Author Archives: Kayoko Akabori


May 30, 2012

Great UM Noodletown: Ramen Parlor (San Mateo)

by Kayoko Akabori

When it comes to matters of eating out, I am pretty inflexible. Since I will travel long distances for good food, I get pretty upset if I don’t get what I had originally intended. By nature, I am quite stubborn (classic Taurean trait), and I am even more so about what I eat. So when […]

May 22, 2012

5 Days in Tulum (MEX)

by Kayoko Akabori

For my birthday this year, I went to Tulum, Mexico with Johnny. It was our first trip we would be taking together and it took ages to decide where to go. Buenos Aires? Mexico City? CUBA??? I hadn’t taken a tropical vacation in forever, so the requirements were a nice beach and good food. And […]

May 17, 2012

Tokyo-SF Bartender Salon: Masako Ikegami (BARShake)

by Kayoko Akabori

Masako Ikegami bartends at BARShake in Tokyo. Like Mr. Tomokazu Kai, she also won the Suntory Cocktail Award, which brought her to the Bay Area as the grand prize visit. Her winning drink, the Tamayura, was originally made with Hibiki whisky, but here she substitutes it with Yamazaki, along with supporting green tea and white chocolate […]

May 16, 2012

Postcard from LA: Uni + Burrata OMG

by Kayoko Akabori

Uni, burrata, button mushroom, yuzu Son of a Gun Los Angeles

May 15, 2012

Ask Sushi Kuni: Makimono (Rolls)

by Kayoko Akabori

Do you guys all know my pops? His name is Kunio, and he is a sushi chef. Classically trained as a tempura chef, he was offered to transfer to Los Angeles where Inagiku, the Tokyo restaurant he worked at, was opening a location in the iconic Bonaventure Hotel. So, the Akaboris all ended up in […]

May 14, 2012

Umami Mart Pop-Up in Old Oakland

by Kayoko Akabori

The Umami Mart Shop popped up in Old Oakland for five days last week inside Piper + John General Goods, located on the charming brick road of 9th Street. It was a great success! We launched on the bustling “First Friday”, which is a huge sprawling art party throughout Oakland every month, thrown by the […]

May 10, 2012

Tokyo-SF Bartender Salon: Thad Vogler (Bar Agricole)

by Kayoko Akabori

Mr. Thad Vogler needs no introduction. He is a leading barman in the Bay Area and beyond, who opened Bar Agricole in San Francisco in 2011. Named after agricole rum (rum made with 100% raw cane sugar), Thad has put his heart, soul, personal philosophies, and many years of experience into the restaurant — which […]

May 8, 2012

Gochi: Revitalizing Japanese Cuisine in Cupertino

by Kayoko Akabori

Gochi opened quietly in 2005, in a little non-descript strip mall on the back roads of Cupertino. It was actually a bit traumatizing for me — they bought out a nasty dive bar called the Peacock Lounge where my friends and I used to go when visiting our hometown for the holidays. The “Cock”, as […]

May 3, 2012

Tokyo-SF Bartender Salon Video Series: Ryan Fitzgerald (Beretta)

by Kayoko Akabori

In this video, Ryan Fitzgerald of Beretta in San Francisco makes three different kinds of margaritas, including the famed Tommy’s version. At Beretta, Ryan is always creating dynamic cocktails with tequila and mezcal, so it came as little surprise that this classic would be his signature drink. This presentation was particularly interesting, as Ryan demonstrated […]

April 27, 2012

Umamimart Pop-Up #3: Piper and John General Goods (OAK)

by Kayoko Akabori

The Umamimart Shop has been busy popping up all over the Bay Area, and here’s one coming to Oakland! For this one, we’re teaming up with the fine folks of Piper and John General Goods, a magical shop in historic Old Oakland. What: Umamimart Pop-Up #3 When: Friday 5/4 – Wednesday 5/9 Where: Piper and […]