About Ayako
Growing up eating her mom's home-made miso soup and vegetable pickles, Ayako Iino's appreciation for good food was set at an early age. After graduating from University, she spent ten years in a tiny village on the edge of the Boso Peninsula, Japan. She immersed herself in the culinary traditions of that region and it was there that her deep interest in cooking from the seasonal bounty was formed. She grew her own rice and vegetables, harvested edible plants from the surrounding hills and coastline, and cooked her daily meals on a wood fire stove. To pursue & broaden her passion she moved to California eleven years ago. After training at culinary school she worked as a cook at Oliveto Restaurant in Oakland. At Oliveto, Ayako found striking similarities between Italian regional cuisine and her countryside food experience; particularly in their emphasis on seasonality and freshness of ingredients. She then worked at Boulette's Larder and drew from a wide range of cuisines to craft unique lunch menus. Since her time at Boulettes Larder, Ayako has been involved in a variety of events and projects in the local food community and continues to broaden and deepen her culinary skills and repertoire. She lives with her family in Berkeley, California.
Magic Miso
Cook Sharp