Pantry · New York City, New York

Bessou

Japanese home-cooking pantry staples from a New York restaurant family.

Founded: 2016
Founded by: Maiko Kyogoku
Based in: New York City, New York

Shop all Bessou (3)Our featured pick

Making it since

2016

Their story

Bessou is the project of Maiko Kyogoku, who grew up on Manhattan's Upper West Side in a restaurant family. Her father ran the sushi restaurant Rikyu for about 30 years, and her mother's cooking from Akita, in northern Japan, shaped the food Maiko wanted to share. The name means holiday villa, which she connects to the idea of a home away from home.

She opened Bessou as a restaurant on Bleecker Street in 2016. During the pandemic she began bottling sauces and seasonings so people could bring the restaurant's flavors home. The Bleecker Street restaurant closed in June 2022, and Bessou carried on through meal delivery, a planned food hall kiosk at Pier 57, and its pantry line.

How it's made

The pantry line includes a miso marinade, furikake, Rayu chili oil, and Papa's Black Garlic, made from her father's home recipe of slow-roasted garlic. The miso marinade is based on tama miso, a sweet cooked miso paste traditionally made with egg yolk, which Bessou makes vegan for a longer shelf life.

Our featured pick

Miso Spread (8OZ)

$18.00

Bessou's miso spread is a special blend of red and white miso that makes for a velvety, rich and tangy sauce. Ideally used to marinate seafood, meat, or vegetables for broiling or grilling, this.

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