Conbini Creations
January 18, 2017
Conbini Creations: Yuzu Curd
Recently, Yoko’s sister Cindy gave everyone at Umami Mart a yuzu from her tree. I was excited because I had never used a fresh yuzu before. The yuzu fruit looks like a puckered, squat lemon, but is less brightly acidic than a lemon and tastes more like a tart mandarin orange. But not even exactly that; it […]
September 19, 2016
Conbini Creations: Sweet and Spicy Miso-Tobanjan Chicken Wings
For this month’s Conbini Creations, I wanted to make a recipe using the Youki Shisen Tobanjan, a spicy Sichuan-style chili paste that we carry at Umami Mart. Made with chili peppers and fermented broad beans, tobanjan is often used in mapo tofu recipes, or simply added into noodle soups to add a healthy, warming spice. A small dab also […]
August 22, 2016
Conbini Creations: Japanese-style Corn on the Cob
Some say if corn is perfectly ripe, you don’t really need to add anything – even butter – to it. But who are we kidding? I will rarely pass on butter when it comes to corn on the cob. Unless we’re talking elote. The Mexican-style corn, a street food favorite, is made by slathering mayonnaise or crema (a Mexican version of creme fraiche) onto freshly cooked […]
July 26, 2016
Conbini Creations: Quick-Marinade Bulgogi
Going to a restaurant for Korean tabletop BBQ is a culinary experience everyone should have. Not only is Korean BBQ really accessible for most any non-vegetarian/vegan person, but there are all kinds of fun things happening right at your table: cook-it-yourself meat on a scary-hot grill mere inches away from you! The endless banchan (side dishes)! Those orange-handled craft scissors […]
June 20, 2016
Conbini Creations: Super Easy Matcha Ice Cream
Matcha ice cream brings back memories of eating sushi with my family. I grew up in the San Fernando Valley (Northridge, represent!), but my dad drove us all around Los Angeles in search of the best restaurants he could find before the internet existed. Japanese food, especially sushi, was one of his – and my […]
May 23, 2016
Conbini Creations: Snow Crab Jeon
Jeon is a savory Korean pancake. More like a flat, eggy omelet than a fluffy pancake you’d eat for breakfast, jeon can be eaten any time of day. As a Korean American, I grew up eating lots of jeon filled with all sorts of ingredients, from green onions to fish and oysters, and sometimes, ground-beef stuffed chili peppers. One of the most popular […]
April 5, 2016
Conbini Creations: The Ultimate Umami Grilled Cheese
Mayonnaise. It’s such a divisive condiment. People loooove it or haaaate it passionately. Working at Umami Mart, I overhear a lot of conversations between people when they see we carry Japanese Kewpie Mayonnaise in our conbini (Japanese for convenience store) food section. I’ve heard customers proclaim, “THIS is the BEST mayo in the world!” and others groan or say, “Ugh! Gross!” about […]