Aloha from Kauai! Yoko, Washi, Johnny, Keisuke, Jay, Rie and I have been lucky enough to spend five nights in Hanalei Bay — a picturesque town on the North Shore, surrounded by staggering mountain ranges and captivating turquoise waves. It’s truly paradise here and we are having a blast ringing in the first week of […]
Author Archives: Kayoko Akabori
January 1, 2014
Hello 2014!
After a seriously insane final few weeks of 2013, I’m SO ready to dive into the new year. Literally. Yoko and I, our partners, along with Atelier Dion, and my brother, are off to Hawaii for five days of sun, sleep and sea. See you on the flip side! I love you all and hope […]
December 30, 2013
TONIGHT: New Year Party in Oakland
2013 whizzed past us didn’t it?!?! As I look back on the year, I recall a rager, a long day of blood/sweat/tears, a triumphant expansion, then, another expansion. Cause hey, why the hell not? It’s all a bit of a blur, albeit a vivid one. Please join Yoko and me TONIGHT as we toast to […]
December 25, 2013
Merry Kurisumasu
Merry Christmas everyone! I just woke up from yet another nap. I am sorry I have been neglecting thee, but after a full recovery day from this crazy last month, I will be fully devoted to you again. I actually got a tree this year, for the first time in about 20 years. It was very last […]
December 13, 2013
The Forest Feast Cookbook is Coming!
The renowned Forest Feast blog is about to become a book! Erin Gleeson, my good friend and long-time Umami Mart contributor, launched The Forest Feast after moving back to California from NYC a few years ago. Living deep in the woods in the Bay Area, Erin fused together her passion for photography, illustration, and fresh, simple […]
December 6, 2013
Holiday Shopping at Umami Mart!
Hello dear Umami Mart readers and loyal devotees! Holiday season is among us and I hope you are all geared up for a month of lame office parties, drawn-out family dinners and awful white elephant gift exchanges. Nah, it’s not that bad, right? If there’s ever a time of year when it’s ok to be […]
November 27, 2013
Upcoming Event: Latkes + Lager: 2nd Annual Umami Mart Hannukah Party (SF)
Last year we hosted a Hannukah party with Erin of The Forest Feast, and her husband Rabbi Jon, in our first year of business in Oakland. It was a peaceful evening, and the first time I ever lit a menorah! The event was meaningful to us and we decided to make it an annual event. […]
November 18, 2013
Umami Map: Where to Buy Shochu in the Bay Area
UPDATED 11/19/13, 8:47pm We get a lot of phone calls about where to buy shochu in the Bay Area. I love talking to people about this — as you know, we are here to spread the shochu gospel here at Umami Mart. So here’s a definitive list of where to go for your shochu needs. […]
November 4, 2013
Umami Mart Pop-Up Now Open (San Francisco)
San Francisco, we have arrived! Umami Mart opened inside The Perish Trust last Friday November 1 and we’ll be here through the holidays. This is truly a dream for us — to share our wares with the big City by the Bay! Our friends Kelly and Rod, owners of The Perish Trust, came to us with […]
October 28, 2013
Kitchen Follies: Shio-Koji Roasted Chicken
In life, I’m all about making mistakes. The important thing is to just try everything! I was always the person to ask all the stupid questions in class; I’ve never had much of a fear of failure or looking dumb in public. I actually just tripped and fell on a busy street with full-on Farmer’s […]