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March 21, 2013
Upcoming Event: Fukushima Now: Relief Effort to Support Children in Fukushima
Two years after the Tohoku disaster in 2011, memories have faded and conversations about the incident, and what we can learn from it, are rapidly disappearing from the media. As time widens the gap between March 11, 2011 and the present, I wonder how I can stay connected to the issues that arose from the […]
March 12, 2013
Upcoming Event: Lease-Signing Party!
In August, Tomo gifted us a daruma to celebrate the opening of Umami Mart. It is tradition to draw in one eyeball when you receive it while making a wish, then fill in the other when the wish comes true. Our wish was to sign a lease in six months. And we did it! We […]
March 8, 2013
Postcard from Bangkok: Pad Thai Chef
By Johnny Lopes Khaosan Road, Bangkok; Backpacker Mecca. The street gets stupid busy at night between fellow travelers and merchant hustlers. You can buy everything from new suits to a ride to a local ping-pong show. As an amateur photo-journalist project, I went out in the early morning to seek out the silent streets — I […]
February 27, 2013
Umami Mart Seeks Intern!
It’s been over six months now since Yoko and I started our shop in Oakland, and we’d love a motivated team member to join us! We’re ready for a star intern to help us grow and be a part of the inner-workings of Umami Mart. FUN! Here’s the description below — please forward to anyone […]
February 25, 2013
Upcoming Event: Hinamatsuri (Girl’s Day)
Yoko and I are showing our true, girly colors by celebrating Hinamatsuri (Girl’s Day) at Umami Mart! We had to do it — Yoko’s mom spent over a decade making a traditional ohinasama (ornamental doll) display with five tiers (!) that we felt we absolutely must showcase. Girl’s Day in Japan lands on March 3 every […]
February 14, 2013
Postcard from Tokyo
Yakitori at a cramped stall in Omoide-yokocho (Memory Lane) in Shinjuku. The skewer came in a weird soup. Master called it “henna soup”. It was tonkotsu-ish.
January 23, 2013
Grease Box Lunch Box Every Wednesday
Lunch boxes by our great friend Lizzy, proprietress of Grease Box, a mobile kitchen here in Oakland, will now be available at Umami Mart every Wednesday. Lizzy makes delicious, finger-lickin’ awesome soul food, that does not skimp on the flavor or love. For example, today’s lunch includes jalapeño hot wings, crispy pork belly, millet biscuit, carrot […]
January 9, 2013
Okonomiyaki vs. Akashiyaki Throwdown
Back in December, on the eve of our 10-day break, I threw a fun okonomiyaki bounenkai at my place to celebrate the end of the year. Remember when I deemed 2012 as the Year of the Okonomiyaki? Well, it seemed only fitting to end it this way. And when Jay and Rie suggested they bring the goods for […]
Postcard from Tokyo
Cream anmitsu at Nakamuraya on the 9th floor of Tokyu department store (west wing) in Shibuya.