Umami Mart

Whole squid being hung out to dry, off the side of a major highway in Izu. I love their little feet hanging off the edges. Cute.

The cold weather, as Yoko just talked about, could only mean one thing: HOT POT TIME! Look at that thinly sliced, luscious piece of scarlet red cow flesh. How ever so privileged we are. This is an individual-sized shabu-shabu nabe (hotpot) we got at our ryokan (Japanese-style hotel) in the coastal town of Izu. Instead […]

Yoko has since moved out of her little studio in Shimokitazawa, but I remember taking this picture cause her stovetop cracked me up. ONE BURNER!!! I mean, really, why would anyone need more than that, right? Pretty inconceivable for Americans. Where would Hideko’s precious coffee machine go? This here picture captures the entire width of […]

OYSTER SEASON IS HERE! Best time of the year to be ALIVE. My friend Maho and I went to an oyster bar “happy hour” in Nishiazabu, Tokyo- although whatever they were still pricey as hell. I could kick myself for losing my notes on where these darlings came from. Yoko thinks most likely from down […]

1.) Chopsticks holder-thingy. 2.) Chopsticks to lay on #1. 3.) Cup for soba broth. 4.) Little container of housemade broth, to pour into #3. 5.) Dish of green onions and wasabi. To be added to #3 (only after #4 is poured in). 6.) Pink salt for Exhibit 7. 7.) Maitake tempura. How autumnal! To be […]

I have been going through my hard drive and am finding a shitton of Japan Food pics from my visit last year that I never shared with you. My one-year anniversary of leaving NYC is fast approaching- I left on November 3 and went straight to Japan for nearly the entire month, remember? It’s all […]

I did the Lost in Translation thing for the first time and went to the Park Hyatt’s New York Grill. I suppose that after living in Tokyo for four years, it was about time. And given the fact that I will be leaving Tokyo in three months back to my home state of California, it […]

It’s so hard not being tempted by the Japanese advertising machine. When this monster from a distant shore shifts up its gears, there is no mercy for your soul – or belly. Paired up with a genuine American product like the donut, a huge chunk of Japanese consumers seem to have caved in and lined […]

Anders (fellow UMAMIMART writer), Rene and I went to Pinafore, a maid cafe in Tokyo, last Sunday. Here’s the report. ANDERS:It’s funny how you as a foreign tourist constantly walk around in Tokyo expecting to be shocked, appalled and freaked out by the weirdness of the Japanese. Maybe it’s the over-hyping guide books, maybe it’s […]

Simultaneous LA and TOKYO Din Tai Fung Umamiventures! The Umamiventure coming up to Din Tai Fung in LA, was the catalyst for this Umamiventure in Tokyo which will be held on Sunday, September 27 at noon. Founded in 1969, Din Tai Fung is known world-wide for its xiao long bao (soup dumplings). The Japanese go […]