Travel Diary: Carly Maltzman
Carly Maltzman takes us to Japan in her Claudent favorites
A fall trip to Japan with recipe developer and founder of
, Carly Maltzman.
C: Tell us about yourself.
CM: I’m born and raised in LA, and was living in NYC before making my way back home mid-master’s program at NYU in food studies—a classic covid tale... As someone who is obsessed with food in every way, from cooking to eating to analyzing new food establishments and digging into the policies that shape our food systems, my work has always revolved around food. Over the past year, I’ve leaned into a very niche passion: Japanese donabe cookware. I teach cooking classes and produce events featuring my personal collection of Japanese donabe cookware that I’ve grown over the years. While I still do a bit of recipe development and consulting, my heart is in hosting these donabe classes and intimate events where I’m able to share delicious, healthy and beautiful Japanese-inspired dishes along with the very therapeutic art of cooking with donabe. The best part about all of it is simply creating a sense of community!
C: Where were you just traveling?
CM: These were taken in Japan, specifically Kyoto and Kobe. This was my second trip to Japan in two-months, and I was lucky enough to do lots of solo exploring. I covered Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hakone, Kobe & Gifu. My friend Yoko, who was actually the first person to teach me Japanese cooking, took me to the carpentry museum in Kobe (photos above) while the other photo is me en route to NOMA Kyoto on the last day of their residency - a dream.
C: What’s your favorite way to wear Claudent?
CM: The beauty of Claudent pieces is that they’re wearable year-round. The blue button down is my favorite layered over a turtleneck in the winter (the perfect blue to pair with brown), or over a bikini in the summer. The matching pants are just as versatile — I’ll wear them under a trench coat with socks and loafers, or with just a bikini top. Each Claudent piece feels like an elevated basic—chic, comfy, and of course, sun protective!
C: Why is sun protection important to you?
CM: I’ve never been into long complicated beauty routines… I feel my best when my skin looks good naturally, free of sun spots and hyper-pigmentation. The best beauty advice I’ve ever received is to protect your skin from the sun and wear SPF year round. It’s an easy-to-follow rule that costs basically nothing, and actually yields results. Plus, the dangers of sun damage are so real…it’s why god gave us spray tans.
C: As a recipe developer and food consultant, what was your favorite bite of 2024?
CM: Ugh…It’s hard to pick just one, but the first thing that comes to mind is the oyakodon I had in Kyoto. It’s so simple, but so perfect… Piping hot, perfectly chewy koshikari rice topped with tender chicken and lightly-set, custardy eggs bursting with sweetness and umami from dashi and simmered onions.
C: What are five of your favorite new discoveries on this recent Japan trip?
CM: 1. The glorious, lush Gifu prefecture - I pray I can retire there one day… 2. A serene rock garden and temple in Kyoto - even more magical when it started raining. 3. My newfound love for Yuba (tofu skin) that’s so delicate and delicious. I now cook with it all the time. 4. A stunning bonsai tea cafe tucked away in the heart of Tokyo. Amazing tea and wagashi selection. 5. A few Kumoigama donabe that I stumbled upon in a tiny ceramics shop in Tokyo. I was shocked to find these coveted pieces made by the renowned Kumoi Kiln. I bought a suitcase just for them!!
C: What are you most looking forward to in 2025?
CM: Needless to say, this year started off on a strange foot…On a personal level, I’m really looking forward to some exciting events I have planned for Donabe With Me with people I admire, and to digging deeper into this passion of mine. I have quite the “manifestation list” that I’m trying to tackle this year, including but not limited to a special tea workshop in Uji this spring!
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