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October 31, 2016
8 Delicious Ways to Enjoy Landsea Gomasio
Gomashio is a Japanese seasoning, traditionally consisting of toasted sesame seeds (goma) and salt (shio). At Umami Mart, we carry Landsea Gomasio, a Pacific Northwestern take on gomashio. Made in Eastsound, Washington by our friend Brooke Budner, Landsea Gomasio uses replaces salt with two ingredients found regionally and abundantly in Orcas Island: bull kelp, a type of seaweed with […]
October 26, 2016
Meet SF’s New Michelin-Star Winning Japanese Restaurants
This week, The Michelin Guide released its much-anticipated list of awardees of its coveted stars. As of this year, the Bay Area has six three-star (the highest grade) restaurants and a total of 55 starred restaurants across the region. Three new one star-winners are notable to us at Umami Mart because of their Japanese focus, or, in one […]
October 25, 2016
Where to Get Japanese Breakfast: Cassava
I’ve heard a lot about Cassava in the last few years and finally made it over to the Avenues in Outer Richmond for the Japanese breakfast. To my knowledge, it is the only traditional Japanese breakfast offered in the Bay Area, and absolutely worth the trip. Cassava opened in 2012 (just like Umami Mart!) by […]
October 18, 2016
Eat + Drink Here Now: Nomica
NOMICA 2223 Market Street San Francisco, CA 94114 T: 415.655.3280
October 17, 2016
Yoko: Shochu Lover and Umami Mart’s Playmate of the Century
Shochu is finally getting some big love Stateside, thanks to a well-written piece in Playboy about the Japanese spirit. The article features an interview with Yoko!!! Shochu is Japan’s distilled spirit. It is not sake, nor a wine. Think of it this way: Mexico has its tequila, Russia has its vodka, the Caribbean has its rum, […]
October 14, 2016
New, Blue, and Just for You: Glossy Ocean Mist Pothead
We just reupped on Sunny Side Up Studios’ Pothead Planters, including one in a new color – Glossy Ocean Mist. This serene blue hue goes well with the blissed-out face on these lovable ceramic plant pots, created by Japanese LA artist Yoskay Yamamoto. We currently have two varieties of pothead at the shop: Glossy Ocean Mist […]
October 5, 2016
Meet the Man Behind the Best Yakitori in Oakland
Recently, I got into a discussion about all the restaurants that have been popping up in the Bay Area. The constant stream of new, hip restaurants is never ending in the East Bay and San Francisco, and it’s hard to keep up. Of all of those restaurants that have opened in the last year, Hina […]
September 12, 2016
Eat This Now: Curry Ramen at Muracci’s
Berkeley – home of cheap eats and cuisines from all over the world. As I’ve said before, I usually avoid the area within a close radius of the UC Berkeley campus, but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and brave the sea of hungry Cal students to get a taste of goodness. So it was the case recently, when […]
September 9, 2016
We Definitely Think You’re Ready for This Jelly
Ikezo Sparkling Jelly Sake’s tag line is “Fun for Life.” That’s a bold claim! But we have to say, these little cans of bubbly, fruity jelly sake live up to the hype. They were a hit when we took a few cans to a party, which makes a lot of sense because they’re basically like lightly […]
September 8, 2016
A Stainless Steel Mixing Cup That’s Cool (But Not Too Cool)
Stainless steel mixing cups are pretty cool. No, literally, they stay very cool and keep cocktail ingredients super chilled. But the trade-off is that your hands can get downright frigid while making drinks. Unless, that is, you’ve got one of our Double Walled Stainless Steel Mixing Cups. Made by the ever-dependable Japanese barware makers, Yukiwa, these mixing cups have […]