Dine in seating at Tampopo Kitchen
We are excited to announce that starting today at 4pm we will be offering a full dine in seated experience. The space is still tight, so we only have 12 seats. 6 at the counter and 6 seats at tables. We will be taking reservations through this link. Lunch is still takeout and delivery only, but you are welcome to stay and eat at the tables, we just won't have a full serving staff.
Japanese Meal Flow: a multi part series!
When dining in Japan, there is no shortage of styles and experiences. Quick bowl of Ramen? Yes please. 3 hour sushi tasting course? If I have to. Macrobiotic tea ceremony? Wait, what? There are certain traditions to be aware of, but like all great artists, every chef and dining establishment learns to make the format her own.
Edamame or cha mame?
Did you know there are different kinds of Edamame? Those popping beans come in different shapes, sizes and flavors. The most interesting bean to me is called "cha mame" which can be smaller, flatter with a slight brown color. It's easily confused to the naked eye as an edamame gone bad, but in fact has tons of flavor! I find chamame to have a deeper more complex flavor than the more commonly found green edamame. We don't sell chamame, but next time you see it on a menu at a traditional Japanese restaurant, give it a try!
Uni Spectacular
Growing up in the suburbs of Connecticut, I didn't eat a lot of uni. In fact I don't think I had sushi until I was 18, which was a California roll from a supermarket. Ha!
It's Cold, so Noodle Up
What's up with this weather? It's so coolldd?? Work from home? Darn right, I'm not going outside! But, it's a great time to explore our house made udon options.
Cherry blossoms in bloom
Cherry blossoms are a huge part of Japanese culture. There are celebrations and events in the spring that focus on these beautiful trees.
Salmon Love Story ** Nerd Alert **
Guess how long raw salmon has been consumed in Japan?
A) Since 1650
B) Since 1875
C) Since 1985
Let's get pumped about Eggplant!
Before traveling to Japan, I really only associated Japanese food with Sushi, and in my 20s that meant not very good quality - usually from a grocery store or a cheap takeout spot.
Rolling with shrimp tempura
Is a shrimp tempura roll traditional authentic sushi? Nope. But is it freakin’ delicious? Umm. YES!!
Wagme? Wagyu!!
Do you know what wagyu beef is? This Japanese magical meat has the perfect blend of marbalization, or the layering and ratio of fat to muscle.