Umami Mart

Whenever I travel anywhere, I always check out the yogurt aisle at the grocery store. Countries are doing really bizarre things with yogurt, which fascinates me. I like to consider myself a bit of a yogurt connoisseur- as I’m sure Sonja would as well. Best yogurt I’ve ever had was in India, out of a […]

In Japan, a must-do destination was DisneySea. Yoko blogged about it a while back, and I was intrigued. You know it is the most expensive amusement part ever built? 4 BILLION DOLLARS!!! Friggin’ in this recession, you just gotta go, right? It’s like swimming in a sea of cash money, baby baybay! Uh! Most exciting […]

One of my most memorable meals in Japan- okonomiyaki, negiyaki, omuyakisoba, and a luscious creation called “tonpei”, in Osaka. Wiki says that the okonomiyaki originated in Osaka, and has been interpreted in different ways throughout Japan. It’s basically a cabbage pancake filled with another meat or shellfish. In Osaka, we went to a reputable place […]

After an exhausting couple of days, I’m finally overcoming my jetlag and trying to get back into blogging life. Umami Mart, how I have missed you! Up first from my Japan files: noodles on the train station platform. Pretty common sight all over Tokyo. Basically for businessmen trying to get something in their stomach, or […]

I know, I know, I’ve been a blogging slacker- internet in Japan was spottier than I had ever imagined it would be. But I’m back, state-side, with plenty of pictures to share, with unlimited internet time. Such is unemployment. Here are some one-off hits from my trip. Many more to come, so stay tuned! Happy […]

Got into Osaka yesterday, where we’ve been doing all sorts of eating: Street eating. Walking 5 more steps and eating some more, eating. Oh, I’ll have one of those! eating. Ok, this is my last order, I swear, eating. You get the picture. We’re staying right next to Dotonbori– a single street that is at […]

Sorry I have not been posting! I was staying at my aunt’s where i couldn’t get an internet signal this last week. Just got into Kyoto yesterday- it’s such a vibrant, artful town, full of color and excellent food. The coffee shop culture here is unreal! More on that later. For now, here’s a picture […]

From a buffet in some fancy hotel in Ginza, where they made these omelets to order. It was pretty tasteless and gross. The view- Tokyo Tower!

Japanese people really like to wait in line for food. It’s this really bizarre psychological phenomenon here, where people think that the longer the wait, the better the food must be. Check out these hardcore lines in Ginza, Tokyo. Out of control. Also note that they are all for sweets from a foreign land. Hmmm. […]

Drying mackerel and squid for himono (semi-dried fish that is then grilled), which brings better preserves them and brings out more profound flavors. UMAMI! Atami, Japan.