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.
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.
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.
