There is nothing like zosui (rice porridge) to soothe a year of overeating + drinking. Recipe here.

Taking half an hour out of my schedule to slow down and warm up has been possible these past few weeks thanks to this simple soup. The arrival of matsutake mushrooms is here and I couldn’t be more excited. This year at my local market, they have sorted the mushrooms by #1s and #6s. If you remember my post from a while back, matsutake with closed caps are the most prized.

Read More →

Summer is over, but I like the beginning of the autumn. I can finally wear layers, and the chill in the morning and evening is comforting. And knitting season starts just about now!

Although the food supply has lost seasonality in many ways and we can basically find almost any ingredient, any day of the year, it’s still great to go to the local farmers’ market and get locally grown, seasonal vegetables.

Read More →

I woke up to an email this morning with the subject line: “You’re so ahead of your time!” Bryan’s good friend Rob was informing me that March is National Noodle Month, and forwarded me this article about the celebrations in LA. So what the hell, let’s extend noodle month through March! April! FOREVER!

Today, I share with you one of my favorite noodle joints in the Bay Area.

Read More →

Chicken noodle soup, whatever the reason maybe, is often eaten when we are sick. I have no idea why. I don’t think there’s any anti-cold medication in it, nor is it medically proven to cure illnesses whatsoever. I guess it’s simply the comfort of its flavor, clear soup, with healthy vegetables, along with the filling noodles.

I don’t like this soup.

Read More →

Over the last year, I have been desperately trying to get my hands on the Ghosts of the Great Highway LP by Sun Kil Moon aka Mark Kozelek from Red House Painters. If not familiar with any of his bands or side projects, most remember him as Stillwater’s bassist Larry Fellows in the Cameron Crowe film Almost Famous. He’s the one who starts the group sing along to the song Tiny Dancer on the tour bus.

Read More →

I visited my mom recently and she served me one of the best breakfasts I have had in a long time–tai chazuke. Chazuke is short for ochazuke, a common method of enjoying rice in Japan. A bowl of rice is topped with condiments and hot tea or dashi is poured over it. Tai chazuke is ochazuke topped with raw, marinated tai (sea bream).

Read More →

My pal Washi just got back from Japan and brought me an entire BAG full of fun omiyage (gifts)! Little booties from Muji, a pack of Nagoya-style miso udon, and a can of… kan kohi (canned coffee)?

I read it aloud, “ゴールド すっぽん スープ” aka Gold Suppon Soup.

“Turtle,” Washi translated.

Turtle soup? IN A CAN???

More specifically, this is soup of the snapping turtle aka soft shell turtle aka Trionychidae aka suppon.

Read More →

I was recently on a little Caribbean island off the coast of Honduras for a friend’s wedding. This conch soup was made for the bride and groom the day after their wedding and served at a big family brunch.  Friends had caught the conch and picked coconuts on the island for the broth. It was served hot with big chunks of yucca, plantains and carrots.

Read More →

Last month, I took a relaxing trip to Pt. Reyes with one of the best books I have read this year, the Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was another one of my favorites this year). Although I felt like I kind of knew what Pollan’s deal was from hearsay, I fully understood the logic and practicality of his views by actually reading his book – packed with clear and often, hilarious prose.

Read More →