Author Archives: Kayoko Akabori


October 9, 2007

Artichokes at the Freemasons Lodge

by Kayoko Akabori

Matt and I went to the Grand Lodge of Masons for Open House NY on Saturday. All in all, it was pretty creepy– on the corner of 23rd Street and 6th avenue, it’s an impressive 19-story frat house full of windowless meeting rooms (each with their own gaudy theme), lots of gold, and bizarre iconography. […]

October 5, 2007

Atlantic Antic

by Kayoko Akabori

Sunday was a truly beautiful day in Brooklyn- breezy, warm, blue skies dotted with cumulus clouds. The light is changing, it’s got an orange glow now, which I think has everyone shaken up, pretending that summer is still not over (cue Weezer: say it ain’t sooo!!!) My friends Kumiko and Troy picked me up and […]

October 4, 2007

Worst Restaurant Name EVER

by Kayoko Akabori

Bouley will name his new Japanese restaurant in New York, “Brushstroke“. I’m not sure if this is an art historical reference, or one of Japanese calligraphy, but in any case, it’s just plain bad. The 80s revival has gone too far. David, here are some other suggestions:– Zen Utopia– Chopsticks and Knives– Buddha’s Delight– Namaste– […]

September 20, 2007

Beet Beet

by Kayoko Akabori

I am a creature of habit, especially when it comes to cooking. I like fresh, minimal, and EASY– roasting vegetables meets all of these requirements, and I obsessively roasted vegetables all summer, despite the fact that I myself would roast in my little studio, when turning on the oven. I love to meander the farmers […]

September 14, 2007

The Umami Reader, vol. 007

by Kayoko Akabori

Noteworthy readings and eatings: Meehan’s excellent report about the perfect coffee bean (love this guy) – NY Times Backyard Brooklyn farm – one man’s locavore journey (jesus, can we talk about something else now?) – NY Mag Trillin’s education in Singapore street food (shoot, only the abstract is available online!) – NYer NY Dept. of […]

September 13, 2007

San Francisco Sourdough

by Kayoko Akabori

Back from the Bay Area, where I ate pretty well (Sushi Kuni, Scoma’s, MacArthur Park, Dynasty), but here’s what I trekked all the way back to New York with: How ecstatic was I to find a Boudin Bakery INSIDE the United terminal at SFO? Boudin is the essence of San Francisco– it’s the best damn […]

September 5, 2007

Banh Mi Field Trip: So 1 (NYC)

by Kayoko Akabori

Last week, when Matt sent me this Gridskipper link— a guide to banh mi in the city– it was 11am. By 11:05, my stomach was grumbling; 11:10, I was drooling; 11:30, fantasies of pork, cilantro and pate filled baguettes kept me from getting any work done. So what did I do? I knocked on my […]

August 28, 2007

This Just Can’t Be Summer Love

by Kayoko Akabori

Summer’s over for the both of usThat doesn’t mean we should give up on loveYou’re the one I’ve been thinking ofAnd I knew the day I met you you’d be the ooooooone…– Justin Timberlake Ok, so it’s a bit premature to say that summer is over, but here’s a post to remind you that the […]

August 21, 2007

Flattened Bananas

by Kayoko Akabori

Alda and I went to the beach this weekend. Alda brought snacks. Snacks from Trader Joe’s. Banana slices in a plastic bag for 99 cents. No sugar, no preservatives, just… bananas. Joe is a genius.

August 19, 2007

Pho Lovin’: Pho Bang (NYC)

by Kayoko Akabori

With such a ramen frenzy going on in New York right now (a cute little “guide to ramen” column in Time Out this week; buzz on Eater about yet another Hakata-style rameneria opening in Greenpoint in the fall; the ramen war that Setagaya ignited with Momofuku before they opened a couple months back, etc), I […]