The London Foodie Supper Club

Washoku or Japanese Cooking is one of my greatest passions in life. I was fortunate enough to grow up in a Japanese home in the South American city of Sao Paulo, and have, since moving to London 20 years ago, pursued my interest to learn more about this fascinating cuisine.

By Catriona Mills

Since leaving investment banking in 2011, I moved to Tokyo for a couple of months to do Japanese food research and recipe writing. I also took private Japanese cookery classes during the day and worked at a Japanese Izakaya (casual Japanese restaurant) at night (more about these experiences here). I returned to London in early 2012 to start the Grand Diplome at Le Cordon Bleu and the Japanese Home Cooking Supper Club which I now run from my home in Islington.

If you are interested in learning more about Japanese cuisine, beyond sushi and sashimi, and would like to attend one of the Japanese Home Cooking Supper Club events I run, contact me on luizharaAThotmailDOTcom using the subject line JAPANESE SUPPER CLUB.

I also cater for private or corporate events at my home in Islington or at your own London location.

Japanese Home Cooking Supper - Forthcoming Dates:

2nd June - Saturday

22nd June - Friday

23rd June - Saturday

29th June - Friday

30th June - Saturday

Hosted by Luiz Hara of The London Foodie

Location: my home, Islington, from 19:30 hours

Cost: £38 donation, BYO

Book: e-mail luizharaAThotmailDOTcom

What Others are Saying of the Japanese Home Cooking Supper Club

"...Luiz was right when he warned me to come hungry - and all this was for a mere £35 donation. You'd be hard pushed to find such good quality, good value food at a Japanese restaurant."
By The Evening Standard

"...Ex-investment banker Luiz Hara introduces diners to a wide range of homestyle Japanese cuisine. His cauldrons of nabe (hotpot; right) have delighted many Londoners who are, until their nabe encounter, usually unfamiliar with the Asian communal style of eating..."

By SilverKris - Singapore Airlines Inflight Magazine

"...This was a fabulous menu cooked with precision and care and using only the best ingredients. Wines are BYO, and there was a recommended payment of £38 for the menu which I thought was great value considering the quality of the produce, the generosity of the portion sizes, the variety in the dishes and the calibre of the cooking which was of a professional standard. The setting was great too (you have to see LondonFoodie's house to really get a sense of how beautiful it is), not to mention the great company of the food-loving guests that were my companions that night. This meal was worth every penny. Highly recommended..."
By A Girl Has to Eat

"...But it was the dessert course that was the truly outstanding dish of the evening for me. With the aroma of freshly baked Madeleines teasing our senses and flooding throughout the kitchen, a trio of classic Japanese ice-cream flavours were unveiled: Black sesame, Green Tea and Yam… All home-made. All creamy and luscious. And all stonkingly good. The icing on the cake to a quite fabulous meal. On reflection, at any Japanese restaurant in town, the £35 donation would get you barely half of what we were treated to tonight. In true Asian fashion and as is customary, we had been ploughed with food and spoilt silly by our host..."

By The Boy Who Ate the World

"...Luiz is a fantastic cook, I have been to his house for dinners many times and he is over generous in everything that he does and you will always leave feeling spoilt for having a banquets fit for any King…"

By Leluu

"...All in all it was a wonderful evening introducing me to some of the finest Japanese cooking that I’ve tasted in London, and sharing it with a fun and interesting group of people..." 

By Hot & Chilli

"...Japanese comfort eating at it’s best, really good hearty food, that hit the spot..."

By Dolce Dini

"...I can’t think of a better way to kick off the New Year, than with a home cooked Japanese meal..."

By Hotel PR Guy

"...Luiz’s food brought back the memories of all those heart warming meals I had in Japan. Not only had he showcased his culinary skills in the supper club, he also reminded us that Japanese cuisine is a lot more than sushi, tempura and gyoza."

By Feed the Tang

"...Luiz has now released a range of dates for more Japanese Home Cooking Supper Clubs. I highly recommend booking in...his house is most definitely one of London's best kept secrets."

By Kitchen Conversations

"...I highly recommend this supperclub to people who want to go beyond the generic sushi bar experience and venture further into the weird and wonderful facets of Japanese cuisine."

By Hungry in London

"...It was easy to forget that this top restaurant quality meal was at someones's house. Luiz was a great host, very humble yet excited about the food being served. For me this food was the best experience and the most exciting aspect. Please check it out for yourself..."

By Caviar Girl

"...The entire evening was an amazing experience, with outstanding food made with passion you could taste. Luiz is an amazing chef, and I do encourage everyone to try out his supper club..."

By Blushing Bird Cages

"...Held in Islington in one of those enormous homes with the basement kitchen visible from the street, the London Foodie - aka Luiz Hara - used to be an investment banker but is now using the money he earnt to devote himself to something that he loves. This is the best reason I can think of for having been an investment banker and he's a charming host with it. Plus he's renovated his basement with the supper club in mind, which demonstrates unusual commitment and should give you some idea of the seriousness he brings to his project. He'll probably end up on the telly..."

By 24HourLondon

"...The suggested contribution for the meal of £38 were a snip for what we were offered on the night, in terms of sheer amount of food and the superb cooking. If you've only ever decided to go to one supperclub, make this the one to be. I will definite be returning in the near future for more of Luiz's delicious fare..."

By Feast to the World

Grazing Asia


Grazing Asia, a collaboration of four food bloggers from different Asian backgrounds, launched in June 2011 at the test kitchens of Jamie Oliver's Fifteen Restaurant. May (Malaysian by May), Mimi  (Meemalee's Kitchen), Uyen (Love Leluu) and I (The London Foodie) have joined forces to start Grazing Asia, a new Asian Dining concept in London.

We bring our culinary heritage - Malaysian, Burmese, Vietnamese and Japanese to the tables of Grazing Asia, doing what we love doing best - feeding our friends. We will be hosting a series of supper club nights, cooking clubs lunches, cookery demos and classes in the coming months. Events will be organised either jointly (among the four members) or independently by any one of the members for Grazing Asia. 


Forthcoming Grazing Asia events:


Hosted by May of Slow Food Kitchen
Location: my home, Islington, from 19:30 hours
Cost: £38 donation, BYO
Book: e-mail luizhara@hotmail.com


25th May 2012 - Friday - Malaysian by May


26th May 2012 - Saturday - Malaysian by May 


15th June 2012 - Friday - Malaysian by May


16th June 2012 - Saturday - Malaysian by May


What others are saying of Grazing Asia:


Grazing Asia Launches at Jamie Oliver's Fifteen Restaurant


The Skinny Bib
Hungry In London
Wai Yee Hong
Fernandez & Leluu
Hot & Chilli


Diwali Supper Club with Guest Chef Maunika Gowardhan


The Skinny Bib
Nutmegs Seven
Hot & Chilli
Rice & Pickles
Kavey Eats
Hungry in London


Partnering Fine French Wine with Japanese Food


London Tastin'
The Winesleuth


Malaysian by May


The Afternoon Tease
Hot & Chilli