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
Nate’s on Marsh, Nathan Long, San Luis Obispo
Wine writer Natalie MacLean, Ottawa, Canada
Kitchen designer Ariana Lovato, Honeycomb Home Design, Arroyo Grande
Forager Nan Cole, Ventana Big Sur, Big Sur
Hidden Kitchen + 7th Generation Design, Amanecer Eizner + Wes Cooke, Cayucos + Cambria
San Luis Oriental Market, Fani + Peter Gau, San Luis Obispo
Winemaker Matt Dees, Jonata, The Hilt, and The Paring, Santa Barbara County
Momotaro Ramen chefs Mateo Rogers + Brittney Yrecheta, Paso Robles
15 Degrees C Wine, sommelier + owner Ali Rush, Templeton
Bonus episode: Daniel Sinton, Avenales Ranch and Winery + Jensen Lorenzen, Larder Meat Co.
Winemakers Eric + Cait Johnson, Ann Albert Wines, San Luis Obispo
Registered dietician Sherry Elliston, MS, RD, CDE, San Luis Obispo
Central Coast Distillery, Eric Olson, chef + distiller, Atascadero
City of San Luis Obispo Tourism Manager Molly Cano
Bladesmith Cameron Alarcio, Alarcio Knives, Pismo Beach
Brewers Jacque + Ryan Fields, Wild Fields Brewhouse, Atascadero
Eleven-Twenty-Two Speakeasy owner Donovan Schmit, Paso Robles
Winemaker Janell Dusi, J. Dusi Wines + Paper Street, Paso Robles
Ash Management, Jason Gable + Eric DeMatteo, San Luis Obispo County
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