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August 7, 2012

Postcard from Nahoko: Coco Nut (Thailand)

by Nahoko Morimoto

*Nahoko Morimoto is a Tokyo-based photographer. Her work has been featured in Brutus and Vogue Japan.

August 3, 2012

The PDT Project: Apricot Flip

by Payman Bahmani

For the uninitiated, the term “flip” refers to a category of alcoholic drinks that involve a whole raw egg as an ingredient. So the Egg Nog is essentially a flip. Flips used to refer to hot beverages that had beer in them, whereby a hot poker was taken straight from the fire and dunked into […]

August 2, 2012

This Friday: UMAMI MART OPENING PARTY!

by Kayoko Akabori

ARE YOU READY FOR THIS??? Umami Mart’s big grand opening is tomorrow night! The doors will officially open at 6pm sharp, and we’ll be having a special kagamiwari ceremony at 6:30pm, which is a tradition of breaking open a cask of sake. It symbolizes the start of a new beginning. Woohoo! This will not be a dry event. […]

August 1, 2012

2 Days in LA

by Kayoko Akabori

Two weeks ago, I picked up Anders aka Mr. Skankynavia from LAX. It was a bit of a drive from the Bay Area, but a little vacay for both of us before we began the crazy build-out of our Oakland shop. We both love LA — the sunshine, the celebrity, the botox. L. Ron Hubbard […]

July 27, 2012

The PDT Project: Apple Malt Toddy

by Payman Bahmani

The PDT Project rolls on with the Apple Malt Toddy, a delicious drink that you’ll want to bookmark for the colder months, unless you’re one of our readers from the Southern Hemisphere. Or maybe you really enjoy hot drinks in hot ass weather.  Apple Malt Toddy 2 oz Red Jacket Orchards Apple Cider 1.5 oz […]

July 26, 2012

Postcard from Rio de Janeiro: Romeo + Juliet

by Yoko Kumano

A common dessert in Brazil called “Romeo and Juliet” comprised of goiabada (guava paste) and Minas cheese. The contrast of the sweet guava and the subtle and slightly savory Minas was a winning combination. Easily one of the best dessert finds during my trip; quintessentially Brazilian.

July 25, 2012

Umami Mart Grand Opening August 3 (OAK)

by Kayoko Akabori

Hello! Sorry I haven’t been blogging much, but I wanted to update you on how the shop is coming along. Our big opening day will be next Friday 8/3! Waaaaa! We’re slaving away here every day and have put everyone we know to work. Ha! No seriously, all of our friends and families are involved […]

July 24, 2012

MOTOism: NYC Umeboshi Project: Year Two

by Moto Yamamoto

As some of you may remember, I made umeboshi (pickled plum) last year, while Kayoko & Co. were doing the same on the west coast. I used yellow plums instead of Japanese plums, while the west coast group used real Japanese plums, but pickled while they were still green and unripe. Both results were ok, […]

July 20, 2012

The PDT Project: Applejack Rabbit

by Payman Bahmani

“Did you say you’d like an Apple Martini? I’m sorry but we don’t carry any Apple Puckers, and the year is not 2002.” -Me Perhaps you’ve been in jail for most of this century and you’ve recently been set free, and so you have nary a notion of the occurrences of the last decade. Now […]

July 18, 2012

Postcard from Rio de Janeiro: Jackfruit

by Yoko Kumano

Jackfruit floating in a pond in at Parque Lage in Rio de Janeiro.