Photos by Erin Gleeson Please excuse my great delay in writing this post — I have not had a chance to write much but I have been thinking about you all and have lots to talk about. Back in June, Umami Mart helped host a Japanese whisky tasting event for Father’s Day, with Suntory and […]
Author Archives: Kayoko Akabori
August 2, 2012
This Friday: UMAMI MART OPENING PARTY!
ARE YOU READY FOR THIS??? Umami Mart’s big grand opening is tomorrow night! The doors will officially open at 6pm sharp, and we’ll be having a special kagamiwari ceremony at 6:30pm, which is a tradition of breaking open a cask of sake. It symbolizes the start of a new beginning. Woohoo! This will not be a dry event. […]
July 25, 2012
Umami Mart Grand Opening August 3 (OAK)
Hello! Sorry I haven’t been blogging much, but I wanted to update you on how the shop is coming along. Our big opening day will be next Friday 8/3! Waaaaa! We’re slaving away here every day and have put everyone we know to work. Ha! No seriously, all of our friends and families are involved […]
July 2, 2012
The Grand Foie Finale
We said our tearful farewells to foie gras this weekend in California. This fucking blows. *Stewed daikon topped with foie gras and kaiware, in a soy-miso sauce. Kiraku. Berkeley, CA.Â
June 27, 2012
Great UM Noodletown: Shanghai Dumpling Shop (Millbrae)
After all this talk of fancy dining, 4-star service, Le Bernardin and the lack thereof, I’m bringing it all back to what we’re all about: SOUL. Umami Mart is all about love and sharing and laughter and how food plays a great role in that in our lives. Yoko and I had an errand to […]
June 25, 2012
Big News! Umami Mart Lands in Oakland
I am ecstatic to announce that Yoko and I will be opening a real-deal brick and mortar store in Oakland, California!!! This all happened very quickly for us and these last few weeks have been filled with meetings, many trips to the hardware store, more meetings, and lots of painting. The construction will come soon […]
June 20, 2012
Lazyass Cookin’: Egg + Rice
Two out of three of my closest friends do not like eggs. How could this be? If I had to choose one thing on this planet that I love the most and could eat everyday, it would be the egg. They are sacred! So versatile! They can be served scrambled, boiled, poached, fried… and RAW. […]
June 7, 2012
Great UM Noodletown: Gombei’s Chicken Udon
We all have those comfort dishes that are close to our heart, and transport us back to childhood when biting into whatever it may be. For me, a bowl of chicken udon from Gombei always makes me tear up with nostalgia. Originally a little diner-style eatery in San Jose’s Japantown, Gombei has been a Bay […]
May 31, 2012
Upcoming Event: Father’s Day Japanese Whisky Tasting (SF)
We’re proud to present an event with Cask (a delightful beverage shop in SF) and Suntory (proprietor of Yamazaki, Hibiki and Hakushu whiskies), for an intimate seminar on Japanese whisky and tasting for Father’s Day. WHEN: Sunday June 17 at 1pm or 5pm WHERE: Local Edition, a swank new underground bar in SF, located on […]