PREFACE Summer Slurp Series, Pt. 1: Nikumiso Udon Summer Slurp Series, Pt. 2: Hiyashi Chuka (Cold Ramen) The one (and only) thing that I miss about the disgustingly humid temperatures in Tokyo is the arrival of cold noodle dishes on menus everywhere. During the hot months of June through September,
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PREFACE Summer Slurp Series, Pt. 1: Nikumiso Udon

The one (and only) thing that I miss about the disgustingly humid temperatures in Tokyo is the arrival of cold noodle dishes on menus everywhere. During the hot months of June through September, I would convince myself that I deserved a daily reward
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The one (and only) thing that I miss about the disgustingly humid temperatures in Tokyo is the arrival of cold noodle dishes on menus everywhere. During the hot months of June through September, I would convince myself that I deserved a daily reward of a big bowl of cold noodles for surviving each hot
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When I was in Japan last month, I visited the Shinyokohama Ramen Museum. Yes, there is a museum that is devoted to ramen. As kitschy as it may sound, it was actually a lot of fun. The lower level was set up like seedy downtown Tokyo in the 1960′s  (下町
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One of the things I keep coming across when reading English literature of the early 20th century is reference to something called ‘the Gentleman’s Relish’. Often in stories similar to those of P.G. Wodehouse or Evelyn Waugh where lazy gentlemen are served gentleman’s relish
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Hi everyone, Kayoko here, filling in for Yoko’s column today. Yoko has set the bar quite high for tips, techniques and recipes on Japanese cooking, so I really thought hard about what I would be writing about. I browsed through all my Japanese cookbooks and magazines for ideas, and even consulted with some folks about
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Ah, summer. Nix that– the dead of WINTER here in the Bay Area. We’re below the Equator, didn’t you know?

But for the sake of conversation, let’s say it’s summer. And summer means cold noodles, right? Thanks to Yoko, ya’ll are equipped with the definitive recipes to making your
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It’s the tail end of July and we’re still experiencing hot! Hot! Heat! in London. So what better way to chill out than with a slight twist to my all time favourite noodle, the tempura udon. London’s finally got a bona fide udon-ya in the guise of
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After living with my parents for the last year and half, I forgot how difficult it is to cook for just yourself. Aside from it being a little lonely (I like to cook for other people!), it takes a
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London is scorching this week and what better way to spend a weekend than by getting a bit of sunny goodness with an absorbing book at Waterlow Park, next to Highgate Cemetary where my father’s hero, Karl Marx, is buried. I get to use my brain, immerse myself in
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