Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival - 04/13/13 - 04/14/13 & 04/20/13 - 04/21/13

Allergies, schmallergies.  Where's the tonkatsu?

Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival

San Francisco, CA

Cherry blossoms, you are the bane of my existence.  Once a year, you turn walks to my grandmother’s house into treacherous trips that end up in allergy headaches and clogged sinuses.  Boo.

Would that keep me from attending a festival in your honor, however?  Nope.  I’m not giving up on walks to visit Grandma, so I’m certainly not giving up a visit to San Francisco’s Japantown for origami exhibits, sword fighting, a huge food bazaar, and a photo opp with Hello Kitty at the Sanrio Kids Corner.  I mean, that would be crazy!

Finally, a chance to convince friends who’ve been living under rocks that Japanese culture stretches beyond California rolls (ugh) and Pokemon!  Kick back watching the Grand Parade, check out the Children’s Tsuzumi (Japanese drum) Challenge, and choose your favorite model in the Anima Fashion Show.

Yes, there will probably be funnel cakes.  It’s still a festival, after all.

The Biggest Little Kitchen Store

This store is forking incredible!

The Biggest Little Kitchen Store

Jackson, CA

Don’t let the word “little” fool you – inside this culinary wonderland you’ll find cooking gadgets you didn’t even know you needed until you stepped foot inside.

An extensive collection of cast iron skillets, bakeware and dutch ovens will help you cook like Grandma.  Over half a dozen ways to grate cheese are offered here, as well as garlic slicers, peelers, presses and odor removers.  Looking for a fun way to serve eggs?  Pick up some egg rings to serve up those huevos in fun cow, pig or teddy bar shapes.  Just searching for something with a silly name?  Grab a pickle pincher to help fish those gherkins out of their jars.

The Biggest Little Kitchen Store provides a large collection of cookbooks so you will make good use of your new ravioli rolling pin and spaetzle maker.  Too lazy for that?  Then just pour some juice or yogurt into a popsicle maker, take a nap, then lick away.