About Me

“There are things you do because they feel right & they may make no sense & they may make no money & it may be the real reason we are here: to love each other & to eat each other’s cooking & say it was good.” -Storypeople

There is something transcendent and transformational about cooking. Through stepping into a grocery store, finding the perfect ingredients and combining them, one can create a dish that somehow reaches beyond the plate to bring you to a new place. Or perhaps an old place full of memories and comforting feelings. Since I was very young, I have spent many hours in the kitchen. My mom’s southern influence (she is originally from Tennessee) has helped to shape some of my cooking, along with travels to Europe, South America and most recently, Asia.

My experiences over the years have helped me develop a collection of recipes that convey all aspects of my experience with cooking. From licking cookie dough from the spoon after making chocolate chip cookies with my dad (while he wasn’t looking of course!) to learning how to identify and cook with Japanese ingredients, these recipes tell a story. I hope that through Tokyo Terrace my stories allow me to share my love of food with all of you.

Living in Japan for the past 3 years has presented many challenges that have helped to increase my creativity in the kitchen. The grocery stores and restaurants, even the kitchens, are completely different and somewhat difficult to get used to. It is exciting to learn about a culture that is so far from my version of “ordinary” while also learning how to create some of my favorite foods in new ways.

Without the endless support of my family, friends, and most importantly, my husband Brad, this blog would not be in existence. It has become a treasured record of the discoveries I make about the food culture in Japan, while also introducing new relationships that have only increased my love of the culinary world. I hope you find this blog insightful, interesting, and most important- deliciously inspiring!

-Rachael

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