Author Archives: Kayoko Akabori


November 21, 2007

Erin Gleeson in the NY Times

by Kayoko Akabori

Here it is, hot off the press (er, not really)– Erin’s very first photo shoot for the NY Times Dining section. WAAAAA!!!! This is AWESOME! She took shots for some aussie joint in the West Village which is getting some hype, called Kingswood restaurant. Hopefully she will divulge all once the Times releases their tightass […]

November 14, 2007

Mangiamo 2007: That’s Amore!

by Kayoko Akabori

When the moon hits you eye like a big pizza pie That’s amore When the world seems to shine like you’ve had too much wine That’s amore Bells will ring ting-a-ling-a-ling, ting-a-ling-a-ling And you’ll sing “Vita bella” Hearts will play tippy-tippy-tay, tippy-tippy-tay Like a gay tarantella— Dean Martin Ta-da! Now for the most important part […]

November 13, 2007

Next Year’s Halloween Costume

by Kayoko Akabori

Hilarious (or not) story in the NY Times a few weeks back about an experimental designer who created a vending machine costume for women to hide and disguise in order to “disuade eluders” (eluders being rapists, muggers, etc.) in Japan. Apparently other versions are in the works. Are Japanese people genius or just out of […]

November 9, 2007

How To Cook Your Life

by Kayoko Akabori

Watched a very charming, feel-good documentary the other night called How to Cook Your Life. I think it’s worth watching if you’re into food– some of the scenes have stayed with me and I really enjoyed it. Directed by Dorris Dorrie, who is German, this film follows an American Zen monk and master chef. This […]

November 7, 2007

Mangiamo 2007: The Best Gelateria

by Kayoko Akabori

Upon arriving in Siena for the wedding, one of the first things I did was visit my favorite gelateria right behind the Campo. It was where I had my very first gelato ever, having just moved there 7 years ago (not counting the very forgettable cone Erin, Leslie and I got in Firenze that cost […]

November 5, 2007

UM PSA

by Kayoko Akabori

2 Quick things: Umami Mart now on Facebook! Sign up, log in and check us out– I’ll be updating frequently with videos, latest posts, interesting links, pictures and event info. Join the group! Next UmamiVenture will be to the Thai joint with a cult following, Sripraphai, in Queens this Saturday. If you would like to […]

November 4, 2007

Mangiamo 2007: Spanish Home Cooking

by Kayoko Akabori

Marta really is like a sister to me, and her family has always welcomed me warmly and treated me like a part of the family whenever I went to visit them in Cadiz, the south western tip of Andalucia. It was a wonderful surprise when I found out that her parents would be in Madrid […]

October 30, 2007

Mangiamo 2007!: 24 Hours in Madrid

by Kayoko Akabori

Stopped off in Madrid for one night to see my dear friends Marta and Jose. Marta and I lived together in Padova, and she’s like a sister to me. But first, let’s talk airplane food. I took Iberia both back and forth from NY, and here are just some few points of why non-US airlines […]

October 24, 2007

Woman in the Kitchen– HOLLA!

by Kayoko Akabori

Pretty great homage to 6 female chefs working in some of NY’s busiest restaurants in this week’s NY Mag. Give it a whirl– it’s laid out as a roundtable discussion, tackling themes of undying sexism in professional kitchens, Top Chef conspiracies, and how women just cook better than men. Must this be a war between […]

October 10, 2007

The 5 P’s

by Kayoko Akabori

Off to glorious Italia for 10 days! Stopping off in Madrid for a night, then heading to Siena for my friend Leslie’s wedding, then Assisi for one night to check out the cathedral, then down to Roma for 5 nights where we got an apartment in Trastevere (cross my fingers it’s not a scam!). Will […]