Umami Mart

A cupcake is like generic sex. Looks like an ok fun party from the outside, but when you dig in, it’s dull, sticky and in the end it just makes you wanna throw up. Right now, you’re probably thinking “Oh no, not another cupcake post. Weren’t cupcakes something that belonged to the 2000’s?” And yes, […]

The Hocca Bar first opened its doors in 1952, and serves up thousands of sandwiches, beers, and pastéis de bacalhau (pastries packed with cod) everyday. The mixed crowd of kids, families, polo wearers, old gentlemen, and nuns stand or sit on stools, consuming their sandwiches. Everyone loud, talking, numbers are shouted, people laugh; talk one-handed. […]

About a year ago I took a new job which has had me traveling to Bangalore a few times a year. I loved Indian food before ever stepping foot into the country, but then again I never really experienced Indian breakfast other than a dosa or two. Bangalore, and South India in general, is famous […]

These are probably the best Baja/Ensenada-style fish tacos I’ve had since the epic Fish Taco Crawl in San Diego last year (Umamiventure #21). The FISH TACOS neon sign just kept screaming out at me whenever I drove past this little joint, on a busy strip where Berkeley and Oakland meet. I always order the fish […]

Sometimes, I pick a place for an Umamiventure just to regroup with friends, their friends, and loyal Umamimart readers. That’s what these trips are for, afterall: to meet + eat. Choosing a place, however, it is never an easy task– the restaurant must be delicious, relatively cheap (ideally $20 per person) and can handle a […]

Regional food pride has long been a competitive discussion between residents of urban cities throughout the United States (acutely observed here by our favorite comedian Kyle Kinane). Food at the the top of this list, like pizza and hot dogs, are usually made with cheap ingredients infused with a local style. And of course there […]

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 […]

The French are famous for their cuisine and although it seems a daunting task to find the diamonds amongst the gazillion eateries in Paris, we had our trusty mother– with her Japanese travel guides– who took us seemlessly from one good restaurant and bistro to another. She likes to do her research before travelling and […]

You didn’t think we’d go to Paris and go on a sugarless diet, did you? Of course you didn’t. Angelina’s is a famous pâtisserie on rue de Rivoli across from the Tuileries Garden.We went there the first time we visited Paris as a family over 20 years ago where I remember eating a mille feuille. […]

I was able to meet up with Kirk aka mmm-yoso during my trip to San Diego. What a true delight! It’s always a little awkward to meet fellow food bloggers in REAL LIFE– does he talk the way he write? what will he order? should I tell him I loved his post on that dim […]