SAN FRANCISCO — The Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California will have its annual fundraiser event, “Tabemasho,” on Saturday, Sept. 20, at its facility in San Francisco’s Japantown.
The theme for this year’s event is “Matsuri,” or festival, to celebrate festival foods that have helped to bring the community together as a thriving place for all generations. The JCCCNC is encouraging all guests to come dressed in their best yukata (light, cotton-made kimono) or happi coat to revel in the last matsuri of the season, with ramen tastings from popular San Francisco restaurants and delicious home-cooked treats from Japantown community chefs.
Led by Wade Tamura, six chefs will be presenting their specialty dishes, such as chirashi, misoyaki chicken, tri-tip, and tofu-age avocado poke. Tamura currently works as a chef for Facebook and has served with other companies such as Google and The Slanted Door, and worked with renowned chefs such as Sam Choy.
Additionally, restaurants including Bashamichi, Chotto, Delica, Men Oh Tokushima Ramen, Ramen Shalala, Ramen Underground, Ramen Yamadaya, and others will serve tasting-size portions of their popular dishes as appetizers.
Event registration opens at 3 p.m. with the dinner program commencing at 4 p.m. Cost is $175 per person for reserved table seating and $50 for children 6-12 years old. Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are still available.
The event will also include a silent and live auction featuring such items as a dinner for eight at the consul general of Japan’s residence, foursome to the 19th annual YMCA Pro-Am golf tournament, and a trip to Japan for two with airfare donated by Japan Airlines and five-night accommodations provided by Kintetsu Travel.
The online portion of the auction will start on Tuesday, Sept. 2, and continue until Sunday, Sept. 14, at http://bit.ly/JCCCNCauction.
Call (415) 567-5505 for information on sponsorships, ads, tickets, and additional details. Event information is also available online at www.jcccnc.org. The JCCCNC is located at 1840 Sutter St., San Francisco.
Proceeds from the event will go towards the development of dynamic cultural, educational, social, and outreach programs that serve the 185,800 visitors that the center welcomes each year. These programs open doors to the Japanese and Japanese American culture, history and heritage, to build community with people of all ages through the shared experience of culture.