Umami Mart Gift Guide
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...

Go To Blind Pig Bistro NOW (Seattle)

When I received a list of places to eat in Seattle from one of our longtime customers, @SamayouKodomo, the only comment he put next to Blind Pig Bistro was, "American goodness... beer bread, mmm." Besides this, there was no other insight into this little eatery...

Hopkins Hive: Honey Extraction

Hallmark holidays don't really matter to me, but ever since my father passed away, I think about how to spend Father's Day every year when June rolls around. And I think I found the best activity to spend this special day. I've...

Yakitori Bunraku in Tokyo

A good friend of mine is in Tokyo right now and he wanted a shortlist of places to eat. As a tourist, you usually do want to be armed with a list from someone you know of where to dine while traveling. You don't want...

Upcoming Event

Upcoming Event: Horiguchi Coffee Tasting

We are thrilled to host a complimentary coffee tasting this Saturday with Horiguchi Coffee, a roaster from Tokyo. Founded in 1990, Horiguchi is a craft roaster that sources beans from Colombia, Tanzania, Panama and Ethiopia. With three cafes in Tokyo, Horiguchi prides itself...

MOTOism

MOTOism: Italian Shumai

(Disclaimer: I did NOT see any of the shadows when I was taking these photos. Sorry about this. My pics are usually bad, but these are extra bad...) I love coming up with weird fusions. You will be surprised at how cultural...

Bar Owl in Niigata City

When we mentioned to Mr. Akio Watanabe, owner of Bar EST! in Tokyo that we were heading to Niigata, he recommended that we visit Bar Owl. It was one of those things that we told him we would do but Yoko and I didn't actually...

Postcard

Postcard from Shanghai: Speakeasy Secret

*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!...

Postcard

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....

Postcard

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!...

Postcard from Shanghai: Cocktails at hoF

*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!...