Meet the Midpeninsula couple bringing Japanese recipes and artisanal goods to American households
Midpeninsula resident Namiko (Nami) Hirasawa Chen learned to cook by working at her grandfather’s small restaurant in Yokohama, Japan. Fifteen years ago, Nami Chen decided to create a website to store her recipes and share them with friends and family. She didn’t expect it would become a resource for people all over the world.
She and her husband Shen Chen now have a YouTube channel with more than 1 million subscribers and a website selling artisanal Japanese tableware, utensils and home decor. Writer Elaine Wu spoke with Nami Chen to learn more about her journey and curation of Japanese goods.
Meanwhile, I headed to Santa Clara to check out these so-called “Donut Wars,” the aftermath of LA chain Randy’s encroaching on the territory of beloved mom-and-pop Stan’s. On Monday morning, lines for both were long, with about half the Stan’s customers I chatted with saying they were first-time customers and the other half saying they were longtime supporters. In the Randy’s line, a similar makeup of customers, with the Stan’s stans looking to check out the competition.
Stay tasty,
Adrienne
This popular Peninsula recipe blogger is bringing time-honored Japanese craftsmanship to American households with their online shop
Fifteen years ago, a Midpeninsula couple launched a blog that’s turned into the largest English language Japanese recipe website in the world. Now they’re selling hard-to-find housewares straight from Japan.
Donut Wars in Santa Clara, A5 wagyu in Mountain View and more matcha in Cupertino
- The much-anticipated opening of Randy’s Donuts has resulted in an outpouring of support for nearby Stan’s. I put the two doughnut shops head to head in a blind taste test.
- Yakiniku Ginza recently opened in downtown Mountain View, allowing guests to grill their own A5 wagyu.
- Yemeni coffee shop Haraz Coffee House is soft opening in Mountain View Thursday.
- The matcha madness continues: Gozen Kamicha is soft opening Friday in the former Macu Tea space in Cupertino.
- CRU Wine Bar in Redwood City has permanently closed. Online store order pickups are now available at Donato Enoteca.
- Millbrae’s Cafe is planning on opening next month in Millbrae. Expect lattes in flavors such as cajeta and rompope as well as homemade tiramisu, acai bowls and sandwiches.
- Senro Sushi, a Japanese restaurant with locations in San Jose and the East Bay, expanded to Sunnyvale on Saturday.
- After nearly 30 years in Pacifica, Vallemar Station permanently closed July 12. The final days of its liquidation sale are this weekend.
- Vietnamese chain Thien Ly held the grand opening of its first U.S. location in South San Francisco on July 25.
- Indian restaurant Lajawab held its grand opening Sunday in San Mateo in the former Dosa Express space.
- Cocktail lounge Verd’e recently opened in the Ardez Hotel in Sunnyvale.
Gruyère and tomato custard tart ice cream at Salt & Straw
One of my favorite things about Salt & Straw is that you can sample, but not commit to, crazy ice cream flavors. On a recent visit to Salt & Straw in downtown Palo Alto, I decided to sample the most outrageous flavor I could find on the menu: gruyère and tomato custard tart.
And it absolutely blew my mind.
I’d go so far as to say it’s the best flavor Salt & Straw has ever come out with (and I don’t like tomatoes!). This scoop has the perfect balance of sweet and savory, with salty hits from the Gruyère, sweetness from the tomato jam, buttery bits of pie crust and an unexpected zing from black pepper. If that still sounds odd to you, it’s somewhat comparable to a cheesecake with a fruit topping, but a tad more savory. It’s decadent but far from cloying or one note.
It seems like I’ll have to make a return trip before the flavor goes away on Aug. 27.
Salt & Straw, 250 University Ave., Suite 110, Palo Alto; 650-656-9224, Instagram: @saltandstraw. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
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