James J Robinson (@james.pdf)
Yasujiro Ozu, grass latte and lighting
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James J Robinson is a 29-year-old Filipino/Australian director and photographer. Paying particular attention to lighting, he often works for publications like The New York Times, Wonderland and Vogue Australia, for whom he has shot some of the world’s biggest names.
Where do you live most of the year?
This is tough question right now, way to make me spiral on question one! I’m living out of a suitcase while I’ve been working on a my first feature film the past two years. So I’ve been living between Melbourne, Manila, Los Angeles and London, yet kinda not exactly based in any. I’m wherever I need to be for the film and will be for another year as we finally release it.
What do you look for in a restaurant when you walk in?
Lighting! I don’t always need it to be low lit at night or sunny, I just want it to match the vibe of what I’m eating, you know? Fine dining? I want it pitch black. Kebabs? I want fluorescent overheads and Imagine Dragons blasting on the speakers. It’s like the lighting style preps my nervous system for what I’m going to eat. I mostly cook, so eating out has to be a multi sensory experience, whether I vibe it or not, it just has to match the food.
What is your final meal?
My classic homemade soba noodle salad – with some fried tofu, edamame, seaweed, cucumber, roasted sesame oil, furikake, you get the idea. Maybe it’s a little lacklustre, but I like the idea of my final meal being the comfort meal that has been with me through it all. Pair it with a nice cup of Elderflower cordial.
3 guests for dinner, dead or alive?
Victor Hugo, Yasujiro Ozu, and a very good and efficient English/French/Japanese translator.
James’ Taste Maker Guide
Breakfast: Baba Sus, Ashburton
Order: Hong Kong Egg Waffles
Look sometimes I’m on the no sugar wave, but in the Australian summer I’m not. My sister and her partner used to work here and I’ll go with family when I’m back in Melbourne. Nothing like that rush of sugar first thing in the morning when it’s the holidays. The wait is never long and I’ll never run into people there. This seasonal summer-back-home pig out is my breakfast highlight of the year.
Coffee: South Side Café, Shirakawa, Gifu, Japan
Order: Grass Latte
Hear me out. It’s faux “matcha” made with spinach powder. I’ve never been a coffee drinker because caffeine gives me panic attacks, and while I love the occasional gentle matcha, nothing has ever beaten this “grass latte” at South Side Café in Shirakawa. Never had a better hot beverage experience than one of these: early in the morning looking over the mountains, river and little historical village with the two friendly local owners.
Lunch: Kazu Nori, New York
Order: 4 Hand Roll Set Menu
I lived in New York for 4 years and every time I’d get paid after a period of being dead broke, the first place I’d go to is Kazu Nori in Midtown. Warm rice, the freshest sashimi in NYC, and crispy seaweed kills me every time. Though I took a friend with me once and regretted it. It’s a place you go alone to appreciate each bite. No talking!
Special dinner: Tahanan Bistro, Antipolo, Philippines
Order: Salu-Salo set menu
This restaurant is best enjoyed with a big group of people so you can try everything, but if you’re not accustomed to Filipino food my personal recommendations are the Singing and Binagoongan. This place is a little off the grid and easy to miss, but spending the evening in a treehouse in the mountains will be rejuvenating before you even get to the food.
Casual dinner: Leo’s Tacos Truck, Echo Park, Los Angeles
Order: Carnitas and Al Pastor Tacos
First place I bring friends visiting me in LA who want to try some Mexican food. Still never had better tacos in my life. As they say on their official Instagram, Bad Bunny shot his music video here “for a rzn”.
Special shoutouts
Builders Arms, Fitzroy
Call me a little basic, but guilty as charged! The whipped cod roe with flat bread gets me every time.
Capers, Northcote
Don’t know my way around a Greek menu very well, but you’ll always find me with a Vegan Moussaka here. Pair this with friends, a lemonade, and not that I want to promote smoking, but a couple of rollies out the front, and you have my ideal night.
Jitlada, Los Angeles
Menu too big to condense. Just whatever you order, make sure you end it with a Mango Sticky rice and be prepped for leftovers. One of my best friends took me here when I first went to LA. The leftovers were just as good heated up, and lasted me three days. My first stop whenever I come to town.
Le P’tit Thai, Digne-les-Bains, France
I was living alone up in Digne-les-Bains for three months in 2023, but got sick of the French food pretty quickly (sorry). I’d take myself out for dinner once a week and Le P’tit Thai is the only place that delivered every time. Thai food cooked by Supapan, but served by her husband, the most French person you’ll ever meet, Pierre. Nowhere in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence compares, no offence!
Coconut Salmon Miso Curry, NY Times Cooking
No notes. This baby will be with me for life.
