What is Umami? Ponder the oyster. A martini. Tom yum. Carne asada. Fleur de sel. All umami. Don't try to define it! Just surrender to the addiction; savor the flavor implosion.

San Francisco Bay Area


March 19, 2010

SF Underground Market

by kayoko

Just got these pics by She-Rene, who I ran into outside at the SF Underground Market a couple weeks ago. I confess I never made it inside where the market was being held. I showed up to this discreet warehouse, on a side street in the SOMA district,
Read More →

March 17, 2010

Camino Restaurant (OAK)

by yoko

Camino exterior

Two long tables that seat about 40 guests Harry Potter-style, line the walls of Camino in Oakland. These dramatic slabs of wood sum up the restaurant itself – friendly and warm. Adding to the drama are two stone grills at the back of the restaurant
Read More →

March 12, 2010

Rang Dong (OAK)

by yoko

Rang Dong: Raw Beef

One of my obsessions since moving to Berkeley is to find good Vietnamese food in the East Bay.

I made my rounds in Downtown Berkeley with no luck whatsoever. Establishments including Pho Hoa, Saigon Express and Le Regal shamelessly use powdered broth as
Read More →

February 18, 2010

Making Natto in North America

by yoko

DSCN0912

Natto is the one of those foods that elicits strong reactions. I get overwhelmed with a sense of joy and excitement, but the response I hear from most people (who aren’t from or aren’t descendants of the eastern regions of Japan) is pure disgust.

I remember how clueless I
Read More →

February 15, 2010

Tortas Los Picudos (SF)

by yoko

DSCN0839

I finally ate my first torta two weeks ago – on Superbowl Sunday. My friend Kishi, who lives in San Francisco, took me to Tortas Los Picudos on 24th Street between Alabama and Harrison.

I guess it took me this long to actually try a torta because of
Read More →

February 12, 2010

Fried Chicken Livers at Magnolia Pub (SF)

by kayoko

Magnolia Pub & Brewery (SF)

I love chicken livers, but battered in panko and fried???? HOLY HOTCAKES! I could not stop– I think I ate this entire plate all by my lonesome. No sharing, sorry!

The nuttiness of
Read More →

Umamiventure #22.5: Everett & Jones (OAK)

by kayoko

Everett & Jones BBQ (OAK)

PREQUEL

Umamiventure #22: St. George Spirits & Hangar One Vodka (SF Bay Area)

What’s the best accompaniment to whiskey? BBQ all the way! As I’ve already told you, the very first time I tasted St. George whiskey was at
Read More →

February 9, 2010

Umamiventure #22: St. George Spirits & Hangar One Vodka (SF Bay Area)

by kayoko

St. George Distillery

Photos by Mike Brandeberry and Kayoko Akabori.

‘Tis true: there lives a kickass distillery named St. George Spirits, just east of San Francisco, right across the Bay Bridge, in a little town that bleeds into Oakland, called Alameda, in California.

A group of us went a few weeks
Read More →

February 5, 2010

Next Monday: UM Relaunch Happy Hour (SF)

by kayoko

Dear SFers,

Yoko (Tokyo JUNKtion), CJ (Tap This) and I (UM Event Planner) will be at Magnolia Pub on Monday at 7pm to celebrate the relaunch over beers.

But not just any beers. We’re talking STRONG BEERS. That’s right, it’s that time of year again in
Read More →

February 3, 2010

Ball-and-Chained to Berkeley

by yoko

DSCN0808

After a 4-year, 4-month hiatus, I am back in Berkeley. Robotland (a.k.a. Tokyo) was good to me, but finding myself shuffled in line at the Berkeley Bowl between one of these, and Zack de la Rocha’s doppelganger on
Read More →

Join & Follow

archive

Friends


Life's a Cocktail
Midtown Lunch
Oishii Eats