Author Archives: Kayoko Akabori


October 4, 2008

The Umami Reader, vol.033

by Kayoko Akabori

Funny how some weeks I have nothing to share with you, and some- like this week- I have a ton of reading for you. I gave you a day off last week, now, it’s back to the books: Bartering pints for eggs in the UK? Let’s make it happen on this side of the pond […]

October 3, 2008

Umamiventure #12: Sheepshead Bay Pt. 2 (Randazzo’s Clam Bar)

by Kayoko Akabori

Preface: Umamiventure #12: Sheepshead Bay, Pt. 1 (Jordan’s Lobster Dock) On the morning of our trek out to Jordan’s Lobster Dock, I was cruising the net and happened upon ravings of another seafood shack in Sheepshead Bay, Randazzo’s Clam Bar. Started in 1916 as a fish market, Randazzo’s has built their reputation on fresh seafood, […]

October 2, 2008

Sanma Lunch Special at Aburiya Kinnosuke (NYC)

by Kayoko Akabori

It’s that time of year: sanma time. Sanma aka Pike Mackerel aka Pacific saury, is a wonderful seasonal fish to celebrate autumn in Japan. My favorite time of the year! We just got back from Aburiya Kinnosuke, where they have been serving a sanma lunch special since last week for $13. Check out this spread! […]

Umamiventure This Sunday: Flushing Food Court Circuit

by Kayoko Akabori

Many of you may already know that I’ll be leaving NYC at the end of October. I’m gonna try to stir things up a bit in the Yay Area food scene- I go in and out of freaking out about this decision (usually these moments take place on the subway), but it’s an impulse that […]

September 29, 2008

Umamiventure #12: Sheepshead Bay Pt. 1 (Jordon’s Lobster Dock)

by Kayoko Akabori

Last week’s Umamiventure was to Jordan’s Lobster Dock, in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. My friend Christine had told me about Jordan’s on Long Island, and after some vigorous online research, I found that the original Jordan’s had been in Sheepshead Bay since 1938. What’s fascinating is the lobster rolls are a very regionally specific creation. As […]

September 25, 2008

Packaging Whore: White Cow Dairy Yogurt

by Kayoko Akabori

There’s a Murray’s Cheese right inside the Grand Central Terminal Market, so I took a gander at their yogurt section the other day on my way home from work. This brown cardboard wrapping caught my eye- no logos, just the expiration and yogurt flavor stamped onto it. Love it. 2 cute glass jars are snuggled […]

September 23, 2008

UM Redux: Di Fara (NYC)

by Kayoko Akabori

Went out to the Brooklyn pizza institution, Di Fara the other day with Jorge. I don’t want to go on and on about this (since there’s been so much written on the place), but seriously, it’s the best pizza I’ve ever had in the States, hands down. Frankly, it even beats out pizzas I’ve had […]

September 22, 2008

Banditboxxx: A Tetra Pak Pinot

by Kayoko Akabori

Picked up a bottle, er, a BOX of Bandit Pinot Grigio last weekend at LeNell’s in Red Hook. This stuff rocks!!! It was $10 and totally decent wine… in a Tetra Pak! Hailing from St. Helena, CA, Bandit is made by Three Thieves, a winery who puts out various other wines in status quo glass […]

September 20, 2008

The Umami Reader, vol.032

by Kayoko Akabori

Can’t get enough of Cake Wrecks- and this one is my favorite (via Dan and Amy Ann, Cake Wrecks) Nasty-ass moldy ziploc bags to keep the playground bullies from stealing your lunch- GENIUS! (via Mike T., Sherwood Forlee) 101 Cookbooks becomes a Kiva Lending Team to help support food-based programs in developing countries (via Dawn, […]

September 17, 2008

Ice Creaming in Boston

by Kayoko Akabori

Went to Boston this weekend to visit my super pals Alda, Jade and Mo. I pranced around Cambridge (I’m not supposed to call it Boston, am I??) all weekend pretending to be smart, which took a lot of work, so ultimately I just ate and slept in excess. It’s hard being me, I know. Besides […]