Pasta


January 6, 2014

Postcard from Kauai: Johnny’s Creamy Coconut Abomination

by Kayoko Akabori

Aloha from Kauai! Yoko, Washi, Johnny, Keisuke, Jay, Rie and I have been lucky enough to spend five nights in Hanalei Bay — a picturesque town on the North Shore, surrounded by staggering mountain ranges and captivating turquoise waves. It’s truly paradise here and we are having a blast ringing in the first week of […]

November 25, 2013

The Swedish Chef: Champignons Bourguignons

by Haan Ridell

Soyez le bienvenu au cours de cuisine Française contemporaine. Aujourd’hui nous allons faire un ragoût aux champignons bourguignon délicieux, champignons bourguignons.* And that is the extent of my French lingo skills. Although I use to live in Paris for a while, my French never stayed inside my head. So now my French consists of rather non-mentionable phrases […]

September 11, 2013

The Swedish Chef: Saffron Mussels

by Haan Ridell

Mytilus edulis, also known as the common mussel, is a medium-sized edible “marine bivalve mollusc” in the family Mytilidae, or simply, mussels. I sure most of you have had Moules-frites when in France, but the dish is actually from Belgium, and dates back as far as the 1700’s. Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus, […]

August 26, 2013

Kayo’s Kitchen: Final Days of Janky Eating

by Kayoko Akabori

I’m in a flurry of packing at the moment. Actually, Yoko and MOTO had to come over and help me pack since I just can’t seem to get it together. The movers come tomorrow and my days of single living are about to become a faint memory. I am 33 years old and have lived […]

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 […]

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 […]

April 23, 2013

Lazyass Cookin’: Tuna-can Pasta

by Kayoko Akabori

I love canned fish. When I was little, I would eat canned sardines in miso sauce by the spoonful. Like ice cream! Haha. During my year living in Italy, I learned how to make this dish: pasta with canned tuna, onions and tomatos. So easy! In Italy I also discovered the increased quality and flavor […]

February 6, 2013

Casa de Kei: Uni + Tobiko Pasta

by Keisuke Akabori

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Keisuke aka Kid Skwid, my beloved brother. He has recently been promoted to sous chef at the famed Spago restaurant in Beverly Hills. Congrats, K! And lucky for us, he will grace the pages of Umami Mart regularly, with simple yet fancypants recipes taken from his impressive home-cooked breakfasts on his Instagram feed (@kidskwid5). Make […]

April 17, 2012

Great UM Noodletown: Ikura Spaghetti

by Kayoko Akabori

Remember when Yoko posted that pornlicious article about how to make ikura-don (salmon roe over rice), topped with a raw egg? Well, one night, she invited me over for dinner and she made ikura spaghetti!!! What a gluttonous noodle feast in a bowl. The al dente pasta had been lightly sauteed with garlic and tossed with […]