MANY British diners believe that sushi is every day Japanese food - but Kayo Lee, who runs new catering business Ka-yo's Kitchen in Stonehouse, wants to re-educate Five Valley's food lovers about hearty, healthy, traditional Japanese cuisine.

"In Britain people think that sushi means Japanese food but it does not," said Kayo.

"Sushi is a special food that we do not eat every day.

"But, like sushi, everyday Japanese food is healthy, tasty and good for you.

"Sushi has become very popular but my aim is to help people get to know all the different varieties of Japanese food."

Kayo cooks delicious Japanese meals served on traditional crockery which she buys in Japan.

Dishes include butano-kakuni (slow-cooked pork with vegetables), dashimaki-tamago (Japanese omlette rolls), kashiwa to daizu no itameni (chicken and beans in a sweet soy sauce), kushi-age (skewered deep-fried chicken and vegetables), miso soup, kashiwa no tenpura (chicken tempura), tonkatsu (deep-fried pork with miso sauce) and tatsutaage (cooked mackerel with ginger soy sauce).

Kayo recently catered a charity lunch in Frampton Mansell for parents and friends of four youngsters who are raising money for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

She cooked up a delicious and interesting menu including spinach with special sesame sauce, minced chicken with tskune sauce, aubergine with sweet miso sauce and salmon with lemon soy sauce.

Kayo will cater for any event including family celebrations, birthday parties or charity dinners.

At the moment her limit is usually 20 people due to the amount of crockery she has available.

Kayo gets her inspiration from her grandmother who owned a cafe and a Japanese restaurant specialising in risotto and vegetable pancakes.

"I always wanted to start my own business," she said.

"I think it was because my grandmother owned successful businesses and was very independent - I wanted to be just like her.

"I have always loved cooking and often invite my friends round to cook for them.

"It was actually my friends who recommended that I start a catering business.

"My aim is to make my customers' dinner table a happy one and to make them smile with my food."

To find out more or to make a booking contact Kayo on 01453 822349 or 07733 051326 or email papanui@hotmail.co.jp