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May 17, 2011
Umamimart Writers Dinner Party 2011 (NYC)
All photos by Yoko Kumano and Vanessa Bahmani, I’ve been running Umamimart for over four years now (since February 2007), bringing together people from all over the world to share their personal experiences through food and drinks. It has gone through several manifestations, and has seen many writers come and go. Umamimart now consists of […]
May 13, 2011
Custom-Made Noodles at Ken Ken Ramen (SF)
Recently, I had a ramen epiphany in San Francisco. It was at Ken Ken Ramen, a tiny operation that pops up in the Mission every Thursday and Sunday, at The Corner (a coffee shop/ restaurant space). Robert Patterson, who grew up in Japan, no longer wanted to travel all the way to San Mateo (or […]
May 11, 2011
Eats + Drinks (NYC)
I just got back from a weekend in NYC, for a very important Umamimart Reunion Dinner, hosted by Yamahomo (post coming!). Even though I really only had two full days in the city, I bounced around and hit some of my favorite haunts. It felt good to be back, if only for a few days. […]
May 4, 2011
Happy Hour: General Ignacio
Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo, and many of you will be sloshing down the compulsory Margaritas and tequila shots, which in no way would I want to stand in the way of. But if you’re an adventurous drinker like I am and want to try something new (but no less fitting of the festivities), you […]
May 3, 2011
The Gift of Food for Japan Benefit (LA)
All Photos by Yoko Kumano. About a week after our initial GIFT OF FOOD fundraiser in San Francisco, Yoko and I were approached to help organize a similar event down in LA, to benefit the victims of the 2011 Sendai Earthquake and Tsunami. Could we pull it together in less than a week? HECK YAH! […]
April 28, 2011
Upcoming Event PSA: Sake Tasting for Beginners (NYC)
Annual Sake Tasting & Lecture: Back to Basics! Tuesday, May 10 @ 6:30 pm Japan Society, NYC Every year, Japan Society hosts a sake lecture and tasting, inviting dozens of brewers from Japan. Over the years, we’ve covered so many topics on sake–from water, rice, milling, sake vessels, molds, to even bottling. Sake is becoming […]
April 26, 2011
THE GIFT OF FOOD (Video)
Our good friend and talented videographer Joe Stillwater (of Bright Spectrum) joined us on April 5th for our GIFT OF FOOD benefit in San Francisco. We raised over $10,000 that night for Second Harvest Japan, a food bank that has been providing direct support to the victims of the 2011 Sendai Earthquake and Tsunami. This […]
April 22, 2011
India, My Ex-Lover
I woke up the other morning with an intense desire to travel. I had sworn off traveling for 2011, as it is the Year of Important Weddings (my two best friends, both in the same year!) and I want to devote myself (and my bank account) to them. Plus, I thought I wanted to take […]
April 20, 2011
Save the Date: THE GIFT OF FOOD FOR JAPAN – 4/26 (LA)
Are you ready for THE GIFT OF FOOD, Part Deux??? After the initial benefit we hosted in San Francisco just two weeks ago (raising over $10,000!), Yoko and I have been working with some kickass folks down in LA to organize a similar event to raise money for Second Harvest Japan. We’ve gotta keep this […]
Happy Hour: Good Morning Heartache
Being out of the country for nearly a month has a tendency to adjust a person’s perspective of “home.” Home has had various meanings and geographical locations in various moments in my life. Conceptually, it means numerous–and sometimes conflicting–things at one time, and all this really came to light on my recent trip to Iran. […]