Nancy Singleton Hachisu – “Preserving the Japanese Way”, “Japanese Farm Food”

Arriving as an exchange student from California, Nancy Singleton Hachisu originally planned a short visit to Japan, but 26 years later - she's still there. A relationship with a Japanese organic farmer is what upended her plans and saw her settling into an 80-something-old farmhouse that's been passed down his family for multiple generations.

During this time, she's met fascinating Japanese producers - such as a "salmon whisperer", unique salt raker and a ninth-generation sake brewery owner - and published two cookbooks, "Japanese Farm Food" and "Preserving the Japanese Way", resulting in a fan base that includes Joel Robuchon and the team at Cornersmith. 

She describes what's really in your soy sauce (you'll be surprised), artisan producers creating the most next-level potato flour and sesame you've ever heard of, how to make ancient Japanese cheese and what it's like to eat at Jiro's sushi joint multiple (yes, multiple) times.

Thanks to Shelby Chalmers at Fino Foods for teeing up this interview.