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April 20, 2012

The PDT Project: 212

by Payman Bahmani

  Aisha Sharpe and Willy Shine, the founders of Contemporary Cocktails, created this refreshing springtime drink. The name is both a reference to the classic Manhattan area code as well as a clever play on proportions. 212 2 oz Partida Reposado Tequila 1 oz Aperol 2 oz Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice Tools: shaker, strainer Glassware: […]

April 17, 2012

Great UM Noodletown: Ikura Spaghetti

by Kayoko Akabori

Remember when Yoko posted that pornlicious article about how to make ikura-don (salmon roe over rice), topped with a raw egg? Well, one night, she invited me over for dinner and she made ikura spaghetti!!! What a gluttonous noodle feast in a bowl. The al dente pasta had been lightly sauteed with garlic and tossed with […]

April 12, 2012

Upcoming Event: Umamimart Pop-Up: Magasin Général (SF)

by Kayoko Akabori

The Umamimart Shop has been invited to be a part of Magasin Général, where Bay Area independent designers, hand-crafters, shop-keepers, jewelers, and artisans will come together for a two-day shopping event popping up at Fort Mason in San Francisco. It was so kind of Anaise (shop-keeper) and Lotfi (textile designer) to invite us to join […]

March 21, 2012

Tokyo-SF Bartender Salon

by Kayoko Akabori

On Sunday 3/11, the one-year anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami in Northern Japan, Yoko and I helped organize a cross-cultural exchange between bartenders from Japan and San Francisco. Held at Prizefighter Bar in Emeryville, it was an intimate gathering of old friends, and new. Tomokazu Kai (Heuga Bar) and Masako Ikegami (Bar Shake) had won […]

March 9, 2012

Remembrance

by Kayoko Akabori

Spring is just around the corner, and plum blossoms are bursting all over Japan, California, and beyond. A year after the devastation of the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, Japan still stands, its spirit strong, with people going about its business just like the rest of us. While the struggle is not over — affected areas […]

February 15, 2012

Sobayuwari (Shochu + Hot Soba Water)

by Shizuka Wakashita

By Shizuka Wakashita What do you drink when you go to a soba place? Beer? Sake? Shochu? I thought sake but I was wrong. I was converted into a sake lover about three years ago. Ever since then I almost always order sake when I go out for Japanese food, except for the occasions when I […]

February 13, 2012

Culinography: Kebab Night

by Erin Gleeson

Our neighbors recently invited us over for kebab night. In California in February, it’s easy to grill outside and I’m convinced everything tastes better when cooked outdoors! This was a seriously flavorful meal: beef kebab served with a plate of herbs (radishes, mint, green onions), homemade baba ganoush (made from grilled whole eggplants), rice purposefully […]

February 9, 2012

Homemade Pedialyte

by Yoko Kumano

My latest hangout spot is in the infants aisle of Target but I have no babies with me. Stocking up on Pedialyte, bananas and apple sauce have been a full-time job since getting the worst incident of food poisoning of my life in Mexico last week. It was a life changing trip inside (literally) and […]

January 26, 2012

Ika no Shiokara (Fermented Squid)

by UM Guest

By Kenji Miura Shiokara is a fantastic savory condiment to your favorite glass of shochu. This particular shiokara is made with surume ika (Japanese Common Squid or Pacific Flying Squid). INGREDIENTS 5 fresh squid 2 tbsp salt METHOD 1. Clean the squid. (Here’s how via Kyoto Foodie) 2. Cut the legs and ears (the triangular portion […]

January 20, 2012

Tokyo Nights: Bikes + Bottles

by UM Guest

Photo by Kelly Ishikawa, a San Francisco-based photographer and the co-owner of The Perish Trust.Â