Umami Mart Gift Guide

What is Tanuki?

When I started to do some research on Shiga Prefecture, I quickly found out that the birthplace of tanuki statues is Shigaraki (a town on the southern tip of Shiga). I was intrigued because Shigaraki was also where our donabes come from – it turns out that it is the...

China Diaries

China Diaries: Feng Yu SJB

For years, I longingly listened to my grandma's stories of her golden years in Shanghai. Her sudden move from rural Japan to French Concession Shanghai in the 1930's exposed her to opera, Gauguin and film noir. Before she met any friends or...

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Postcard from Shanghai: Wine of China

*Yoko is in China for 10 days! And with no access to Facebook or Instagram, she is sending us photos the old school way — via postcards. We’ll be featuring these snapshots from Yoko in Chengdu and Shanghai all week here on the blog....

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Postcard from Shanghai: Shengjian

*Yoko is in China for 10 days! And with no access to Facebook or Instagram, she is sending us photos the old school way — via postcards. We’ll be featuring these snapshots from Yoko in Chengdu and Shanghai all week here on the blog. Enjoy!...

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Postcard from Fengjing: Black Pig Museum

*Yoko is in China for 10 days! And with no access to Facebook or Instagram, she is sending us photos the old school way — via postcards. We’ll be featuring these snapshots from Yoko in Chengdu and Shanghai all week here on the blog. Enjoy!...

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Postcard from Shanghai: Ci Fan

*Yoko is in China for 10 days! And with no access to Facebook or Instagram, she is sending us photos the old school way — via postcards. We’ll be featuring these snapshots from Yoko in Chengdu and Shanghai...

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Postcard from Shanghai: Reward

*Yoko is in China for 10 days! And with no access to Facebook or Instagram, she is sending us photos the old school way — via postcards. We’ll be featuring these snapshots from Yoko in Chengdu and Shanghai all week here on the blog. Enjoy!...

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Postcard from Chengdu: Liang Mian Noodles

*Yoko is in China for 10 days! And with no access to Facebook or Instagram, she is sending us photos the old school way — via postcards. We’ll be featuring these snapshots from Yoko in Chengdu and Shanghai all week here on the blog. Enjoy!...

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Postcard from Chengdu: Cherry Cart

*Yoko is in China for 10 days! And with no access to Facebook or Instagram, she is sending us photos the old school way — via postcards. We’ll be featuring these snapshots from Yoko in Chengdu and Shanghai all week here on the blog. Enjoy!...

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Postcard from Chengdu: Hot Pot

*Yoko is in China for 10 days! And with no access to Facebook or Instagram, she is sending us photos the old school way -- via postcards. We'll be featuring these snapshots from Yoko in Chengdu and Shanghai all week here on the blog. Enjoy!...

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Postcard from Chengdu: Kung Pao

*Yoko is in China for 10 days! And with no access to Facebook or Instagram, she is sending us photos the old school way -- via postcards. We'll be featuring these snapshots from Yoko in Chengdu and Shanghai all week here on the blog. Enjoy!...

The Vin Vivant

Ten Top Turkish Eats

Somewhere over the Atlantic, I wondered -- do the Turks just call it coffee and delight? Chris and I were winging our way to Turkey for our long-awaited honeymoon, a trip we planned while nibbling on dolmas rolled by our dear friend...