August 6, 2009

Lazyass Cookin’: Kimchi Fried Rice

by Kayoko Akabori

Looks like we’re celebrating carbs here at UM, as this rice post is back to back with Yoko’s mugi-toro don! Ain’t nothin’ wrong with carbs, people- get over it!!! Kimchi fried rice is my new favorite dish to cook up at home- it takes seven minutes to make from start to finish (I timed it), […]

July 8, 2009

Lazyass Cookin’: 8 Ingredients to Gazpacho (Traditional)

by Kayoko Akabori

I was inspired to make this when watching Jacques Pepin make it on his show the other day. He just made it look so easy- it’s a raw vegetable soup for god’s sake! No pots and pans- just your knife, peeler and food processor. It’s a lazyass cook’s call from heaven. I’m working at a […]

June 19, 2009

Lazyass Cookin’: Ebi Chili

by Kayoko Akabori

Cooking time: 5 minutes. The Japanese have perfected the art of lazy cooking. Instant ramen, instant white rice, instant consomme, instant miso soup complete with tofu and green onions. Where do you think I get it from? So the other day, I found some shrimp in the freezer and decided to pair it with chili […]

June 2, 2009

Lazyass Cookin’: Blanched Baby Bok Choy

by Kayoko Akabori

The word “blanched” is just a fancy way of saying “briefly boiled.” It’s my favorite kind of cooking: boil water, add vegetable, pour into colander seconds later. That’s it! This is what I do with bok choy when I buy it by the bagful in Chinatown or the local Asian grocer. It’s super cheap and […]

May 25, 2009

Lazyass Cookin’: Curry Mayo Eggplant and Enoki

by Kayoko Akabori

While my laziness usually outshines my brilliance in the kitchen, once in a while the stars align and I come up with a dish that is pretty damn awesome (but still in line with my laziness- I keep it real!). I found Japanese eggplant (tends to be slender with softer skin than the chubby American […]

April 7, 2017

The Umami Reader: Here’s How You Shouldn’t Eat Soup Dumplings

by Sarah Han

– Oy vey, Time Out London got some people down in the dumps about a recent video on Xiao Long Bao, or soup dumplings. The video on how to eat soup dumplings was posted on Facebook on March 28 with the caption, “Love popping spots AND eating dumplings? Combine the two with exploding soup dumplings […]

July 7, 2016

Cool for Summer: Studio Arhoj Summer Bowls

by Umami Mart Staff

It’s a cool, cool summer. At least in the Bay Area, where we’re getting fogged-in a bit this week. Still, when summertime comes around, we’re all about eating chilled foods, like Hiyashi Chuka, Cold Tofu Salad, Cha-Soba, and Nikumiso Udon. Our two new Studio Arhoj Summer Bowls are perfect for tucking in to cold dishes. Their […]

January 13, 2014

Izakaya Hideko: Taberu Rayu Tofu Salad

by Kayoko Akabori

My parents hosted a shinnenkai (New Year’s party) last night and it was a fantastic feast! As usual, Hideko and Kuni battled it out in the kitchen for cooking space, laughing and making fun of each other along the way. Who will make the best dish of the evening? This competitiveness has harshened lately, as Kuni has […]

October 28, 2013

Kitchen Follies: Shio-Koji Roasted Chicken

by Kayoko Akabori

In life, I’m all about making mistakes. The important thing is to just try everything! I was always the person to ask all the stupid questions in class; I’ve never had much of a fear of failure or looking dumb in public. I actually just tripped and fell on a busy street with full-on Farmer’s […]

August 26, 2013

Kayo’s Kitchen: Final Days of Janky Eating

by Kayoko Akabori

I’m in a flurry of packing at the moment. Actually, Yoko and MOTO had to come over and help me pack since I just can’t seem to get it together. The movers come tomorrow and my days of single living are about to become a faint memory. I am 33 years old and have lived […]