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November 26, 2009

The Umami Reader, vol. 074: HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

by Kayoko Akabori

– My dear friend and expert cheesemonger Amy Thompson is famous!!! “Cheese is a mysterious force.” GENIUS. (Serious Eats NY) – Above video: Taking you back to ’92, when Kevin Nealon was the Weekend Update man and Adam Sandler gave us some wonderful tunes. Best SNL era ever, IMHO. (via @eatmedaily) HAPPY TDAY, EVERYONE!!! It’s […]

November 25, 2009

Brooklyn Takeout Twofer: Khao Sarn and Kyoto Sushi

by Kayoko Akabori

Sometimes when I’m lazy, I order delivery. And sometimes when I’m lazy, it will be during the middle of the day. When these powers combine, I seek comfort in the lunch special. KHAO SARN My love affair with Thai food began in 2001, when I first tried pad thai and since then, has blossomed into […]

November 20, 2009

PDT Cocktail Time at Beretta (SF)

by Kayoko Akabori

Photos by Travis LoDolce. Now tell me: why oh why would I ever move back to NYC when all of its wondrous gems can come to ME!!! When I heard last week that PDTman John Deragon would be guest bartending at the popular SF joint Beretta for ONE NIGHT ONLY, I screamed a silent hooray […]

November 19, 2009

A Belly-Warming Food Event (NYC)

by Moto Yamamoto

Japanese Hot Pots to Warm Your SoulTuesday, December 8 @ 6:30 pmJapan Society (333 E. 47th St., NYC)In Japan, winter time dinner means nabe (hot pot). I already know you’re thinking right now, “Let’s do nabe tonight!” It’s such a heartwarming meal, and it’s almost necessary during the winter months in Japan since homes don’t […]

Kitchen Improv (Borderline Gross Edition): Kimchi Pasta

by Kayoko Akabori

Remember when I made kimchi fried rice? It has become my staple meal when I feel ultra lazy. Read: ALL THE TIME. So how panicked was I when I went to the kitchen yesterday to take out all the precious ingredients out of the fridge, but then realize that I was missing RICE. Epic FAIL. […]

November 18, 2009

burritoporn: Juanita’s Taco Shop (SD)

by Kayoko Akabori

Years ago, Kristi took me to Juanita’s for a burrito and to this very day, I still fantasize about it. So of course it was the first place I asked her to take me as soon as I landed in San Diego. They put fries in the burrito!!! Reason #1 to move to SoCal. You […]

November 16, 2009

Postcard from California, I: The VG Donut (SD)

by Kayoko Akabori

I’m in San Diego right now, visiting my best friend from childhood. We drove up north to Encinitas on Saturday in her 1963 Mercury Comet (SO HOT!), and made a pitstop at VG Donut & Bakery. This donut was so fluffy and moist– the glaze wasn’t too sticky or hard, and the entire thing just […]

November 6, 2009

The Umami Reader, vol. 73: “Talk To ‘Em, You Speak Shellfish!”

by Kayoko Akabori

– Popular SF Italian resto A16 opened an outpost in Tokyo in September. The entire operation, although commendable, sounds like a nightmare. Also, the Japanese DEF like their spaghetti- you prolly shouldn’t mess with that. (SF Gate; via Melanie) – Top 100 things that restaurant staff should never do on duty. As a glorified waitress […]

Gramercy Tavern Redux: How Celebrities Might Feel (NYC)

by Moto Yamamoto

As you might know, I don’t go out to to eat often because I cook so much at home. Usually I can’t justify spending $200 for something I could probably recreate for $45. I’ve been to Gramercy Tavern before, and had an ok time. But I felt like, $86 for this? Probably $36 is for […]

October 30, 2009

USA JUNKtion: Nutz for Utz

by Kayoko Akabori

I can’t call myself a potato chip connoisseur, but Utz is by far my favorite brand. It’s a company out of Hanover, PA, and I used to always buy a big bag of it at the store when I lived in NY. It’s totally no-frills, and super cheap, at 99 cents a bag. I had […]