Yoko and I tagged along with Sylvan of Peko Peko last week to forage for ume (Japanese plums aka Prunus mume). We had been planning this for weeks, going back and forth and patiently waiting for the perfect moment to pick the ume, from a tree in the backyard of Sylvan’s friend’s home. Yes, we […]
Author Archives: Kayoko Akabori
June 21, 2011
Bun Thit Nuong at Pho Ao Sen (OAK)
People often ask me, “Why did you leave NYC?” It’s true, I just sorta packed my bags and ditched my glamorous job, my wonderful friends, my comfortable routine, and the GREATEST! CITY! IN! THE! WORLD! (at least the greatest metro system in the world). All for what? I’ll tell you what. The Three Major Food […]
June 9, 2011
Japanify Ingredients: Homemade Ponzu
Kayoko here, filling in for Yoko. From here on out, just call me (Ka)Yoko. By now, I’m sure you know what ponzu is. I don’t even have to explain it to you. In fact, it’s such a part of our colloquialism that I don’t even need to italicize it! Oh you know, it’s that tangy, […]
June 7, 2011
JapaCurry: Katsu Curry from a Truck (SF)
I’ve been pretty sickly lately. Two weeks ago I caught some awful stomach flu (or food poisoning? whatever) and as I laid in my bed for 72 hours in a sweat pool of misery, starving but unable to keep anything down (nay liquids, tmi), all I truly desired was a bite of… katsu curry. This […]
June 2, 2011
Umamimart Shop Spotlight: 箸: HASHI Set by Devin Farrell
Design, function and environmental sustainability were heavy on our minds when Yoko and I were thinking of new items to include in the Umamimart Shop. We wanted to include hashi (chopsticks) somehow, but all the ones we looked at were so generic and… blah. We always want Umamimart Shop products to be unique and high […]
May 31, 2011
VOTE FOR PAYSTYLE’S COCKTAIL!
Help send Paystyle to the annual Tales of the Cocktail extravaganza and vote for his Rainforest Cobbler every day on Facebook, now through this Friday. Paystyle started the Happy Hour column in 2008, which has brought countless original cocktail recipes and invaluable cocktail and bar smarts to Umamimart. Please vote and SUPPORT!
May 19, 2011
Umamimart Shop // Season 2
Here it is, the moment you have all been waiting for… Our second line of the UMAMIMART SHOP IS HERE!!! We’ve listened to your feedback and have brought around well-designed products at reasonable price points. We loved our debut line of bar and glassware, but recognize that you want to see a wider range of […]
May 17, 2011
Umamimart Writers Dinner Party 2011 (NYC)
All photos by Yoko Kumano and Vanessa Bahmani, I’ve been running Umamimart for over four years now (since February 2007), bringing together people from all over the world to share their personal experiences through food and drinks. It has gone through several manifestations, and has seen many writers come and go. Umamimart now consists of […]
May 13, 2011
Custom-Made Noodles at Ken Ken Ramen (SF)
Recently, I had a ramen epiphany in San Francisco. It was at Ken Ken Ramen, a tiny operation that pops up in the Mission every Thursday and Sunday, at The Corner (a coffee shop/ restaurant space). Robert Patterson, who grew up in Japan, no longer wanted to travel all the way to San Mateo (or […]
May 11, 2011
Eats + Drinks (NYC)
I just got back from a weekend in NYC, for a very important Umamimart Reunion Dinner, hosted by Yamahomo (post coming!). Even though I really only had two full days in the city, I bounced around and hit some of my favorite haunts. It felt good to be back, if only for a few days. […]