Author Archives: Kayoko Akabori


February 15, 2009

Tea Time with Le Patissier Towel Cakes

by Kayoko Akabori

Look what I found while I was walking through a shop the other day in Man Jose- little cakes and pastries made out of DUNDUNDUN… TOWELS!!! Designed by a Japanese company, Prarie Dog, this line of Le Patissier towel pastries are so ridiculously darling. They make little individual cakes and slices, and whole cakes too! […]

February 12, 2009

A Google It’s-It

by Kayoko Akabori

Just got back from lunch at Google– this time on the main campus. Dude, cafeteria is so ridiculously insane: Indian bar, sushi bar, and an “East Meets West” bar where they had BACON FRIED RICE!!!! It’s on the menu once a week, which is to say I will be sneaking in every week to get […]

February 11, 2009

Japan Bento Report: Kiyoken Shumai

by Kayoko Akabori

If you have a big trip involving a shinkansen (bullet train) in Japan, you will inevitably run into the question of which bento to buy for your lunch or dinner for the train ride. Katsu? Eel? Gyoza? Grilled fish???? This is a big thing for Japanese people, as we are always asking ourselves, “What do […]

February 10, 2009

The Umami Reader, vol. 042

by Kayoko Akabori

– 50 Awesomely Named Products (mostly food), including: JussiPussi, Homo Sausage and Manhattan Style Fish Assholes. Pet Sweat, featured on UM, is even on here!!! (Manofest; via Fuminatto) – This is Why You’re Fat! Enough said. Make sure to check out the giant burrito- AWESOME! (via Tomo) – LA’s DOH alphabet ratings to come to […]

February 9, 2009

Alvy Singer Goes to M Cafe de Chaya (LA)

by Kayoko Akabori

I’ll have the alfalfa sprouts and a plate of mashed yeast. Famous Alvy Singer quote from Annie Hall when Alvy meets Annie at an outdoor cafe in LA, remember? Well, when Moet asked me to meet her at M Cafe de Chaya in West Hollywood and she mentioned “macrobiotic food,” I felt a wave of […]

February 8, 2009

Siam Cafe: Authentic Chinese Food in… Cleveland?!

by Kayoko Akabori

I am totally into food. Add my friend who is also totally into food, and you get a Pepto Bismol-inducing food frenzy. On one such occasion, we visited perhaps the only authentic Chinese joint in Cleveland proper, Siam Cafe. Apparently, they also serve Thai and Vietnamese food, but we were there for the good stuff. […]

February 4, 2009

Under Construction: Please Avoid Using Internet Explorer!

by Kayoko Akabori

Getting a few comments that the site is not loading on Internet Explorer. Until we figure out what’s going on, please browse via Firefox or Safari. Thanks, and sorry for the interruption! Pic by University of Wisconsin.

Kitchen Follies: Devils on Horseback

by Kayoko Akabori

In the world of food blogs, it’s a rare occasion to see a recipe gone bad. Gorgeous, mouthwatering foodporn shots of well-prepared, perfectly crisped, braised and roasted dishes abound in the blogosphere. But what about all the times when your master creations have totally FAILED??? So today, I’m going to talk about how I totally […]

February 3, 2009

An Umami Mart First: HOSPITAL FOOD

by Kayoko Akabori

As my introductory post, I would like to tread upon virgin Umami Mart territory… DUN DUN DUN… *HOSPITAL FOOD*! Perhaps it doesn’t have the allure of airplane foodstuffs, but hospital food is interesting in a way that one day you might have to visit your grammy there or maybe you end up there after partying […]

The Umami Reader, vol. 041

by Kayoko Akabori

– Gary Aschatz to make an Alinea movie??? (Menupages Chicago) – Obama’s chef laments on the state of school lunches (NYT Health; via Tmonkey) – World’s most sadistic dishes include: Tofu Hell and wind-dried chicken. Awesome names, though (Cracked; via Moet) – The Ultimate 100 Must Eats in SF (7×7; via CJ) – A comprehensive […]