August 2006
Food Blogs
by Celia Cheng
CRAVINGS
Good Espresso
Authentic Japanese Food
FAVORITE FOOD BLOGS
Keiko Oikawa is somewhat of a mystery to me. She has one of the most beautiful food sites online, Nordljus. Not only is the design of the site striking, but her photography and culinary concoctions are even more breathtaking; even professional pastry chefs are inspired by her desserts. The focus is on pastries but there are the occasional savory dishes too. She maintains the site primarily in English but also has a Japanese version. Nordljus puts Epicurious and other professional food sites to shame. And yet, with all her accomplishments and a devoted following, she is extremely modest and shy.
Born and raised in Japan, she developed an interest in British culture when she was young so she decided to move to England for her studies. Keiko and her husband, Matt, used to live in London but moved to Suffolk a couple of years ago. Since living in the countryside, Keiko has become much more conscientious of using good quality local ingredients and paying attention to the care given to the livestock to be eaten. Originally a piano tuner, since moving out of London she works part time and has more time to cook and experiment at home. She mentions to me an exchange with another food blogger about how cooking at midnight is therapeutic.
One look at Nordljus and it’s hard to imagine that Keiko doesn’t bake or cook for a career. It almost seems like a waste of talent. Yet, she explains that her main passion is photography, and if the opportunity did arise, she would like to pursue it professionally. She started taking photos just before she started her food blog, and she continues to display some of her non-food-related work in her photo blog.
Nordljus means “northern lights” in Swedish. Though Keiko doesn’t speak the language, she is fascinated with Scandinavian cultures and design. While the word nordljus doesn’t directly relate to food, it does give me some insight into Keiko’s personality. A true perfectionist, she really is a curious and adorable creature with many interests and talents. She says that she struggles to maintain the site because English isn’t her first language but the finished product is always flawless. You can tell that she’s a true perfectionist and masters everything that she puts her heart to.
I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting Keiko in person, but I cherish the day that I will. In the meantime, it’s equally rewarding and beguiling to check out her newest weekly creations on Nordljus.
