I Didn’t Grow Up Cooking, But Look What We’re Building Now!

Hello Reader, It's Yukari!
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You helped shape the feel of The Kitchen Table, and we’re so excited to show you what’s next. 🧡
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But before we dig in... a quick story time!
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My mom didn’t teach me to cook. Actually… she didn’t cook much at all.

I never learned how to sew, cook, or garden from my mom, and for that, I’m forever grateful to Aric’s mom, who generously shared many of those skills with me.

My mom was strictly a working mom.

She worked from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, five days a week.

She left the house around 8:15 AM and returned around 6:30 PM, so my grandma raised me when I was little.
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​(If you're curious about my mom and me, I wrote a bit more in this blog post.)

I “helped” my grandma with grocery shopping, mostly hoping she’d buy me sweets or pop afterward. 😅
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Back then, we shopped at our local Shotengai (a small Japanese shopping street) for individual shops that sold tea, meat, fish, tofu, vegetables, and even eggs.

We knew the people at every store.

We’d stop and chat about life, the weather, or nothing in particular.

Looking back, that Shotengai reminds me of the little neighborhood shops in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Community hubs where everyone knew your name.

In the spring, I’d help shell English peas, or paste the raffle tickets we got from shopping onto newspaper pages to collect rewards.

But I never helped in the kitchen.

My grandma never asked me to, and I never thought to offer.

I assumed cooking was something only grown-ups did, not kids like me.

That belief stuck with me… until 7th grade. And that’s when everything changed.
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(I'll tell you that story in our next newsletter. It involves bento… and chaos. 🤣)

🥳 The Color Palette Winner Is...
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🎨 This cozy combo below! Warm orange, earthy green, and rustic terracotta won by a landslide!

Warm orange, earthy green, and rustic terracotta. It feels like roasted veggies, handmade pottery, and a cozy kitchen table with a cat nearby.

Thank you for voting! 🙏🧡🙏

🗳️ What Should the Logo Feel Like?

Next up, the logo itself!
What kind of style feels like us?

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📥 Tried the Mix and Match Planner Yet?

Have you tried our Mix & Match Meal Planner yet?

If not, we’re thinking of…

🧂 Quick Chef Tip of the Week

🌿 Wrap fresh herbs, like cilantro and parsley, in a damp paper towel and store them in a Ziploc bag.
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They’ll last way longer in the fridge. (Grandma-approved. 😉)

🎄 P.S. Holiday Bookings — October & November Still Open!

Looking to host a cozy Private Dinner Party or In-Home Coo​king Classes in Colorado this fall?
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​October and November dates are still available, but they’re filling up fast!

Heads-up: December is already fully booked! (🎉 Thank you!)
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Now’s the perfect time to grab a spot before the holidays sneak up!
👇👇👇👇👇

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Thanks again for building this with us.
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We’re not perfect chefs. We’re just real people who love feeding others and figuring it out with you.

With flavor, love, and a spoon in one hand,
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Yukari & Aric
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(and Senna + Ka-En, snack ninja & firecracker in charge 🐱🐶)

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