Author Archives: Kayoko Akabori


February 2, 2011

Packaging Whore: Suppon Soup in a Can

by Kayoko Akabori

My pal Washi just got back from Japan and brought me an entire BAG full of fun omiyage (gifts)! Little booties from Muji, a pack of Nagoya-style miso udon, and a can of… kan kohi (canned coffee)? I read it aloud, “ゴールド すっぽん スープ” aka Gold Suppon Soup. “Turtle,” Washi translated. Turtle soup? IN A […]

January 25, 2011

Support!: FORK YOUR CONSIDERATION – A New Cooking Show (That’s Not Boring)

by Kayoko Akabori

Check it out! Umamimart’s very own Sarah Nevada (The Big Feed and Old School Eats), an LA-based film producer, has embarked on a new project. Fork Your Consideration is a new kind of cooking show– each 24 minute episode will be based on a film, whether a classic, blockbuster, or romcom (heck yah!). Hosted by […]

January 24, 2011

Tonight at Peko Peko (SF): Celebrating California’s Fish + Homemade Satsuma Age!

by Kayoko Akabori

Sylvan Mishima Brackett is the mastermind behind Peko Peko, a Japanese catering service in the Bay Area. After working as Alice Waters’ assistant for SIX YEARS (dude must have the patience of a Zen master. Just kidding, love you Alice!), he apprenticed in a soba shop in Saitama, Japan, then came back to the Bay […]

January 21, 2011

WTF is Umami?: A Lesson in Pronunciation

by Kayoko Akabori

Here we go– another food critic’s take on “umami”. This time, the article is from none other than Time Magazine, with their gajillion readers, letting Josh Ozersky tell them what umami is. What. The. Fuck. We’re talking about a gross fat dude who has about as much credibility in the NYC food world as a […]

January 14, 2011

Umamimart Shop Love U Sale

by Kayoko Akabori

We’ve started off 2011 in cheesy mood here at Umamimart HQ, and have launched the Love U Feb 14% Sale in time for Valentine’s Day. All items in the Shop are now 14% off! Please take a look around. You’ll find that we’ve added the Yarai Mixing Glass + Barspoon Set, as well as the […]

January 11, 2011

SOLD OUT!: Umamiventure #31: Sutton Cellars Vermouth Lab (SF)

by Kayoko Akabori

Updated 1/28, 9am PST: THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT! Stay tuned for February’s Umamiventure! Updated 1/28, 9am PST: THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT! Stay tuned for February’s Umamiventure! When I first read about Carl Sutton’s vermouth in the NY Times last year, I was immediately intrigued. Now, we’re in the Bay Area, where the wine […]

January 5, 2011

The Man Behind Happy Hour

by Kayoko Akabori

Meet Paystyle– a dashing, whip-smart, er, smartass from Brooklyn by way of Los Angeles. He’s got dreams. Dreams of someday calling it quits as a lawyer (94 hour work weeks, fuck that!), and pursuing a career as a first-rate mixologist. Paystyle made this video with Vanessa (his wife and Happy Hour photog) for the Manhattan […]

January 3, 2011

Letter From the Editor: Year of the Rabbit

by Kayoko Akabori

HAPPY NEW YEAR, Martians! 2010 was totally jam-packed, wasn’t it? Back in February the site got a facelift, and fast forward to November when we launched our first line for the Umamimart Shop. We organized nine successful Umamiventures throughout the year, in the Bay Area, NYC and LA, and of course there were so many […]

December 22, 2010

Packaging Whore: Faggy Foods (The XXXmas Edition)

by Kayoko Akabori

PREFACE Packaging Whore: Faggy Foods (by Anders) I’ve been a serious holiday downer this year. Even though I really do not care for religion, ya’ll know I adore Jesus, and I have done nothing to celebrate the day of his birth thus far. No gifts, no cards, no love. Shame on me! Anders asked me […]

December 16, 2010

Hideko’s Korokke (Potato Croquettes)

by Kayoko Akabori

Hey everyone, Kayoko here again, sitting in for Yoko this week. I’m pretty broke these days, and haven’t been eating out much. Plus, it’s cold out– I mean, the Bay Area isn’t as cold as London/ Tokyo/ Copenhagen/ NYC, but still, it’s pretty chilly for us Californians (low hi 52ËšF/ low 42ËšF, today. Sorry Snow […]