Casa de Kei

September 22, 2014

Casa de Kei: How to Clean + Season Cast Iron Like a PRO

by Kayoko Akabori

My brother Keisuke, aka Casa de Kei, is a pro. He went to culinary school, paid his dues as sous chef at Spago in Beverly Hills, and is now working alongside our father (also a chef) at Sushi Kuni restaurant in Cupertino, CA. He came over this weekend and we worked on some “kitchen projects” […]

January 10, 2014

Casa de Kei in Kauai

by Kayoko Akabori

Let’s be real: when my brother Keisuke said he would join us for our First Annual Kauai Trip, I hoped (really hard) that he would cook for us. Ah hell, we all did. Have you seen Casa de Kei? His midnight creations are totally bananas — creative yet approachable; high art meets B-kyu (aka comfort food). […]

December 27, 2013

Casa de Kei: Kampachi Kama Soup

by Keisuke Akabori

INGREDIENTS 1 kampachi kama (or any other desired fish collar like yellowtail, red snapper, or salmon) make sure to clean it thoroughly for scales and grit, it is not pleasant to eat 1 bunch komatsuna (or spinich) 5 small matsutake mushrooms (or any other mushroom like enoki, maitake, shiitake, bunshimeji, etc.), sliced thin 1 Tokyo […]

December 2, 2013

Casa de Kei: Kimchi Omurice

by Keisuke Akabori

INGREDIENTS Serves 2 1 small chicken breast, cut into small cubes 10 green beans, diced small 1/4 medium yellow onion, diced small 1/2 cup kimchi, diced medium 4 shiitake mushrooms, thinly sliced 1 fresno chili or jalapeño, diced extra small 3 eggs, whisked 2 cups steamed white rice 1/4 cup tomato sauce 3 tbsp Sriracha 4 […]

November 8, 2013

Casa de Kei: The Irish Mule

by Keisuke Akabori

2 oz Irish whisky (Jameson, Bushmills, etc.) 1/2 lime, squeezed A few dashes of Peychuad’s Bitters Shake it up with ice and add it to your copper mug from Umami Mart Pour in 3 oz ginger beer Garnish with a lime wedge Kanpai! *Kid Skwid is a sous chef at Spago restaurant in Beverly Hills. […]

September 25, 2013

Casa de Kei: Asari Garlic Butter

by Keisuke Akabori

INGREDIENTS 1 pound Manila clams (I used fresh ones from the Farmer’s Market) 1/4 yellow onion, diced small 2 Santa Fe peppers or jalepenos, de-seeded, diced small 2 stalks of lemongrass, cut bottom part off, diced small 1 cup white wine 1/2 stick unsalted butter 5 cloves of garlic, chopped 4 tblsps live oil 8 […]

August 19, 2013

Casa de Kei: Sato-kun Sausage Sandwich

by Keisuke Akabori

4 mini pork sausage links (Satokun sausage from Mitsuwa or Nijiya) 1/2 avocado (sliced thin) 3 shiso leaves 1 heirloom tomato (small and thick slices) 1/2 pack bunshimeji mushroom (sautéed and seasoned with salt) 3 tbsp chili aioli (mayo, siriacha and sesame oil) 1 brioche bun (sliced in 1/2 and toasted) Stack layers: bottom bun, chili […]

July 30, 2013

Casa de Kei: Mentai Pasta with Shirasu

by Keisuke Akabori

Heat saute pan with olive oil, add napa cabbage, sauté for 30 seconds. Add mentaiko (spicy cod roe), chili flakes, and half of the shirasu (baby anchovies). Once slightly cooked, add pasta, stir and plate. Garnish with microgreens, shirasu, mentaiko and fried ginger (slow-fry ginger in olive oil until color and all liquid evaporates; ginger […]

May 21, 2013

Casa de Kei: Mame Gohan (Beans + Rice)

by Keisuke Akabori

Mame gohan (beans and rice) with English sweet peas, organic radish, negi (green onions) and katsuo bushi (bonito flakes). INGREDIENTS Serves 2 1 cup short grain rice (washed) 1 1/8 cup dashi or water 1 cup shucked and blanched English sweet peas 1/2 cup cut and blanched organic radishes 1/2 cup katsuo bushi 2 tbsp thin […]

April 3, 2013

Casa de Kei: Spring Pea Salad

by Keisuke Akabori

Lightly sautéed green salad with upland cress, sweet english peas, pea tendrils, ginger, purple artichokes, green scallions, baby bell peppers, blood orange and artichoke chips. Perfect for spring! INGREDIENTS Serves 2  1 small bunch upland cress (watercress is a nice alternative) 10 pea tendrils (keep a few raw pea tendrils and raw upland cress for […]