I've pulled together the tools and ingredients that quietly transformed my kitchen this year into a gift guide for the curious cook. If you’re wondering why these made the list, there’s a story behind every pick. open.substack.com/pub/marcmats...

Savory chicken, smoky dashi, shiitake, and two kinds of soy sauce—this shoyu ramen is bold, balanced, and ready in just 20 minutes. 🍜 #shoyuramen #ramenathome youtu.be/dXrMCkqWCkM

With ruby red strawberries tucked into clouds of whipped cream, sandwiched between slices of fluffy milk bread, Ichigo Sando is an easy (and addictive) snack found in cafés and convenience stores around Japan. youtu.be/Gevh9jT_yS0 #sandwich #japanesesandwich

Butter Rice might sound like dorm-room cooking, but in Japan, it's an addictive staple. Learn how to turn 3 simple ingredients into a creamy, savory, buttery bowl of comfort in less than a minute. youtu.be/BFr6IulKPnM

This week, I’m sharing a braised pork belly recipe that transforms a simple cut of meat into melt-in-your-mouth perfection. Slow-braised in dashi, soy, and sake, it’s even better overnight—perfect for rice, ramen, or fried rice! #recipe #porkbelly #kakuni youtu.be/h9s_5rYG44E

🍜 Miso ramen is what helped thaw the winter chill when I lived in Sapporo and I’ve developed a technique to make a ramen shop level bowl in under 30 minutes. Catch the premiere at 7am PT / 10am ET youtu.be/bNT7mnMKYjI #ramen #MisoRamen

Japanese cuisine is all about drawing out and enhancing the flavors and textures of fresh seasonal ingredients, and Spinach Ohitashi embodies this spirit. This week, I'm sharing my mom's recipe for this simple classic. 

VIDEO: youtu.be/h2_SQcVZUko
RECIPE: norecipes.com/spinach-ohit...