I first bought this sesame dressing because of my reverence for the Kewpie brand. (They put MSG in mayo! Respect.) The mottled, miso-hued liquid initially looked sugary-sweet—like something from Newman’s Own—but where was the flaccid plastic bottle I love-hate?! This one came in glass, and it called to me from the shelves of the Japanese supermarket I was in. Seeing “Kewpie” in all caps on the label was all I needed to gingerly plop it into my shopping basket. It was a guarantee of delicious things ahead, an invitation into the Kewpie lifestyle. [Read Article]

This hack began with one of my favorite YouTube channels, Way Of Ramen, which helps noodle freaks (like myself) achieve their home-cooked ramen goals. One recent video referenced an idea gaining traction among Japanese ramen geeks: Adding Kewpie mayonnaise, a whole raw egg, and minced garlic to supplement instant ramen—specifically Sapporo-brand miso-flavored ramen, which can be found at my local supermarket for under $1. The reaction to this mayo addition has been overwhelmingly positive, according to commenters on the original YouTube video. The Way Of Ramen host was skeptical. I was too. [Read Article]

Instacart, the leading online grocery platform in North America, today released its first "New Year, New Cart" 2021 Grocery Trends Report forecasting the at-home food trends and grocery shopping habits for the year ahead. Combining an in-depth look at Instacart purchase data with a new Instacart survey of 2,050 U.S. adults conducted by The Harris Poll, Instacart's "New Year, New Cart" 2021 report reflects five key shifts in shopping behavior, buying preferences, and food attitudes after nearly a year of COVID-19 pandemic living and cultural shifts.  (SOURCE Instacart) [Read Article]

The first step in understanding the popularity of Kewpie mayonnaise is to recognize there are different attitudes in Japan than in America regarding the creamy condiment. It’s used extensively — on salads, karaage, squiggled onto okonomiyaki and takoyaki, and even as a pizza topping. It has transcended the plane of mere human consumption to become a cultural touchstone — a passion that can border on obsession... (Lucas Kwan Peterson/Los Angeles Times) [Read Article]

This Japanese mayonnaise was the clear winner, earning a score of 6.6 that put it way ahead of the pack. It had a yellow yolk-y color and, thanks to the star tip atop the squeeze bottle, looked beautiful piped into the tasting bowl. The aroma was pleasantly eggy, the texture creamy. The eggy flavor was slightly tangy, with what one taster described as a “very pronounced” umami element. That makes sense given one of the ingredients is monosodium glutamate... (Michael Tercha/Chicago Tribune) [Read Article]