When artist and food illustrator Anna Takahashi was young, her doctors discovered she suffered from a kidney condition called nephrotic syndrome. By way of treatment, Anna had to basically abstain from salt for one year. In her hospital bed, and throughout that year, she drew images of the foods she craved: snacks, pasta, pizza, etc. In the process, she fell in love with food illustration, and today, that is her bread and (salted) butter, so to speak. Anna and I have worked on multiple projects together, like when I edited Edible San Luis Obispo Magazine and hired her to do illustrations, when she designed the packaging for Etto Pasta and I wrote the copy, and when the two of us dreamt up a wacky wallpaper and textile pattern that pays homage to the city of San Luis Obispo. (Look in the show notes to discover how you can get your hands on that hot little commodity.) I was really lucky to talk with Anna in person, because she leads a very international life, with hubs in Japan, where her family lives, California, where she spent much of her adult life, and Italy, where her husband is from. We chatted about her travels, creative inspiration, and more in the dining room on the second floor of Mee Heng Low noodle house in historic San Luis Obispo Chinatown.
Website: annatakahashi.com
Instagram: @anna_eats_colors
SLO Toile: wallpaper and home goods for purchase
Oddette Augustus, chef and caterer, Miss Oddette’s Creole Kitchen, Paso Robles
Janine Stone, food entrepreneur, A Bitch-In Kitchen, San Luis Obispo, CA
Brittany App, water activist and filmmaker, ”Where There Once Was Water,” Carrizo Plain, CA
Jim Clendenen, winemaker, Au Bon Climat Winery, Santa Maria, CA
Jack + Michelle Rudolph, farmers and cheesemakers, Stepladder Creamery, Cambria, CA
Kendra Aronson, cookbook author and creative, San Luis Obispo, CA
Matt Cross, owner, Broad Street Public House, San Luis Obispo, CA
Max Montgomery, brewer and owner, There Does Not Exist, San Luis Obispo, CA
Larry Kandarian, grain farmer, Kandarian Organic Farms, Los Osos, CA
Erin Primer, Food Services Director, San Luis Coastal Unified School District, San Luis Obispo, CA
Tim Veatch, chef and baker, Wayward Baking, Los Osos, CA
Sara + Jon Peterson, owners, Scout Coffee and HoneyCo Coffee Roasters, San Luis Obispo
Neal Maloney, owner and farmer, Morro Bay Oyster Company, Morro Bay
Erin Holden, beekeeper, Central Coast Beekeepers Alliance, Atascadero
Julien + Courtney Asseo, resturateurs, Les Petites Canailles, Paso Robles
Greg Clarke, author and illustrator, A Sidecar Named Desire, Thousand Oaks
Chris Dillow + Evan Toohey, chef and employee, Fig at Courtney’s House, Templeton
Mike Sinor, winemaker, Sinor-LaValle Wines, Avila Beach, + Ancient Peaks Winery, Santa Margarita
Chef Daisy Ryan + Greg Ryan, restaurateurs, Bell’s, Los Alamos
Jenn Harris, senior food writer, The Los Angeles Times
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