Japanify

After four years in Tokyo, Yoko relocated to the Bay Area. She loves dips, dashi, and deals.

April 14, 2014

Japanify: Crunchy Daikon Salad

by Yoko Kumano

Warning: DO eat this at home before taking it out into the world! Weigh the social risks! You may momentarily lose some friends while eating this salad because the smell will clear the room. Trust me, I’ve tried it. Daikon is affordable and cooling when fresh and raw. The satisfying crunch coupled with the spicy […]

February 7, 2014

Japanify: Salmon Avocado Donburi

by Yoko Kumano

Shopping for the freshest seafood just got easier with another fish market that opened in the People’s Republic of Berkeley. Fish is still my favorite thing to eat for dinner because it’s easy and so, so delicious. Grilled, simmered or baked, fish will let you do anything to it and it’ll adapt. But, by far, […]

January 17, 2014

Japanify: Take-It-Easy Takikomi

by Yoko Kumano

If there’s one thing 6 days in paradise (Kauai) reminded me about life, it’s that cooking rice on the stove top (and not in a rice cooker) is so easy! I used to do it all the time when I worked as a server at a restaurant called Konohana in Tokyo. That was the only […]

November 15, 2013

Japanify: Ponzu-Dashi Udon

by Yoko Kumano

Last Friday, Kayoko hosted a girl’s night at her house. While our other halves sulked around the house or went away for the weekend into the mountains, us girls gorged ourselves on beef, pork and chicken balls. It was also my birthday, so my sister surprised me with my first Baked Alaska. Cocktails, beef, ice […]

November 1, 2013

Japanify: Steamed Kabocha with a Protein Boost

by Yoko Kumano

The markets are exploding with pumpkins and other squash — which means, autumn is here! I always look forward to this time of year because I like bundling up, wearing my hair down and cozying up on the couch with all kinds of tea. My favorite squash to work with is kabocha. Its sweet flesh […]

October 4, 2013

Japanify: Grilled Oriental Chicken

by Yoko Kumano

The early 90s… I was distancing myself from my Sandylion stickers while making multiple trips to the Wherehouse to make sure that I got tickets to see Radiohead at the Edge in Palo Alto. It was a confusing time, but it shaped me. Foodwise, I was tiring of the hambagu, Japanese curry and and gratin […]

September 20, 2013

MOTO x Japanify Mashup: Kombu-Cured Enoki Mushrooms

by Yoko Kumano

Last month, MOTO made a surprise appearance for our one-year anniversary party. With not one hair out of place, he casually sauntered into our shop and helped us dress into our summer kimnonos. On his last day in California, we had dinner at my house. While preparing for our temaki dinner, Moto showed me how […]

September 4, 2013

Japanify: Spicy Indian Summer Stir-Fry

by Yoko Kumano

I’ve been really lazy about cooking these past few weeks. I don’t know if it’s because we are (finally) experiencing summer here in Oakland, or if I’m feeling unmotivated in the kitchen. It’s probably a little bit of both. But eating out or buying pre-made food gets really old, fast. And the effects of eating […]

August 15, 2013

Japanify: Egg-On-Egg Pasta

by Yoko Kumano

One of my favorite things to find at the fish counter is sujiko (fish roe). Its appearance is fleeting so I end up getting pounds of it to take advantage of the situation. I swear I could never get bored of ikura. It might possibly be one of my favorite foods, ever! For every half pound […]

August 8, 2013

Japanify: Chopped Shiitake + Clam Pasta

by Yoko Kumano

I am really into pulverizing food lately. In addition to my daily dose of fruit smoothie in the morning, I’ve also been experimenting with finely chopped foods. Chopping things can only be a pleasure if you have a really sharp knife, which is why I’ve been religiously sharpening my knifes this past month. If you don’t […]