Going on a mezcal tasting was very high on my list of things to do in Oaxaca. I was introduced to mezcal last year at the San Francisco pizzeria Beretta, when I told the bartender to make me whatever he desired. He mentioned a spirit from Mexico which was like tequila, but with notes of […]
Author Archives: Kayoko Akabori
December 10, 2010
The Street: Fried Sweet Plantains + Condensed Milk (OAX)
As Hideko always says, “Simple is Best”. Here I was, walking around the main square in Oaxaca, stuffed from a massive breakfast, but this blue tin tub spewing hot oil was calling my name. Sweet plantains on a styrofoam plate, drizzled with condensed milk and topped with chocolate sprinkles? Dreamsicle. This was the best dessert […]
December 7, 2010
Umamiventure #30: Four Barrel Coffee Cupping (SF)
Umamiventure #30 was indeed a memorable affair, and much more than what any of us expected. It was a night of Serious Coffee Schooling– from the bean picking process, to roasting, to tasting– all courtesy of Four Barrel Coffee in San Francisco. Since opening in 2008, Four Barrel has become a front runner in the […]
November 30, 2010
Umamimart Shop Holiday Trunk Show (SF)
How was everyone’s Thanksgiving Day? It’s my absolute favorite holiday– although Brother did not come home this year so I drowned my sorrows in bottomless glasses of wine and sake and shochu and was utterly wasted the entire night. Er, I was passed out on the couch by 8pm. Fun times. But now that that’s […]
November 16, 2010
UMAMIMART SHOP NOW OPEN!
It’s here. Please enjoy. When trying to figure out a name for the blog 3+ years ago, somewhere in the back of my mind I must have known I wanted this to really truly be a MART. It’s surreal that it’s actually happening. Love for all Umamimart writers and readers for making this space what […]
November 10, 2010
SOLD OUT – Heads Up! Umamiventure #30: Four Barrel Coffee Cupping (SF)
Update (Thurs. 11/11, 12pm PST): EVENT SOLD OUT!!! +++ Wow THIRTY Umamiventures, can you believe? Pretty damn awesome, considering the very first one was in 2007, on a trek out to Flushing, Queens for quite possibly the best dim sum in New York City. I’m living in the Bay Area now, and still organizing these […]
November 4, 2010
Japanify: Mentaiko Mayo Pasta with Shimeji Mushrooms
Hi everyone, Kayoko here, filling in for Yoko’s column today. Yoko has set the bar quite high for tips, techniques and recipes on Japanese cooking, so I really thought hard about what I would be writing about. I browsed through all my Japanese cookbooks and magazines for ideas, and even consulted with some folks about […]
November 2, 2010
Letter From The Editor: The Umamimart Shop
Wow, November certainly snuck up on us, did it not? The sunlight is orange over here in the Bay Area (like the color of the World Series champs, maybe?); the air a bit crisper. The leaves are finally turning color. Amber! Crimson! Gold! Ah, Autumn in full bloom. But no time for sighs. There is […]
October 26, 2010
Umamiventure #29: Bitters Tasting with A.B. Smeby Bittering Co. (NYC)
Photos by Erin Gleeson. On a balmy, quiet Sunday afternoon in Brooklyn, we had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with Louis Smeby, founder of A.B. Smeby Bittering Co., for a tasting of his extensive line of bitters. When we all settled down in Quarter Bar‘s charming back yard, there was one glaring question on […]