We have a lot to thank Emily Mariko for. From her viral salmon rice recipe to sweet treats like frozen grapes and chocolate-covered dates, the content creator keeps TikTok feeds filled with delicious, yet attainable, recipes. Just like everyone else, she spent a lot of time watching content creators, which actually inspired her own journey. She tells PS, “After years and years of watching, I got the courage to start posting myself.”
During the height of COVID lockdown, Mariko spent more time in the kitchen, eventually leading her to get more creative with her meals. “I really go based on what I’m craving that day or what’s in season,” she says. “I kind of just listen to my body, listen to what I want to eat, and then have fun in the kitchen and try to experiment and come up with something good.”
Although it may be intimidating to start cooking if you’re a beginner in the kitchen, Mariko has few tips for keeping it fun. “Meal kits are a really perfect way for the beginner cook to get familiar with the kitchen. They’re really convenient, everything is kind of written out for you, with step-by-step instructions. It’s delivered straight to your door. All the ingredients are either pre-made or pre-chopped and perfectly portioned, and it takes a lot of the pressure off if you are just starting to learn,” she says.
Mariko recently
A few other culinary tips? Mariko recommends doubling up recipes so you’ll have leftovers for lunch, and perhaps even dinner the next day. Also, whenever you find yourself chopping onions next, wear contacts to prevent the dreaded tears, if you have them.
When she’s not whipping up recipes in the kitchen, Mariko loves to browse her local farmer’s market. She recommends investing in fish and seafood, fresh fruits, especially ones in season, and anything unique that you can’t easily find in your grocery store. “For me in particular, it’s these purple Japanese sweet potatoes, and I get them from a Japanese stand at my farmer’s market, and I can’t find them anywhere else,” she says.
Beyond her top farmer’s market picks, Mariko shared her current favorite products with us ahead, including her go-to Diptyque scent and her favorite water brand.
