Event


November 5, 2012

The Forest Feast Show @ Umami Mart

by Kayoko Akabori

We are more than a little excited to announce our first art show with long-time Umami Mart contributor Erin Gleeson. A year ago, Erin started her photo and illustration blog The Forest Feast, after moving to the California woods from NYC, where she spent many years as a food photographer. Since, the website has rapidly […]

October 31, 2012

Richmen: Ramen Shop’s Noodle-Making Machine from Japan

by Kayoko Akabori

It all started with a vision. Three guys, slaving away at Chez Panisse for years, decided to open a ramen shop in Oakland. Hot damn! The East Bay needs nothing more than a GREAT ramen shop, and the Food Gods know it. They have left the responsibility up to Jerry (JJ) Jackish, Rayneil De Guzmun […]

October 30, 2012

Upcoming Event: First Friday with Grease Box

by Kayoko Akabori

Our great friend (and twice-Umami Mart writer) Lizzy Boelter is popping up at Umami Mart with her mobile kitchen Grease Box this Friday. Lizzy makes super rad soul food of her native Louisiana, all gluten-free! And lucky for us, Lizzy does not skimp on the lovin’ or the flavorin’. For this special pop-up, she’ll be […]

October 29, 2012

Umami Mart Spotlight: Atelier Dion Yunomi (Teacups)

by Kayoko Akabori

We are extremely excited to present yunomi (teacups) exclusively made for us by our dear friends Jay + Rie of Atelier Dion. They have been running their ceramic studio in West Oakland since 2010, and for years we’ve been in conversation with them to make something just for Umami Mart. Our wish has finally been […]

October 18, 2012

Umamiventure #33: Hive Tour with East Bay Urban Bees

by Yoko Kumano

Did you know that a bee’s lifespan is based on the distance it has flown? One bee lives to fly about a total of 500 miles. This is just one of the many things we learned from Betsy and Miguel of East Bay Urban Bees during our hive tour. The tour could not have happened […]

September 28, 2012

Upcoming Event: UmamiLab #1: Ramen Shop Noodle Test #6

by Kayoko Akabori

As you may have heard, there’s a highly anticipated ramen shop coming to Oakland. Our good friends Sam, Rayneil and JJ are the masterminds behind Ramen Shop (that’s right!), opening in Rockridge. The opening is still a few months away, and they are hard at work on their space (formerly the Japanese restaurant Tachibana), and […]

September 18, 2012

Happy Hour: Pig + Punch Gets Its Due

by Fredo Ceraso

This past July, the culinary and spirits festival Tales of the Cocktail (a.k.a. Tales) celebrated its 10th Anniversary. The world’s best craft bartenders, taste makers, brand ambassadors, cocktail bloggers, liquor sponsors, and cocktail aficionados plus a legion of media and public relations people descended on the Crescent City for a week of booze filled seminars, […]

August 27, 2012

Sip + Shop: Sake Tasting This Thursday (OAK)

by Kayoko Akabori

That’s right, we’re hosting a FREE sake tasting at the shop this Thursday. If you’ve ever wanted to learn the differences between a nama, junmai, and ginjo, now is your chance! WHAT: We’ll be serving various types of sake at different temperatures to compare the differences in taste and structure of the sake. WHEN: Thursday 8/30 […]

August 15, 2012

Event Recap: Umami Mart Grand Opening Party

by Kayoko Akabori

Photos by Erin Gleeson After weeks of painting, building, going to Home Depot five times a day (ugh), sleepless nights, banh mis for breakfast/lunch/dinner, pestering our friends and families (are you done with that project yet? Can you cut wood for us? Can you polyurethane the floors?) — UMAMI MART HAS LANDED! To celebrate, we […]

August 14, 2012

Upcoming Event: Macarons with Moto (OAK)

by Kayoko Akabori

Guess what? MOTO is coming to Umami Mart! How lucky we are! Our resident macaron maestro will be here with us this Thursday night, armed with his little pillows of sweet macarons that he has finally mastered over the last few years. Remember Yamahomo vs. Ladurée? He has come a long way, and today, MOTO […]