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
Alternatives to the modern cannabis gummy with Katherine Knowlton, Santa Barbara
Craft brewing with Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company CEO Jaime Dietenhofer
Feeding the hungry with the Food Bank of San Luis Obispo County: Garret Olson, Brenda, and Claire
Smash burgers and the beer industry with Jack Alger of Mutiny Burger, Paso Robles
Cooking like a lover and freedom from recipes with Kristen Telling, Los Osos
Pushing the boundaries of the wine industry with Gibsey and Josh Beckett of Thibido Winery, Paso Robles
Buying the farm with Ariela Gottschalk and Jeff Pienack of Halcyon Farms, Arroyo Grande
Grocery stores and food retail with Dr. Ricky Volpe of Cal Poly University, SLO
CONSUMED Live #1 out now
”The Biggest Little Farm” film, Molly Chester, Apricot Lane Farms, Moorpark, CA
Booker Vineyard winemaker-farmer Eric Jensen, Paso Robles, CA
Food photographer Mary Lagier, San Luis Obispo, CA
SLO Provisions owners Steve Bland + Dwyne Willis, San Luis Obispo, CA
Cannabis and CBD edibles with April Worley of Mender, Atascadero, CA
Julia Child Foundation chair Eric Spivey, Montecito, CA
Harvestly co-owner Lauryn Luescher, San Luis Obispo, CA
Backyard chicken expert Barbara Bullock, San Luis Obispo, CA
Seaweed forager Spencer Marley, Cayucos, CA
Great American Melodrama Cast, Oceano, California
Super cool update from Jaime
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
50 Tastes Of Gray
Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Radio
The Recipe with Kenji and Deb
The Federalist Papers
The Art of War
The Splendid Table: Conversations & Recipes For Curious Cooks & Eaters
Be My Guest with Ina Garten