– Glico has teamed up with Suntory to bring the world a new limited edition flavor: Whisky Pocky! Part of its adult collection, Otona No Kohaku Pocky (Adult Amber) are salted pretzel sticks flavored with wort (malt extract) that are covered with rich, bitter chocolate. Glico explains that these Pocky are meant to be enjoyed with […]
Author Archives: Sarah Han
October 4, 2016
Bay Eats Japan: Oct 2016
Welcome to our new column, Bay Eats Japan, where we’ll alert you to newly and soon-to-be opened Japanese restaurants and bars in the Bay Area. As we’ll be listing new places, a mention is not necessarily a recommendation. Use this as a handy way to keep track of new spots you might want to try in the […]
September 30, 2016
The Umami Reader: Pork Bun vs. Typhoon. Pork Bun ALWAYS WINS
– A 53-year-old Taiwanese woman won the hearts of food lovers around the world this week when she decided, “Typhoon and broken umbrella, be damned – I’m eating this pork bun!” Associated Press photographer Chiang Ying-ying captured the woman, a fruit stand owner, eating her pork bun in the midst of Typhoon Megi, a powerful storm that rocked Taipei […]
September 23, 2016
The Umami Reader: Anthony Bourdain Loves Popeye’s Mac and Cheese
– This week, Anthony Bourdain appeared on Reddit for an AMA (Ask Me Anything), where he revealed his deep love of Popeye’s mac and cheese. “I have an unholy and guilty attraction to fast-food macaroni and cheese. During the morning I get these horrendous cravings for Popeye’s mac and cheese, and, uh, I will often disguise myself to […]
September 19, 2016
Conbini Creations: Sweet and Spicy Miso-Tobanjan Chicken Wings
For this month’s Conbini Creations, I wanted to make a recipe using the Youki Shisen Tobanjan, a spicy Sichuan-style chili paste that we carry at Umami Mart. Made with chili peppers and fermented broad beans, tobanjan is often used in mapo tofu recipes, or simply added into noodle soups to add a healthy, warming spice. A small dab also […]
September 16, 2016
The Umami Reader: Kewpie Mayo Dependency is Real
– Writer Kevin Pang examines his Kewpie mayo dependency with an excellent piece on the addictive Japanese condiment. The article explores Kewpie’s history, breaks down its ingredients and why it tastes so good on everything and anything, and has news of an U.S.-produced version coming soon (which, predictably, will not contain MSG). (A.V. Club; via John Lombardo; photo of okonomiyaki by Kayoko Akabori) – […]
September 12, 2016
Eat This Now: Curry Ramen at Muracci’s
Berkeley – home of cheap eats and cuisines from all over the world. As I’ve said before, I usually avoid the area within a close radius of the UC Berkeley campus, but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and brave the sea of hungry Cal students to get a taste of goodness. So it was the case recently, when […]
August 26, 2016
The Umami Reader: David Bowie’s 1980 Sake Commercial Is Creepy and Awesome
– Here’s one from the archives: Did you know David Bowie appeared in a Japanese sake commercial in 1980. The ad was for Crystal Jun Rock shochu and featured a snippet of his haunting instrumental synth track, “Crystal Japan” and some intense eye contact from the Space Oddity. Oh David Bowie, we miss you! (Dangerous […]