Last week, Johnny and I randomly went to Russian River. We hadn’t seen each other much for the past few months, since the conbini planning and build-out, so Yoko gave me the weekend off and I booked a cottage in Guerneville, a town along the Russian River. Neither of us had ever been to Russian […]
Author Archives: Kayoko Akabori
August 6, 2013
Postcard from San Francisco: Steak Americana
An annual treat. HOUSE OF PRIME RIB 1906 Van Ness Avenue San Francisco, CA 94109 T:Â 415.885.4605
August 2, 2013
Kayo’s Kitchen: Movin’ Out // New Kitchen Stuff
After months of hard negotiating, Johnny is moving to the East Bay! Yup, we are moving in together, into a quaint one-bedroom apartment with views of Lake Merritt on super cheap rent. It wasn’t easy to convince Johnny to move over to the sunnier side of the bay — he has lived in the Outer […]
July 31, 2013
Upcoming Event: One Year Anniversary Sake Tasting
Guess what?? Umami Mart Oakland will celebrate its ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY in August!!! Both Yoko and I are so grateful for all the support we’ve received this past year from our community, the Bay Area, and beyond. It’s one thing to start a business, but another to actually be able to sustain it. THANK YOU […]
July 26, 2013
The Many Faces of Nuoc Mia (Sugarcane Juice)
It’s been three months since I went to Vietnam. For an entire week, Johnny and I scootered around Saigon, and then a few days down the Mekong Delta. It was an unforgettable trip, that I have yet to recount here. Once I get all the photographs organized, I’ll write a big post about all our […]
July 22, 2013
Ask Sushi Kuni: Chirashi, A Short History
Whenever I go to Sushi Kuni alone for lunch, I always sit at the sushi counter in front of Kuni. It’s usually packed with Apple employees and the staff are usually all running around like a bunch of crazed chickens — so even if I really want to indulge in some nigiri sushi or makimono, […]
July 19, 2013
Event Recap: U-MART Unveiling + Opening Party
Umami Mart is a place where ideas and people come together, take charge and create magic. This is true for the blog, the online shop, and our brick-and-mortar space in Oakland, CA. When writers, friends, friends of friends, customers, food + drink enthusiasts, and industry folks come to us to collaborate, we put all of our […]
July 9, 2013
Upcoming Event: Shochu Tasting @ 18 Reasons (SF)
Shochu tends to be the drink of choice around here on Umami Mart, but we know that it’s still pretty unfamiliar terrain. Yoko and I firmly believe that there is a place for shochu in the States, but it may take a while to get there. But we’re here to help educate and slowly open […]
July 8, 2013
Kayo’s Kitchen: Natt-ongs
Don’t we all have that certain staple food, drink or condiment in our lives that is devastating when it cannot be found in the kitchen? For some, it is Sriracha, or cream for their morning coffee. Or a cold can of beer. For Johnny, it’s Kashi cereal (GMO-free only) or Mountain High plain yogurt. For me, […]
June 28, 2013
Happy Summer: Umami Mart Closed July 1-4
Yup, that’s right, we’ll be closed for most of July 4 week. We’re heading down to LA to give a sake tasting at Bar + Garden in Culver City! The Oakland shop will be closed from Monday 7/1 Â through Thursday 7/4 and will reopen Friday 7/5. Our online shop is open though! We will ship […]