Author Archives: Kayoko Akabori


June 29, 2010

The Plumming Project: Ingredients + Recipe

by Kayoko Akabori

Summer is here. You know how I know? Christi called me last week and said, “We’ve got plums coming out of our ying yang, from the trees in our back yard. Will you come take them?” Yes, this is the same Christi who handed me bags of apricots last year, with which I made jam. […]

June 28, 2010

The Famed Focaccia at Liguria Bakery (SF)

by Kayoko Akabori

Trekked over the Bay Bridge last week (that $4 toll, about to be $6, is gonna be the bank-account-death of me) and visited North Beach. The Coit Tower greeted me with open arms on this sparkly, cloudless, “summer” day. Hellooooo San Francisco!!!! Thank you for clearing up for five minutes. Appreciate it. This particular trip […]

June 25, 2010

Radio Africa Kitchen (SF)

by Kayoko Akabori

Had dinner with my friend Enric at Radio Africa Kitchen last week, a roving restaurant that pops up these days at Coffee Bar in the Mission, on Friday nights. I love nomadic restaurants! Maybe it’s cause I love the Limited Edition concept– there is something exciting in it. Remember when my friend Momo would host […]

June 24, 2010

Umamiventure #26: San Pedro Fish Market (LA)

by Kayoko Akabori

Photos by Alda Ly, Moet Hashimoto, and myself. Sara wrote a post two years ago about the San Pedro Fish Market, and I’ve fantasized about visiting since then. All that sunny, surfside seafood looked like paradise. So that was the obvious choice for Umamiventure #26, since I was coming into town. Also, with all the […]

June 23, 2010

Morning Glory Salad at Jitlada (LA)

by Kayoko Akabori

Sorry for this jank picture, but it will have to do. I present to you: Jitlada’s Morning Glory Salad. I can’t stop thinking about this, since I had it two weeks ago at the famed Thai joint, Jitlada, in LA on Sunset. It’s fried watercress (aka “morning glory”), chopped red cabbage, red onions, shrimp, more […]

Condiment Crack: Tapatio To-Go

by Kayoko Akabori

Ho Ho Ho, look what I found. Tapatio PACKETS!!!! You Californians might be used to this kind of goodness, but as a longtime expat, this is a HUGE DISCOVERY. Walked over to Lanesplitter the other day for a pizza, and they had a container full of these guys. They are so cute, and wanted me […]

June 22, 2010

The Chicago Ten: Billy Goat Tavern (#1)

by Kayoko Akabori

Billy Goat Tavern was my absolute favorite place we went to in Chicago. You know a place has really made an impression on you when you keep wanting to go back. Matt and I were only there for three days, but I made sure I went twice. I even bought a tshirt. Ha. Oddly enough, […]

June 21, 2010

The Cantina Breakfast Burrito: A Bitter College Memoir (Santa Barbara)

by Kayoko Akabori

It’s no secret: I fucking hated college. Or at least the first two years of it. I was already pretty cynical to begin with, but with each day I spent at the gorgeous, sparkly, oceanfront campus of UC Santa Barbara, I just became more and more bitter. Like Daria bitter. It was all that sun. […]

June 18, 2010

Viva La Food Truck: Chairman Bao (SF)

by Kayoko Akabori

With all this garbage talk from NYC to LA about city officials revoking food truck permits, I decided to go out and support SF food trucks yesterday. Supporting them, meaning, EATING LUNCH. It’s the best kind of support, right? Viva La Food Truck! Since my friends Travis and Claire had told me about Chairman Bao, […]

June 17, 2010

The Chicago Ten: Blackbird (#2)

by Kayoko Akabori

Matt left it up to me to decide where to go for our one fancy meal in Chicago. Oh dear. So many options and places to try in so little time! Friends had suggested Sepia, a chic restaurant in an old printing studio, and of course there was Alinea (sigh). I finally decided on Blackbird, […]