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...
Japan is known to take ideas from other countries and adapt them for their own. From castella to ramen to hambagu, the Japanese menu is full of food items that could not exist without outside influences. Many of these foods have deviated so...
Tomatoes in the kitchen at Elements in Princeton, NJ. Skins were left on for a flowery look. Brilliant. Photo by Erin Gleeson.
A summer harvest table arrangement at the recent Taste of Greenmarket benefit in NYC. Photo by Erin Gleeson.
Last week I attended a birthday party at a friend's house. He rarely cooks but when he does, he is highly experimental and innovative. I had a drink and was busy chatting with fabulous guests, discussing the recent catastrophic Christian...
I made this edible bouquet for a friends birthday using radishes, carrots, scallions and rosemary. I also added a kebab skewer of strawberries, jalapeños and tomatillos. Photos by Erin Gleeson.
Photo by Erin Gleeson.
Microwave cooking is big in Japan. Just like buying panties from vending machines. People do it all the time and there is no need to be ashamed when doing it. One of the most genius ideas I acquired while living...
I don't know what got into me this weekend. I am a proud carnivore. I cannot live without meat, and I don't even care if it's "organic" or not. Food Nation didn't scare me enough to eat only grass-fed beef or cage-free chicken. I will...
Hey hey, Kayoko here, filling in for Yoko this week. Seems that summer has arrived in the Bay Area (a balmy 77˚F in Oakland, holla!), which means I will only cook meals that take me a few minutes to prepare....
It's asparagus season, people! Did anyone know this is what asparagus looks like when it's growing? I took these shots today while visiting Terhune Orchards near Princeton, NJ. We ate this asparagus tonight for dinner and it was seriously delicious. Photography by Erin...
It's no secret to anyone who knows me that I don't like eggs. But it's not as debilitating as many people think. I can always get a waffle or bagel with a side for breakfast and choose to ask...
I am finally back. Although the past couple of weeks have been super hectic, I had the opportunity to go to my favorite restaurant Kajitsu, twice in two weeks. At the end of March, my work held a special dinner gathering...
My parents do their daily and weekly shopping at the vegetable shop just down the road from their house. The thing about South Asian countries is that even though their produce is fresher than fresh, but because of the heat, things go...
After baking beets in a terracotta dish (lid-on), the skin should peel off easily using just your fingers. Photo by Erin Gleeson.
Kayoko let me borrow Japanese homecooking maven Elizabeth Andoh's new book "Kansha: Celebrating Japanese Vegan and Vegetarian Traditions" and for that, I am brimming with kansha (thanks). I had always wanted to try my hand at making shira-ae (sesame tofu dressing) after playing the...
I've tried making gnocchi in the past, but the whole thing dissolved while boiling, so it was a complete failure. Since then, I haven't even thought about making it again. A few weeks ago, I pondered what I would make for a small gathering. I...
Living in Tokyo meant that I had very little access to cereals, orange juice with lots of pulp, fig bars and other high fiber food stuffs that are so ubiquitous in the U.S. I always considered myself to have a very...
When I crave comfort food, this is my go-to dish. It's quick, easy and cheap. The key to a successful miso-eggplant dish is fresh eggplants. The vibrant purple...
One thing California and Japan have in common is the abundance of bright orange Fuyu persimmons when November hits. Persimmon or kaki, in Japanese, are...
