Japan Eats!
339 episodes - English - Latest episode: 13 days ago - ★★★★★ - 64 ratingsWhat is Japanese food? Sushi, or ramen, or kaiseki? What about Izakaya? Akiko Katayama, a Japanese native, New York-based food writer and director of the New York Japanese Culinary Academy, tells you all about real Japanese food and food culture. With guests ranging from sake producers with generations of experience to American chefs pushing the envelope of Japanese gastronomy, Japanese cuisine is demystified here!
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Episodes
Episode 39: The Frontier of Ramen
April 04, 2016 19:35 - 48 minutes - 44 MBOn this week's episode of Japan Eats, host Akiko Katayama is joined in the studio by Keizo Shimamoto, creator of the Original Ramen Burger. He has worked for Ivan Orkin and the mini ramen chain Bassanova, all while documenting his love affair with noodles on his blog, GO RAMEN! Keizo is also the subject of the short film Ramen Dreams, a chronicle of his extraordinary passion for ramen.
Episode 38: The Art of Tenugui
March 28, 2016 20:23 - 44 minutes - 41.1 MBOn this week's episode of Japan Eats, Akiko is joined in the studio by Ruri Kippenbrock, the founder of wuhao newyork Inc. The company specializes in hand-made tenugui, Japanese cotton towels. These towels are not only for wiping your hands but also have a number of traditional uses and applications, not to mention overall well-being – tune in to learn more!
Episode 37: An American Sushi Chef
March 21, 2016 17:55 - 42 minutes - 39.1 MBOn this week's episode of Japan Eats, Akiko is joined in the studio by Robby Cook, the executive sushi chef of Morimoto in New York. Robby is also the co-author the of new book The Complete Guide to Sushi & Sashimi, which contains tips and techniques on how to properly create and indulge in sushi and sashimi at home.
Episode 36: My Life As A Sake Brewer
March 14, 2016 20:28 - 47 minutes - 43.5 MBOn this week’s episode of Japan Eats, Akiko is joined in the studio by Todd Bellomy, brewer and co-founder of Dovetail Sake, Massachusetts’ first sake brewery. Prior to opening Dovetail, Bellomy worked in the American craft beer industry, as a chef, and even as a sword-making apprentice in the Saitama Prefecture of Japan. Tune in to hear all about his life as a sake brewer. “Our philosophy is, we want people to drink it because it’s delicious, and not because it’s sake…we look to traditiona...
Episode 35: Dedicated to Fish
March 07, 2016 20:55 - 43 minutes - 39.7 MBOn this week’s episode of Japan Eats, Akiko is joined in the studio by Yuji Haraguchi, owner of the restaurants Okonomi and YUJI Ramen. By day, Okonomi serves traditional Japanese ichiju-sansai set meals for breakfast and lunch. In the evenings, Okonomi becomes YUJI Ramen, and offers an à la carte menu of seafood-rich ramen and mazemen. Haraguchi is currently working to open Osakana, a Japanese-style fish market dedicated to providing high-quality, local, and seasonal seafood to Brooklyn and...
Episode 34: Bringing a Green Tea Culture to the U.S.
February 29, 2016 21:20 - 46 minutes - 42.8 MBOn this week’s episode of Japan Eats, host Akiko Katayama welcomes guest Rona Tison, the senior vice president of corporate relations at ITO EN, to discuss making green tea a true part of American culture. Tison has extensive experience in the tea industry and has received Green Tea Certification from ITO EN. Prior to joining ITO EN, Tison worked extensively in the hotel and service industry where she served as director of operations at the W Hotels The Court and The Tuscany, executive vice ...
Episode 33: Sumo Food
February 22, 2016 23:33 - 42 minutes - 39 MBOn today’s episode of Japan Eats, host Akiko Katayama welcomes guest Gaku Shibata, owner of the restaurants Azasu and Yoppari in New York’s Lower East Side. They discuss Japanese gastropubs (izakaya), cup sake, and feeding sumo wrestlers.
Episode 32: The Life of a Sake Ambassador
February 15, 2016 20:53 - 45 minutes - 41.4 MBAfter discovering premium sake for the first time in 2005, today’s guest Tim Sullivan went on to found UrbanSake.com, which is now America’s longest-running sake website. Just two years later, he was awarded the title of “Sake Samurai” by the Japan Sake Brewer’s Association in recognition of his work promoting sake outside of Japan. Sullivan is now an instructor for the Sake School of America, and works as the International Brand Ambassador for the Hakkaisan Sake Brewery to spread sake cultu...
Episode 31: It All Started in Japan
February 08, 2016 21:10 - 50 minutes - 46.1 MBChef Michael Anthony, Executive Chef of Gramercy Tavern and Untitled of the Union Square Hospitality Group talks with Japan Eats host Akiko Katayama about living in Tokyo right after graduating from college. The move changed the course of his life and career. Tune in to hear how Michael’s experience in Japan stayed with him even as he moved to France and back to the U.S. > #### “That was one of those moments that those decisions determined the course that my life would take.” [20:30] “...
Episode 30: From French Chef To Ramen Master
February 01, 2016 20:31 - 50 minutes - 46.5 MBOver his 25‐year career, Chef Takashi Yagihashi has been lauded by consumers and critics alike for his exquisite ways of melding contemporary French, Asian, and American cuisine, and today he is in studio with Akiko Katayama for a brand new episode of Japan Eats. A native of Mito, Japan, the self-taught Yagihashi was working in a local restaurant when the owner asked him to relocate to the States and work for him there; over the next several years, the young chef worked his way up the culin...
Episode 29: The Crimson & Sparrow: A Lawyer’s Dream Comes True
January 25, 2016 21:16 - 50 minutes - 46.1 MBJohn’s interest in cooking began with his curiosity in his grandmother’s expansive garden, learning early about the importance of seasonality, flavor and balance. At age 14, John moved to South Korea for three years where he not only became fluent in Korean, but truly embraced Asian flavors, language and spirits. After nearly two decades running a successful law practice and firm in Manhattan, John decided to pursue his real passion-a new culinary career at the French Culinary Institute (FCI...
Episode 28: The Sushi Explorer
January 18, 2016 21:02 - 47 minutes - 43.7 MBTune in to Japan Eats as host Akiko Katayama is in studio with Chef Marco Moreira. Brazilian-born chef Marco Moreira arrived in New York City in 1982 eager to explore the city and immerse himself in an exciting, multi-ethnic culinary scene. Through an inspired twist of fate, he ended up training as a sushi chef at the very beginning of the sushi craze. From the start, he proved his skill in this highly technical profession and quickly earned acclaim as one of the most talented sushi chefs...
Episode 27: A Food Critic’s View on NYC Japanese Restaurants
January 11, 2016 21:06 - 45 minutes - 41.8 MBJapan Eats is brand new this week with host Akiko Katayama in studio with food critic and author, Robert Sietsema. Presently editor for Eater, Robert shares how he transitioned from the rock and roll scene to food writing and adds his unique view of Japanese restaurants in New York City. Initially focusing on the best ethnic eats in the city, Robert dissects what the term means to him and how he finds some of the best unknown restaurants. Akiko highlights some of Robert’s past articles and...
Episode 26: Science in Japanese Food
January 04, 2016 20:51 - 47 minutes - 43.3 MBJapan Eats returns for 2016 with none other than the man who wrote the book on science and cooking, Harold McGee. His career defining book, On Food & Cooking, has been referenced as a cooking bible for a generation of forward thinking chefs and culinary professionals. Discover how Harold was inspired to make a career of researching and writing about what happens when we cook, prepare and consume food, not to mention Japanese food! Harold is largely responsible for the molecular gastronomy/mo...
Episode 25: The Sake Evangelist, John Gauntner
December 14, 2015 20:51 - 44 minutes - 40.5 MBKnown as “The Sake Guy,” and “The Sake Evangelist,” John Gauntner is recognized as the world’s leading non-Japanese sake expert and this week he joins in studio for the season wrap-up of Japan Eats. He chats with host Akiko Katayama about his residency in Japan since 1988, he (necessarily) both speaks and reads Japanese fluently, and is well known in the sake industry as the window to making sake understandable and popular outside of Japan. Tune in for a chat on all things sake and more!
Episode 24: Applied Japanese Cuisine
December 07, 2015 20:56 - 44 minutes - 40.9 MBWylie Dufresne is in studio with Akiko this week for an intriguing episode of Japan Eats! Hinting at his new project opening in the new year, Wylie explains how he found himself in the restaurant industry and why working in the industry is likened to playing a team sport. What does Wylie think about being considered a predominant figure in the modernist/molecular gastronomy food realm? What’s his brainstorming process like? Tune in for a great discussion on finding inspiration from all ar...
Episode 23: Obsessed with Shochu
November 23, 2015 20:57 - 41 minutes - 38.4 MB“Kampai!” or “Cheers!” This week on Japan Eats host Akiko Katayama welcomes Stephen Lyman to the studio talking all about the Japanese alcoholic beverage shochu. Founder and editor of Kampai!, Stephen explains his devotion to shochu, of which he is an expert and shares his travels to Kyushu (where 90%+ of authentic shochu is made) where he visited 6 distilleries and tried 262 different shochu (there are an estimated 6,000 labels from 600 distilleries in Japan) in just 5 days. Stephen went ...
Episode 22: Natto: A Stinky Superfood
November 16, 2015 21:15 - 46 minutes - 42.7 MBHave you ever heard of natto? Otherwise known as a traditional Japanese food made from soybeans fermented with Bacillus subtilis, natto is known for its powerful smell, strong flavor, and slimy texture typically eaten with a bowl of rice, and today it’s the topic of discussion on _ Japan Eats _. Host Akiko Katayama welcomes Ann Yonetani, founder of NYrture Food to the studio talking about her pioneering efforts to bring the probiotic, nutrient-dense, gluten-free, and strangely addictive foo...
Episode 21: Harris Salat of Ganso
November 09, 2015 23:58 - 45 minutes - 41.3 MBHow does one go from a food writer to a restaurant owner? Find out on a brand new episode of Japan Eats. Akiko Katayama is joined by Harris Salat, Ganso’s Managing Partner, journalist and restaurateur. A Brooklyn native, Harris is the author of numerous articles about Japanese cuisine, and has trained in Japanese restaurant kitchens in New York, Tokyo and Kyoto. He and Tadashi Ono are the co-authors of three popular Japanese cookbooks, “Japanese Hot Pots,” “The Japanese Grill,” and “Japanese...
Episode 20: In Pursuit of Japanese Tea
November 02, 2015 21:19 - 45 minutes - 42 MBThis week on Japan Eats , host Akiko Katayama is in studio with Sebastian Beckwith, owner at In the Pursuit of Tea. In Pursuit of Tea is a company with the mission to explore remote, traditional areas of tea production and find the finest teas available. In this episode, Sebastian talks about his experience working with and distributing tea to restaurants, the history of tea and the fascinating process of how different teas are made, how to differentiate different varieties and where they c...
Episode 19: Cooking On a Farm in Japan
October 26, 2015 19:50 - 44 minutes - 41.1 MBThis week on _ Japan Eats _, host Akiko Katayama is in studio with author, cook, and farmer, Nancy Singleton Hachisu. Leaving California for Japan in the late 1980’s, fully intending to learn Japanese in one year and return to the States for graduate school, Nancy shares how she instead fell in love with a Japanese organic farmer. Now living with her husband and three sons in their eighty-five-year-old traditional farmhouse, Nancy has taught home cooking to Japanese housewives for over two...
Episode 18: The Essence of Washoku
October 19, 2015 19:55 - 43 minutes - 40.3 MBBorn and raised in New York, though has called Japan home for more than four decades, writer and Japanese Food Culture Specialist Elizabeth Andoh joins host Akiko Katayama for another informative episode of Japan Eats. Explaining that her formal culinary training was taken at the Yanagihara School of Traditional Japanese Cuisine, in Tokyo, it was in 1972 that she began her own culinary arts program, A Taste of Culture. Combining spicy tidbits of food lore with practical tips and skill-build...
Episode 17: Chef Michael Romano
October 12, 2015 19:52 - 45 minutes - 41.5 MBChef Michael Romano is in studio for Japan Eats this week with host Akiko Katayama. Talking his impressive background beginning at the iconic Serendipity in New York in 1971, it was upon impressing a young Danny Meyer that propelled Michael to eventually joining staff at the Union Square Cafe while it earned numerous accolades from The New York Times and Zagat. Today Michael can be found, wearing the hats of both Chef and explorer, at Union Square Tokyo, the Japanese outpost of the New Yor...
Episode 16: Ivan Ramen
October 05, 2015 20:02 - 44 minutes - 40.8 MBIvan Orkin is in studio with host Akiko Katayama this week for Japan Eats! Talking how this self described “Jewish kid from Long Island” fell in love with the cuisine and culture of Japan to becoming a renowned and respected chef, Ivan shares what specifically attracted him to refining his own style of ramen. Discussing the evolution of ramen’s popularity in the Japan and the United States, Ivan also relays the importance of observing Japanese customs and traditions, details from his cookb...
Episode 15: The Secret of Japanese Cocktails
September 28, 2015 19:54 - 42 minutes - 39 MBMeet Kenta Goto, guest on this week’s episode of Japan Eats, hosted by Akiko Katayama. Kenta is the mastermind behind the newly opened Japanese-American bar, Bar Goto, located in the Lower East Side of New York City. Talking the differences between the American and Japanese bar scenes, and what makes the fusion of the two a unique experience at Bar Goto, Kenta shares his own brand of creativity when it comes to serving the best some of the cocktails in the city. Does freshly chipped ice ma...
Episode 14: The Making of Japan Town
September 21, 2015 20:13 - 45 minutes - 41.9 MBJapan Eats is back! Host Akiko Katayama welcomes Shuho Yagi, owner of TIC Group, to the studio for a talk about his life and times, building a successful business, helping to define Japanese cuisine in New York City, plus establishing “Japantown” located in the East Village. He shares that he fatefully missed his Japanese college entrance exam by ten minutes which prompted him to take his tuition money on an adventure to the United States. Working his way as a short order cook, he quickly...
Episode 13: Udon & Jazz!
August 10, 2015 19:37 - 44 minutes - 41.1 MBWhat do Japanese udon and jazz music have in common? Tune in to Japan Eats as Akiko Katayama is in studio with musician Kyoko Oyobe who hails from an udon and soba noodle family! Her father is well known in Japan for his quality, homemade udon and has served it in his restaurants for years. Kyoko shares her experiences growing up as a pianist in a food household and that while she may have studied music since she age four, she still knows a great deal about this delicious and versatile noodl...
Episode 12: Art of Japanese Knives
July 27, 2015 19:32 - 42 minutes - 39 MBJapan is a land of long traditions including the intricate art of crafting Japanese knives, and today on Japan Eats, host Akiko Katayama is sitting down with Saori Kawano, founder and president of Korin Japanese Trading Corp. Sharing how she moved from Japan to New York in 1978 to pursue her lifelong dream of bringing Japanese knives and tableware into American restaurants and homes, Saori highlights the history, styles, and uses for these knives. Curious what distinguishes a western blade f...
Episode 11: Know Your Noodles, Know Your Ramen
July 20, 2015 19:41 - 42 minutes - 39.1 MBThis week on Japan Eats host Akiko Katayama interviews Kenshiro Uki of Sun Noodles for a discussion all about the production of ramen. Kenshiro talks about how the popularity of ramen has risen, particularly in New York. Ramen has become a breeding ground for creativity and expression in the food world and its popularity is growing everyday. Join Akiko and Kenshiro to learn just why ramen is such a great business to be in. This program was brought to you by the International Culinary Center....
Episode 10: In Pursuit of Umami
July 13, 2015 21:16 - 43 minutes - 40.2 MBThis week on Japan Eats, host Akiko Katayam is in studio with Tim Cushman, the heralded chef and owner of O Ya with locations in Boston and most recently, New York City. Since it’s opening in 2007, Tim and the restaurant have received numerous accolades, including being named by New York Times food critic, Frank Bruni, as the #1 new restaurant in the country in 2008. Akiko and Tim discuss his colorful path to ultimately producing fine Japanese fare before moving on to his specific kitchen te...
Episode 9: What is Japanese Curry?
July 06, 2015 19:41 - 42 minutes - 39.4 MBThis week on Japan Eats host Akiko Katayama interviews the president of Go!Go! Curry Tomoko Omori, for a discussion all about the popularity of curry in Japan. Akiko and Tomoko discuss the difference between Indian and Japanese curry, the history of curry in Japan, India, and England, and the best ingredients that can be incorporated into curry. This program was brought to you by Escape Maker. “When you go to a different region, you will always find a different curry.” [31:00] — Tomoko Omo...
Episode 8: Shochu is your new Whisky!
June 29, 2015 23:29 - 42 minutes - 39.1 MBThis week on Japan Eats host Akiko interviews the former bartender of Le Bernardin, Brian Matthys, about his love of the Japanese distilled beverage, shochu. Akiko and Brian discuss his journey as a bartender, dispel some common misconceptions of shochu, and go in depth about the history of the drink. This program was brought to you by The International Culinary Center. “There’s a tremendous amount of Japanese ingredients that I’ve used both with western spirits and Japanese [spirits] as we...
Episode 7: An American Sake Samurai
June 22, 2015 19:41 - 44 minutes - 40.8 MBToday on Japan Eats, Akiko is sitting down with one of only 48 “Sake Samurais” in the world as honored by the Japan Sake Brewers Association – Roger Dagorn. Also a noted Master Sommelier, Roger shares how he came around to the fascinating world of distinguished beverages as well as details on how he analyzes and pairs all types of food with various sakes plus relays how sake is typically produced. After the break, Roger describes the induction ceremony associated with the “Sake Samurai,” the...
Episode 6: Story of Matcha
June 15, 2015 19:35 - 42 minutes - 38.7 MBMatcha is, without a doubt, gaining popularity in the United States and is the topic of discussion on this week’s Japan Eats. Guest Michelle Gardner, owner of Chalait in New York City’s West Village recently opened with a focus on this special tea. Michelle shares that the concept of the cafe was born on a trip to Japan when she had her first sip of matcha and felt driven to bring it to an American audience, prepared using traditional techniques. She goes on to elaborate the various ways Cha...
Episode 5: Japanese Food Beyond Sushi & Ramen
June 08, 2015 20:08 - 43 minutes - 39.9 MBGo beyond sushi and ramen and deeper into the rustic foods of Japan on a brand new episode of Japan Eats!. Host Akiko Katayama is joined by Tadashi Ono, owner Ganso Yaki – a Japanese bistro that cooks bold, rustic Japanese comfort food. Chef Ono talks about pulling inspiration from French techniques and street foods of Japan and creating his own unique style of food. This program was brought to you by Bonnie Plants. “I’m happy to introduce this new funky Japanese food!” 38:00 “What I make ...
Episode 4: Japanese in Venice
June 01, 2015 19:38 - 43 minutes - 39.9 MBChris Jaeckle joins host Akiko Katayama this week on Japan Eats for a discussion about how he became a chef, and why he decided to cook so many different kinds of food. Chris and Akiko talk about the commitment and learning process that Chris went through that brought him to working at restaurants such as Eleven Madison Park and Morimoto, and how these experiences eventually helped open his restaurants All’Onda and Uma Temakeria. This program was brought to you by Karp Resources. “Any entre...
Episode 3: Rick Smith of Sakaya NYC
May 18, 2015 19:25 - 42 minutes - 38.9 MBRick Smith, owner of Sakaya, joins host Akiko Katayama in studio today for a conversation all about Sake. Rick starts the show by giving us all an education about what sake is made out of, and the complicated process of how it is brewed. Rick and Akiko discuss the changes that have occurred in the US based on sake appreciation. Just as wine is highly appreciated in the US, Rick tells us that sake appears to be on the same track. The beautiful tradition of sake production, how to drink sake p...
Episode 2: Fish Ambassador from Ramen Country
May 11, 2015 19:43 - 42 minutes - 38.8 MBYuji Haraguchi, the chef behind OKONOMI // YUJI Ramen, joins Akiko Katayama for an information-filled episode of Japan Eats. Yuji explains how he embraces mottainai, a Japanese phrase that loosely translates to “no waste”, in his cooking. Learn about ramen techniques, under utilized seafood and his forward thinking philosophy in the kitchen. This program was brought to you by EscapeMaker.com. “The fish we serve is wild …it’s important to have a good relationship with your fish purveyor.” [2...
Episode 1: Brooklyn Kitchen / The Meat Hook
May 11, 2015 15:02 - 31 minutes - 28.8 MBWelcome to Japan Eats! Japan Eats is a weekly radio show from Akiko Katayama, a food writer and a director of the non-profit organization The New York Japanese Culinary Academy (NYJCA), which promotes a deeper understanding of Japanese cuisine in the US. Akiko is joined by food industry professionals who can share their deep knowledge and passion for Japanese cuisine. Tune in and demystify Japanese food tradition, learn about the latest Japanese food trends. On her first episode she’s joined...