Chicken + waffles at Lois the Pie Queen in Oakland.
Author Archives: yoko
January 5, 2012
Japanify: Kasuzuke (Sake Lees Pickles)
If you can get your hands on sake kasu (sake lees, a yeast by-product of sake making) a subculture of cooking opens up to you. Most commonly used for marinating fish and pickling, sake kasu looks like pizza dough with the consistency of wet clay and aroma of nama (unpasteurized) sake. It’s usually available for cheap,
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December 29, 2011
Japanify: Kuri no Kanroni (Chestnuts Simmered in Syrup)
Chestnuts signify the presence of winter in many cultures. Although I’ve never actually tried chestnuts roasted by an open fire, I have tried the Japanese version of chestnuts simmered in simple syrup, or kuri no kanroni. However, I had never taken the initiative to prepare a chestnut dish because the task of peeling always seemed so
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December 22, 2011
Japanified Arancini
When I was a kid, my mom made ebi-fry, tonkatsu and korokke frequently. Every time she would serve up one of these deep-fried treats, my sister and I who were both picky eaters, would be satisfied. To this day, I love Japanese deep fried foods. I have yet to meet
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December 15, 2011
Japanify: Yuzu Ginger Tea
It’s that time of the year, when my well-windowed apartment gets really cold and I have to bring out multiple space heaters to supplement the un-strategically placed central heater that seems to whisper lukewarm puffs of air. Luckily, my Zojirushi water boiler and warmer just arrived in the mail and I will have a steady supply of
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December 1, 2011
Japanify: Nametake (DIY Condiment Crack)
I usually make a vat of potato salad before I leave for a trip, leaving my husband poor and defenseless against the elements of bachelorhood. But this time I didn’t have time before the trip and figured he’d be able to fend for himself…
It turns out that while I was gone for
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November 22, 2011
Tokyo JUNKtion: Cateriam Cat Cafe
A cat cafe is not a place that serves cat sandwiches. It is a cafe… with cats.
Cat Cafes in Japan were very popular in the early-mid 2000s and still remain peppered throughout Tokyo. Building on the otaku culture of manga, maid and mimikaki (ear cleaning) cafes, cat cafes provide solace
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November 16, 2011
Radiation + Japan: Interview with Tadaaki Hachisu, Egg Farmer (Saitama)
*This is a part of an ongoing exclusive series on Umamimart, Radiation + Japan. Please check out these other posts and videos for more:
Testing of Food in Japan, By Yoko Kumano
November 3, 2011
Radiation + Japan: Interview with Washio, Bar Owner (Tokyo)
Washio is one of my favorite nomiyas (watering hole) in western Tokyo. I spent an afternoon with fisherman, enka singer, bar owner extraordinairre Taro Washio and captured it all on video.
For more enka pleasure, please watch this amazing music video by superstar Jero.
