Author Archives: Kayoko Akabori


May 11, 2008

UM Secret: Shhhh… My Favorite in NYC

by Kayoko Akabori

Living in this overhyped dining netherworld that is NYC, everyone has to have a place that is absolutely their OWN SECRET. It’s usually somewhere on the downlow, waaaay below the radar, somewhere that you hope to god won’t ever get written about in the lame-o Times or blow up on Yelp. This is how it […]

May 10, 2008

The Umami Reader, vol.017

by Kayoko Akabori

Mining the i n t e r n e t for stuff worth reading: An extremely in-depth, colorful, enthusiastic report on blow-fish, or FUGU by Adam Platt- make sure to go through all 6 pages! (via Judson, NY Magazine) Why is design never mentioned by restaurant critics? (via Alda, Metropolis) Ever wonder what those stinky, […]

May 9, 2008

Fridgin’ Out on Break

by Kayoko Akabori

Sorry, I’m on west coast time right now and so Fridge Out is on a little holiday. Will be back next week fer sure.

May 8, 2008

umamichatter: “The Burrito Ain’t Broke, Motherfuckers!” (NYC)

by Kayoko Akabori

10:44 AM Amy: Lady–STOP THE PRESSES! I found Mexican food in New York yesterday and it was off the fucking hook! 10:45 AM me: omg where Amy: KIOSKO PIAXTLA258 Graham Ave.Brooklyn NY.Tel. 718 388 29 57Open Lunch & Dinner11 am to 9 pm so fucking good 10:46 AM the carna asada and the carnitas are […]

May 7, 2008

California Soul: Blue Bottle Music Video

by Kayoko Akabori

This is ridiculously overdue, being the last post in my California Soul series which began two months ago (!). Putting together this video has been haunting me, and I finally buckled down and worked on it for your viewing pleasure. It took me all Sunday to make it, so you better friggin love it! I […]

Veniero Shut Down By DOH

by Kayoko Akabori

Eater reports the shutting down of the old school, million-year old East Village Italian sweet shop institution. Stay strong Venny! Don’t let them get you down! Just put out some mouse traps and call it a day! I have said it before, and I will say it again: FUCK THE DOH. Here’s my post on […]

May 5, 2008

UM Recession: VRAC Cotes du Rhone

by Kayoko Akabori

Please excuse my pathetic ability to describe wine. I realize that my descriptive abilities of eating is pretty mediocre to begin with (lots of ooohh and mmms), but wine is like a whole other sphere of knowledge that I sadly lack. This reminds me of Hua’s post on how “precise description matters“- I am failing […]

May 3, 2008

The Umami Reader, vol. 016

by Kayoko Akabori

Mining the i n t e r n e t for stuff worth reading (just a few days shy of breaking news): Champion coffee siphon girl visits Blue Bottle Cafe in SF- pretty sweet video (I know that guy in the cardigan!). How does one go about winning such an awesome title? (via SF Eater, […]

May 1, 2008

umamichatter: Greek Grocery Shopping in Astoria (NYC)

by Kayoko Akabori

10:47 AM me: hey sweets how are you doing??? Amy: alright you?? me: ok too did you end up going to queens??? do you still have the car? i’m free this weekend Amy: i went last night by myself, to Titan foods, the greek grocery store, i stocked up..and ate feta with asparagus last night!! […]

April 30, 2008

Larry Kardish Goes to O Ya (Boston)

by Kayoko Akabori

It was brought to my attention that I may have come across as pretentious and obnoxious last week in my “Making Fun of Times Dining” post. And although I feel that the NY Times editorial staff needs to be called out once in a while, simply for the fact that it has so much POWER […]