You Helped Name it… Now Help Us Shape It! 🍳 Hello Reader,It's Yukari! We're officially setting the table, and YOU get first dibs. Since pausing the blog, things have heated up behind the scenes (and not just because Ka-En, our fiery kitten sous-chef, nearly tripped us weaving figure-8s between our feet! (True story! 🤣). The Kitchen Table with Aric & Yukari is officially here! It's all about easy, smart, simple cooking, cultural flavors with stories, and a community at the heart. And here's...
21 days ago • 2 min read
A new space for smarter, simpler, more joyful cooking, with YOU at the center. Hello Reader,It's Yukari! The blog is taking a pause… but YOU just helped start something even better! We're pressing pause on the blog for a little while. But not because we're stepping away. In fact, it's the opposite. Something new is simmering… and YOU helped name it! In our last email, I asked what we should name this newsletter, and you voted! 🎉 (Thank YOU!🙏) So here it is, officially...(drum roll please!)...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
What Our Sous Chef Kitten, Ka-En the Firecracker, Taught me on his "Gotcha Day." Hello Reader,It's Yukari! Oh, how I wish I could have sent this email sooner. I feel like I haven't connected with you for a long time, but I sprained my ankle in a fluke accident, and everything had to have a little setback. Aghh! Now I'm back to somewhat normal (still limping a bit, but I can move! Yay!), so let me pick up where it left off! We celebrated a special milestone a few weeks ago—our sweet Sous Chef...
2 months ago • 2 min read
Our Secret House Blend (And How to Make It!) Hello Reader, So, you start a recipe, reach for the cornstarch… and realize it no longer exists? 😩Or dig through three open hot sauce bottles and a suspicious bag of “something” to find one spice? Yep—been there. 😂 But what if I told you that a clean, organized pantry can make cooking joyful again, not stressful? 🌿 In our latest blog post, we’re sharing our complete Spring Pantry Reset System, which we use every year to bring calm, clarity, and...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Our Secret House Blend (And How to Make It!) Hello Reader, it's Yukari! Have you ever stared into your pantry at 5:47 PM wondering,"What can I make that won’t taste...meh?" 🫤 Yeah, same. A while back, Aric and I hit a wall. We love cooking, but between serving our weekly meal prep clients, recipe testing, private dinner parties, and real-life chaos (you know how it goes), we reached for something easy that could still bring the flavor. That's how our U & I House Blend was born. You'll...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Our Secret House Blend (And How to Make It!) Hello Reader, Ever stood in the spice aisle, overwhelmed by endless bottles and sky-high prices? 🤯 We’ve been there, too! The good news? You don’t need a hundred spices to cook incredible, flavor-packed meals at home. With a few budget-friendly essentials and a simple homemade blend, you can make every dish taste amazing—without overspending! 🌟 That’s why we’re excited to share our U & I House Blend—our go-to, all-purpose spice mix that works on...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Honoring Women in History—And in Our Kitchens ❤️ Hello Reader, It's Yukari! March is Women’s History Month to celebrate women's resilience, achievements, and impact throughout history. But for me, this month has always held a special personal meaning—from childhood memories of Japan’s Hina Matsuri (Girl’s Day) to the lessons passed down from my incredible mother-in-law, Marge. In this blog post, I reflect on: 🌎 Trailblazing women like Murasaki Shikibu, Frida Kahlo, and Olympe de Gouges. 🍽️...
4 months ago • 1 min read
How Food Connects Us: Honoring Black Culinary Traditions Hello Reader, It's Yukari, and it's time for another blog! The world is racing, and the food industry isn't an exception. It's exhausting to keep chasing what's happening. So, I wanted to sit down and take the time to write about something close to my heart—how food tells a story of resilience, culture, and history. Black History Month is a time to celebrate the profound contributions of Black Americans. Since our company represents a...
5 months ago • 1 min read
We Took the $100 Grocery Challenge… Here's What Happened Hello Reader, Can you eat delicious, home-cooked meals for a whole week for just $100? That's the challenge Aric and I took on recently, and let's just say… we had some surprising moments at the checkout counter! 😳 We sharpened our pencils (and knives), mapped out a strategic grocery list, and set out to see if we could stretch our budget without resorting to bland, repetitive meals. 🎯 Our goal: Stick to a strict $100 budget Plan 21...
5 months ago • 1 min read