Umami Mart

In pure Yamahomo style, I’m battling myself in the kitchen. I’m doing so many recipe posts lately, I can’t stop! As you can tell, my unemployed ass is starting to cook more- what the hell else do I have to do, right?? This weekend, I had a stale baguette on my hands. I’m talking like […]

Preface:Loisaida Throwback Crawl: Kossar’s BialyLoisaida Throwback Crawl: Doughnut Plant There’s a pickle war in town, did you know? In the Lower East Side, within a two block radius, at that. Well actually, two blocks, and up to Cedurhurst, NY. I had no idea, until Todd, a UM reader who came out with us, gave us […]

I learned my lesson. Mix the batter well till it falls off the spatula, and don’t take it out of the oven too soon. Other than the fact that I am super inpatient, all the necessary ingredients and mind set was there. I couldn’t let go of the defeat of my Sunday failure, so I […]

I don’t know why I do this. The harder the recipe is, the more excited I get. I don’t know how I decided to make macaroons, but somehow I did.. When everyone goes to Paris (I’ve never been there, yet), they go queue up at either Laduree or Pierre Herme (did you know Pierre used […]

– The restaurant and hospitality industries are two of the biggest with large immigrant workforces, and people within the food industry are beginning to speak out about the anti-immigrant Trump administration policies. For example, restaurant owners are showing their support for their staff by printing it right onto their receipts, reminding diners who they can thank for the food they’re eating. […]

When we first launched Umami Mart in 2007, we were a wee food and drink blog. I informed NYers about secret ramen spots, Yoko mused about weird foods in Japan, Anders updated us about the latest on controversial food packaging, Erin uploaded stunning food photos, Ryohei obsessively battled himself in the kitchen and provided extensive play-by-play recipes, and Payman […]

Happy New Year! In 2015, we expanded our Oakland shop to include sakes and the largest selection of Japanese craft beers in the U.S. Then, we launched Sake Gumi in August in an effort to spread the joy of sake to those in the Bay Area and beyond. We felt that this club would be […]

Another summer, come and gone. Erm, another fall, come and gone. It’s starting to get chilly here in the Bay Area so I thought I would bring back some summertime warmth and celebration and blog about our 2nd annual Umami Mart Matsuri. Or as I like to (humbly) call it, Oakland’s Party of the Year. […]

Menya Musashi’s namesake is one Miyamoto Musashi, regarded as one of Japan’s greatest swordsmen and creator of the two-handed swordfighting technique niten-ryu, which translates to “Tarantino Wet Dream.” According to legend he never lost a duel in over 50 years as a wandering warrior — which I am inclined to believe since back then you […]

Instead of reaching there via a Wardrobe route, Nagoya is about a two-hour bullet train ride from Tokyo. It is the third most populous city in Japan, with 2.3 million people living within 11 square miles. Car geeks may know Nagoya as Toyota HQ. Gamblers may take note that it is where pachinko was born. […]