Culinary Inspiration by Otao Kitchen

Cooking has always been a part of our lives, whether it’s for an ordinary day or special occasions. It’s an activity that brings people together, and it’s a skill that can be useful in any part of the world, especially when traveling. One of the common challenges, however, is finding the right cuisine and learning how to cook it. Fortunately, Otao Kitchens has come up with an innovative solution that not only solves this problem but also provides opportunities for multicultural chefs. In this blog post, we’ll explore Otao Kitchens and the benefits it offers.

Otao Kitchen is a Melbourne-based business that allows foodies and visitors to learn how to cook various cuisines, including Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Dumpling, Greek, Korean, Indian, Spanish, and Mexican and more. Their instructors are professional chefs who grew up eating and cooking the cuisines they teach. Chef Anan, for example, has always been passionate about the way food brings people together, and his dream of cooking with her grandmothers inspired her to join Otao Kitchen.

One of the advantages of Otao Kitchen is its small class size, which provides a more intimate and personalised learning experience. The kitchen is clean and updated, making it feel like a leisurely afternoon spent with friends rather than a formal cooking class. The atmosphere reflects the culture of the cuisine being taught, and the students get to interact and learn from the chef throughout the cooking process.

Otao Kitchen’s initiative also supports multi-cultural cuisine and provides opportunities for talented chefs. The business gives chefs a chance to share their knowledge and passion for cooking, showcasing their cultural heritage and cuisine. In a way, Otao Kitchen allows them to do more than just sit in the kitchen and listen to stories of the old country. They get to interact with people from different parts of the world, share their culture, and learn from their students.

It’s no surprise that Otao Kitchen is popular among tourists visiting Melbourne. About 30 percent of the attendees are tourists, and Otao Kitchen’s multicultural cuisine and interactive classes make it an attractive option when exploring the city. It’s a great way to experience the culture and learn a new skill while traveling.

Conclusion:Otao Kitchen has made a significant impact in the cooking industry by providing a solution to multicultural cuisine and cooking problems. It offers a personalized and interactive learning experience, supports talented chefs, and showcases various cultures and cuisines. The business has definitely transformed the way people learn and experience cooking, and its success speaks for itself. If you’re looking for a fun and immersive way to learn how to cook delicious dishes, Otao Kitchen is definitely worth checking out.

Best Corporate Cooking Classes in Australia

Looking for a fun and engaging way to bring your team together? Corporate cooking classes are an excellent way to boost teamwork, creativity, and communication while enjoying delicious food. Whether you want to host a virtual event or an in-person workshop, Australia offers a variety of top-rated corporate cooking experiences. Here are some of the best options available:

1. Otao Kitchen (Melbourne & Online)

Otao Kitchen specializes in interactive team-building cooking classes that cater to corporate groups. Whether your team prefers an in-person experience or a virtual cooking session, Otao Kitchen offers tailored programs to suit your needs.

✅ What Makes It Special?

• Hands-on, chef-led experiences with professional guidance.

• A variety of cuisines, including Vietnamese, Japanese, Mexican, and more.

• Virtual cooking classes with delivered hampers for remote teams.

📍 Location: Melbourne & Online
🔗 Learn more

2. Sydney Cooking School (Sydney, NSW)

Sydney Cooking School provides corporate cooking classes designed to enhance teamwork in a fun and relaxed setting. Their classes range from BBQ Masterclasses to Sushi Making and Classic French Cooking.

✅ Why Choose Sydney Cooking School?

• Customizable team-building packages.

• Professional chefs guide your team through hands-on experiences.

• Options for large corporate groups.

📍 Location: Neutral Bay, Sydney

3. The Essential Ingredient Cooking School (Multiple Locations)

With locations in Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra, The Essential Ingredient Cooking School offers corporate cooking workshops featuring top-tier chefs and diverse cuisines. Their hands-on approach ensures an engaging and rewarding experience for all participants.

✅ Highlights:

• Custom corporate cooking packages tailored to your team’s preferences.

• High-quality ingredients and expert-led instruction.

• Specialty courses including pasta-making, Asian cuisine, and more.

📍 Locations: Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra

4. Vanilla Zulu Culinary Adventures (Brisbane, QLD)

Located in Brisbane, Vanilla Zulu offers fun and interactive corporate cooking classes designed to build stronger teams. Whether it’s a competitive cooking challenge or a relaxed group experience, their classes are great for bonding over delicious food.

✅ What Sets It Apart?

• Unique team-building experiences, including Mystery Box Challenges.

• Private and corporate group sessions available.

• Options for cooking competitions and themed classes.

📍 Location: Brisbane, QLD

5. Sticky Fingers Cooking School (Perth, WA)

For corporate teams looking for a unique culinary experience, Sticky Fingers Cooking School in Perth offers custom corporate cooking classes. Their classes focus on collaboration, creativity, and fun.

✅ Why Pick Sticky Fingers?

• Classes tailored to corporate team-building needs.

• Options for private bookings and larger team events.

• Cooking styles range from traditional Aussie BBQ to international cuisine.

📍 Location: Perth, WA

Final Thoughts

Corporate cooking classes are a fantastic way to strengthen teamwork, enhance communication, and create lasting memories. Whether you prefer a hands-on experience in a professional kitchen or a virtual cooking class with delivered ingredients, Australia has a variety of exceptional options.

For Melbourne-based and online corporate cooking experiences, Otao Kitchen is a top choice with its interactive, tailored programs. Explore the best cooking classes in Australia and give your team an experience they'll never forget!

🔗 Explore Otao Kitchen Corporate Cooking Classes

Kiwi Knife Asian Cleaver

When it comes to Asian household, everyone will have one of these. Cheap and Cheerful. The cleaver is mostly used to slice boneless meats, chop, slice. It is an excellent tool for smashing garlic and ginger and also use it to transfer food from cutting board to wok or frying pan. You can use for cut meat such as chicken, beef for making minced meats. It is multi-purpose kitchen knives. This Thai cleaver looks much like the butcher cleavers familiar in butcher shops in the west, but thinner. Made from high quality stainless steel. The blade is around 20 cm long, 28 cm height and 15 cm wood handle. Product of Thailand.

Buy On Amazon Fr $33.92

Japanese Santoku Knife

Santoku means three virtues is a blade-style perfect for chopping, mincing and dicing vegetables. This  16.5 cm Wasabi Black is the handy knife you'll turn to again and again in your kitchen. This Wasabi line of knives is made in the traditional Japanese blade styling. To reduce food sticking, the blades are sharpened on a single side or sometimes being slotted. Although it has a traditional blade-style, it is paired with a uniquely modern handle material, polypropylene blended with bamboo powder, and impregnated with an agent for super clean food preparation.

Buy On Amazon Fr $48.97

Cut Resistant Gloves

The cut resistant gloves let you handle your grater, knives, and mandolin slicer while worrying less about bandaging a finger or worse. Great for the kids too.
Made of food-safe ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, glass fibre and Spandex, these gloves have been designed to resist cuts from even the sharpest blades. We use these gloves for clients to make a salad so they don't cut themselves. Different Size.

NoCry Cut Resistant Gloves with Secure-Grip Microdots and Level 5 Cut Protection. Comfort-Fit. Food Grade, Size Medium. Includes Free eCookbook!" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: rgb(46, 145, 252);">Buy On Amazon Fr $16.99

 Whetstone 

When your kitchen knives are being used during every service you'll need to revive the blade to keep it sharp.

Just a few minutes using the 400 grit side and you'll restore dull blades. A few more minutes on the 1000 grit side and that edge will be sharper than before.

Wet the whetstone's surface to float away from the swarf. The silicone base keeps the whetstone in place, so you can keep a consistent angle.

Buy On Amazon from $26.99

Do you have a jar of garam masala in your kitchen? This blend of fragrant spices is common in Indian food. You can blend yourself one or you can buy in. If you decided to do it then you might have all the spices. But what is garam masala? 

As parents, we always aim to provide our children with the best opportunities to learn and grow. One of the best ways to do this is by enrolling them in activities that are both fun and educational, and what could be more fun and educational than cooking classes? In this blog post, we will be sharing with you four healthy cooking class ideas for your kids. These classes are designed to not only introduce your child to new and exciting cuisines, but to also encourage healthy eating and cooking habits that they can carry with them into adulthood.

1. Thai Cooking - Jan, May, Sep

Thai cuisine is known for its bold and unique flavors, making it a great choice for kids who are adventurous eaters. In this class, your child will learn how to make Kaeng- Thai curry paste, Nam Tok- 'waterfall' beef salad, and Kaeng Khiao Wan-Thai green curry. These dishes are not only delicious, but they're packed with healthy ingredients like vegetables, lean protein, and fragrant herbs and spices.

2. Japanese Cooking - Feb, Jun, Oct 

Japanese cuisine is all about simplicity and freshness, making it perfect for kids who love sushi and seafood. In this class, your child will learn how to make Makizushi- sushi rolls with salmon, shiso, avocado, or vegetarian, Okonomiyaki- cabbage pancake with bacon, and Seasonal Miso Soup with Kelp Stock. These dishes are not only healthy, but they're also gluten-free for kids with dietary restrictions.

3. Vietnamese Cooking - Mar, Jul, Nov

Vietnamese cuisine is all about balance and harmony, making it ideal for kids who love flavorful but light dishes. In this class, your child will learn how to make Fish Sauce Dipping Sauce | Nuoc cham, Vietnamese Spring rolls | Chả giò, Goi Ga | Chicken Salad, and Traditional Chicken Noodle Soup | Pho Ga. These dishes are healthy but hearty enough to satisfy the hungriest of appetites.

4. Chinese Cooking - Apr, Aug, Dec

Chinese cuisine is diverse and flavourful, with dishes that are both steamed and fried, making it a popular choice for kids who love their carbs. In this class, your child will learn how to make Hun Tun Tang- Wonton Soup, Hokkien Mee- Stir-Fried Noodles with Bok Choy, and Gong Bao Jiding- Kung Pao Chicken. These dishes are full of healthy ingredients like vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, cooking classes are a great way to introduce your child to healthy eating and cooking habits that will serve them well in the future. With these four healthy cooking class ideas, your child will not only have fun but also gain valuable skills that they can use for the rest of their life. So why wait? Sign your child up for a cooking class today and watch as they develop a love for cooking and healthy eating!

Gas vs Charcoal 

The age-old debate over which grilling method is ‘better’ involves multiple variables, from flavour to cost and convenience. While no studies prove that either is healthier, gas does burn cleaner. From a taste perspective though, many people prefer the smokier, richer taste of food cooked on a charcoal grill.

Australians eat more chicken every year than any other meat or protein. It can be a nutritious and tasty choice, but raw chicken often contains nasty salmonella. If not handled properly, the bacteria could make someone really sick! Poultry is a product that deteriorates quickly, so it’s important to know when it is fresh or not. Here are some hints to find the freshest chicken and the best way to store it.

Buying Chicken

• When purchasing chicken, make sure there’s no ‘off’ smell. Fresh poultry should have very little, or no aroma.
• If buying a whole bird, ensure the skin, flesh and bones appear undamaged.
• Chicken breasts should be plump with a very pale pink flesh.
• Chicken thighs have a darker meat. They should have a dark pink flesh and a little white fat.
• Make sure to purchase from a reputable supplier who has been approved by local authorities.
• Check that the chicken is delivered at 5C or below.
• Confirm that frozen chicken products are completely frozen and inspect the packaging for any signs of thawing.
• Don’t accept any chicken that is soft, discoloured or sticky. Pay particular attention to the wings and joints.

Storage

To store chicken, leave it in its original packaging or place in a container and cover completely. Store on the bottom shelf (or the coldest part) of your the fridge for up to 2 days. This helps prevent contaminating any foods below. Cook any raw chicken within two days of purchase and freeze whatever you don’t use. Ensure to wrap your chicken in airtight packages. Label, date and keep refrigerated at 5C or below, or frozen at -15C or below.

If freezing fresh portions, do so immediately after purchasing (in its original packaging) for up to 2 months. Alternatively, separate the chicken into serving portions, thoroughly wrap in plastic bags or cling film and freeze for up to 2 months. It is very important to thaw chicken completely before cooking. To defrost, place the chicken in the fridge on a large plate (in its original packaging). This will take between 12-24 hours. Never refreeze chicken that has already been thawed. Cooked chicken can then be frozen for later use.

Commonly Used Cuts

Whole Bird

A whole chook can be used for roasting, poaching, making stock or dishes like Vietnamese Pho or Hainanese chicken rice. Alternatively, you can flatten or “butterfly” a chicken. This is a great way to roast or barbecue a whole bird, that promotes quick and even cooking. The secret to a delicious chicken is buying the best quality you can find, such as free-range, locally sourced or organic.

Breast & Tenderloin

Chicken breast is such a versatile cut of poultry. It’s a white meat with very little fat, perfect for throwing into stir-fries, grilling, steaming, pan-frying and oven roasting. They are also great for poaching to be used in salads, soups or sandwiches. Another method brilliant for cooking a chicken breast is crumbing. Not only do the breadcrumbs keep the chicken moist, but they also give a wonderful, crunchy texture (as seen in a chicken parma or katsu). 

Chicken breasts found in the supermarket tend to be quite large with the tenderloin attached. This can make them difficult to cook through perfectly, without drying out. To ensure your chicken cooks evenly and remains juicy, you can slice the breast into even cuts or use a rolling pin to slightly flatten it out. There’s nothing worse than eating a dried-out piece of chicken, so the key is to keep it moist without overcooking. Chicken is cooked through when a temperature probe reads 73C.

Tenderloins, found underneath the breast, are a delicious and speedy cooking option. They are slightly more tender than the whole breast and are great crumbed, fried, baked, or quickly marinated and chargrilled.

Thighs

Thighs can be bought as fillets (with or without skin) or cutlets with the bone attached. Chicken thigh meat is generally darker and has a little more fat than the breast. It’s a working muscle and therefore has more flavour comparatively. Diced chicken thighs are great for BBQ skewers, slow cooking, stir-frying or thrown into soups and curries. Use the whole thigh or cutlet for roasting, bakes, barbecues and stews.

Chicken Maryland is a cut where the thigh and drumstick are attached. Marylands are good for roasting, poaching, braising and baking. They are ideal for cooking slowly over a barbecue or char-grill.

Drumsticks & Wings

Chicken wings and drumsticks are typically cheaper per kilo but are often seen as the most flavourful. They are great baked, fried or simmered in a sticky glaze or marinade and eaten with your hands. The skin to meat ratio is greater in these cuts, so the outside gets nice and crispy, while the inside stays juicy. No matter what you do with this part of the chicken, it’s bound to taste good! It’s also really difficult to overcook wings and drumsticks, making for less stressful cooking.

Mince

Chicken mince can be used in making patties, rissoles, burgers, meatballs, or cooked in Chinese dishes like wontons and san choi bao, or in Thai stir-fry’s and salads. You can substitute chicken mince in almost any recipe where pork or beef mince is used.