bread by attending the San Francisco Baking Institute, where she learned the art of naturally leavened sourdough using wild yeast.

Since then, Amara has played a key role in multiple bakery startups, and has crafted desserts and pastries for restaurants across the Edmonton area—while also training staff to recreate her signature recipes. In 2022, she began collaborating with the Edmonton Public Library and various nonprofits to offer monthly baking classes, both in person and online. From classic French pastries to crowd-pleasing comfort foods, Chef Amara brings her creativity, knowledge, and warmth to every class she teaches.

(Photos courtesy of Amara Yamamoto)

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