Umami Mart

In the past week there’s been a lot of buzz in cocktail circles regarding the outcome of a legal dispute between Pusser’s rum and Painkiller, a tiki bar in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. It’s a story that’s led to a lot of anger among us folks in the cocktail biz, as it touches […]

PREFACE Skankynavia: In the US (Part 1 – Berkeley) Last week I listened to the great NYC radioshow called RadioLab. They deal with quirky science and interesting true stories, and last week’s subject was “memory” (a rerun from 2007, listen here). It turns out that every time you remember something, and when you revisit a […]

It seems that pop-ups are popping up all over New York City recently. What’s going on? Or should I say What Happens When? That’s the name of a new pop-up resto that has a nine-month lease on a space in SoHo, and a new menu and theme every month. I visited in April for Movement […]

I just got back from a weekend in NYC, for a very important Umamimart Reunion Dinner, hosted by Yamahomo (post coming!). Even though I really only had two full days in the city, I bounced around and hit some of my favorite haunts. It felt good to be back, if only for a few days. […]

I know this piece of cake doesn’t look so hot, but to be fair, it’s been through a lot. Last weekend I was at a house party in Williamsburg. It was still Passover, so I was having wine instead of beer, cheese with no crackers and trying not to look at the cookies. I’d been […]

I am finally back. Although the past couple of weeks have been super hectic, I had the opportunity to go to my favorite restaurant Kajitsu, twice in two weeks. At the end of March, my work held a special dinner gathering there, and I wasn’t planning on going, but at the last moment I got […]

I had the pleasure of lunching at Google in NYC (above Chelsea Market) last week as the guest of a friend who works there. Google’s executive chef emails out the huge menu daily! It definitely had the feeling of a big cafeteria, but it was friendly and fresh, with Google slick. Lots of healthy vegetarian […]

My friend Tessa Liebman, the executive chef at the Housing Works, is hosting a very special dinner on Saturday, March 12th at the Housing Works bookshop in SoHo. She has spent months working with artist Balint Zsako to create a unique, collaborative event. Tessa wants to keep the elements of the dinner a surprise, but […]

Just got back from a long weekend in NYC. The trip killed me. I ran around all day, tried to see everyone, ate and drank myself into a tizzy, and literally collapsed in exhaustion. It made me feel old. That said, it really is an incredible city for eating. Like anywhere, there are some major […]

I don’t like vegetables that much. I am not keen on vegetarianism. I am not that into organic vegetables. I hate cooking for vegetarians since I have no idea what to do. Though I buy quite a few items at the Greenmarket, I don’t even care  if they are soaked in chemicals– I taint my […]