Kanako Koizumi’s authentic Japanese home cooking begins with the culinary traditions of her upbringing in Japan’s northern prefecture of Akita. She’s been teaching in Seattle for over 15 years as an instructor at PCC Cooks and Whisk as well as her own classes at the Phinney Neighborhood Association. Her classes combine native recipes, traditional techniques, and seasonal ingredients to evoke the feelings of connection to family, home, and culture that only a nurturing, hand-crafted meal can provide.

In addition to teaching at the Pantry, Kanako offers catering, personal chef, pop-up meal service, and menu development services via Kozmo Kitchen. Her clients include the Seattle Japanese Garden, the Gates Foundation, and the Los Angeles Dodgers, as well as hundreds of everyday Seattleites at work and at home.