Restaurants, bars, and others in the food community are continuing their efforts to raise funds for those in need in Japan, so here at tablehopper central, we’re happy to continue passing along the announcements.
~DOSA~ is turning every Tuesday in April (that is, April 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th) into Tuesdays for Tokyo: they will donate ALL profits from both locations, Fillmore and Valencia, to the Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund, coordinating with the JCCCNC. 100% of the donations received will go to local non-profit and community service organizations in Japan for citizen-to-citizen relief efforts reaching those most in need in the affected areas. Stop by and help support this tremendous, generous effort.
A couple events we mentioned last week that are still coming up are the Bakesale for Japan this Saturday April 2nd, the Chefs Unite for Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami Farm Aid Dinner at ~PROSPECT~ on Sunday April 3rd, and Yoshi’s Japan Relief Benefit at ~YOSHI’S SAN FRANCISCO~ the following Saturday April 9th.
Also mentioned last week was ~E&O TRADING COMPANY~’s Sunday April 10th fundraiser to aid Japan. We’ve got more deets this week: from 5pm-9pm, tasting stations for each of the sponsoring food and beverage contributors will be set throughout the restaurant for guests to sample and enjoy. Contributors include Betelnut, Butterfly, Contigo, Range, Slanted Door, Grand Café, Starbelly, Beast and the Hare, One Market, Tres, Citizen’s Band, Cocotutti Chocolates, Kara’s Cupcakes, Nash Baker, Raison D’etre, Pinky’s, Honig Winery, and Cannonball Winery, plus The Bon Vivants will be mixing up amazing cocktails. Joey Altman and the Back Burner Blues Band will be performing, and there will be a silent auction to raise more funds. Liam Mayclem of Eye on the Bay will be emcee for the evening. Tickets are $75, with 100% of proceeds going directly to Give2Asia, online or at the door.
Another fundraiser we mentioned already is the Hope To Japan: Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster Relief event on Tuesday April 5th, 6pm-9pm at the HOTEL NIKKO SAN FRANCISCO. Get tickets for the longest sushi bar offering different varieties of sushi and sashimi; delicious food and drink provided by Ana Mandara, Anzu, Asahi Beer, Cooksf!, Creative International Pastries Delica, Joto Sake, First Crush, Gary Danko, Gonbe, Hakubaku, Hana, Hiros, Izumiya/Yamasho, Kirala, Poggio, Roy’s, Sanraku, Shabu Way, Silks, Sushi Ran, Urban Tavern, We Be Sushi, Kenzou Estate, Maboroshi Winery, Born Sake, Honig Wines, Republic of Tea, Vinifera Wines, Gekkeikan Sake, and more; plus live music and raffle prizes. $150 per person; 97% of proceeds go to Japan’s Red Cross. Tickets online only.
Tomorrow evening, Wednesday March 30th, chef/owner Rob Lam of BUTTERFLY restaurant and the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area (AABA) will co-host a fundraiser dinner for relief and rebuilding efforts in Japan (6pm reception, 8pm dinner). The event will feature a special prix-fixe dinner menu created in honor of the Japanese people. Menu highlights include wagyu beef and foie gras croquette; spicy oxtail and bamboo heart soup, sizzling rice cakes, micro shiso; and sesame-crusted tuna, calamari black rice, orange soy reduction, shrimp-stuffed shiitake mushrooms. 100% of the money raised will go to the National Council of YMCAs in Japan, who will directly distribute relief on the ground. The Consulate General of Japan Hiroshi Inomata will be in attendance. Tickets are available through AABA for a $150 donation.
~NOMBE~ will host its monthly Sake 101 sake-pairing dinner on Thursday March 31st at 7:30pm, showcasing four traditional styles through a welcome sake and four-course meal of grilled meats, fish, veggies, and comfort foods. A special highlight will be an 18-year-old koshu (aged) sake. $45 per person. All proceeds from the sake tasting will go towards the Japan Disaster Relief fund. Special guest Yuka Takahashi, sister to Nombe partner Mari Takahashi, who left Japan just days after the quake, will share her compelling experiences and offer ways to help the people whose lives have been unimaginably changed. Nombe will also continue gifting a portion of daily revenues to Japan Disaster Relief.
~JARDINIÈRE~ is holding a special Monday night dinner on April 4th to raise money for Japanese earthquake and tsunami relief. The prix-fixe dinner is part of their regular Monday night specials; however, this one will cost $55 with $10 from each dinner donated to the relief fund. Michael Hung of Bushi Tei and formerly of Jardinière will be the guest chef. The prix-fixe dinner includes three courses (salad of Star Route little gems, young carrots, white soy moussant, and brioche croutons; kurabota pork belly torchon, Manila clams, braised daikon, and crispy spring onions; and yuzu pound cake millefuille, adzuki crema, matcha, and shiso) and three wine pairings selected by sommelier Eugenio Jardim.
How about a massive fundraising party? UMAMIMART presents THE GIFT OF FOOD on Tuesday April 5th from 8pm-1am in the Burritt Room (inside the Crescent Hotel, 417 Stockton Street at Sutter). Booze will be provided by Yamazaki Whisky, Joto Sake, The Glenrothes Whisky, Brugal Rum, GlenGrant Scotch, Bulleit Bourbon + Rye; bites by Peko Peko Japanese Catering and Sandbox Bakery; and music by Tommy Guerrero and DJ Toph One. Tickets: $40 advance/$45 door. All proceeds go to Second Harvest Japan, the country’s first food bank. In the wake of the quake and tsunami, Second Harvest Japan has been driving two-ton truckloads of food, water, and vital necessities into northern Japan every day.
From the RichmondSFBlog: “sushi spot RUMBLE FISH (200 23rd Avenue at California) is currently donating 10% of each patron’s check to Japan tsunami relief efforts… So if you’ve got a hankering for sushi, head over to Rumble Fish to fill up and also make a difference for Japan.”
For some family-friendly ways to help, the PARK CHALET GARDEN RESTAURANT will host a musical performance by Charity Kahn of Charity & the JAMband on Friday April 1st at 6:30pm. All voluntary cover-charge donations being given to the Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. Donations of $5 or more will garner the donatee happy hour pricing at the restaurant from 5pm-7pm. On Saturday April 2nd, from 2pm-5pm, Park Chalet will launch their outdoor summer BBQ program by matching voluntary donations and providing free live music by the Hawaiian band My Peoples. Kids and dogs welcome at this outdoor event. In addition, those guests who make origami cranes while visiting the restaurant will be furthering the goal of accumulating 1,000 of these paper symbols of hope for which Park Chalet will donate $1 for each one folded.
Outside of SF, Thursday March 31st to Saturday April 2nd, 5pm-10:30pm, TRADER VIC’S EMERYVILLE, in partnership with Wednesday’s Gift, is sponsoring a benefit dinner to raise money for the resources that will be needed to help survivors in Japan. Cost for the three-course dinner is $48, tax and tip not included. Reservations 510-653-3400. 100% of the proceeds from the menu will be donated.
Coastside on Friday April 1st, SAM’S CHOWDER HOUSE in Half Moon Bay will help raise funds for victims of the earthquake in Japan, and tsunami relief efforts throughout the Pacific, by donating 20% of all sales all day Friday to the American National Red Cross relief fund. In addition, 50% of any additional funds that guests contribute at Sam’s to the relief efforts during that day will be matched in gift certificates to Sam’s Chowder House.
Prefer to drink your donation? Drink some cocktails for Japan: ~BERETTA~ barman Ryan Fitzgerald has crafted specialty cocktails to benefit Japanese relief efforts. For the next two weeks, swing by for a glass of 12-year blended Hibiki (Japanese whiskey, $15), a Plum Blossom ($13), or a Japanese Cocktail (Brandy, Orgeat, Angostura Bitters, lemon twist, $11), with a portion of proceeds benefiting the Red Cross. Plus on Friday April 1st, Beretta celebrates its third birthday! For the occasion, chef Ruggero Gadaldi will serve complimentary chiacchiere, which are traditional Italian fried fritters. Enjoy with a cocktail for Japan. Buon compleanno!
Finally, PRIMA in Walnut Creek, whose owners have many deep ties to Japan, is holding an online and in-store silent wine auction with 100% of proceeds to be donated to the American Red Cross in order to facilitate their efforts in Japan. See the complete list of 95 lots on their website; highlights include a 1992 Araujo Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Double Magnum donated by Bart Araujo, and a host of other large format bottles from friends like Dalla Valle, Lewis Cellars, Duckhorn, Vietti, Domaine Dujac, Ridge Vineyards, Spottswoode, Opus One, Dunn Vineyards, Carlisle, DuMOL, Paradigm, and many more. Bidding ends at 5pm on Saturday April 2nd, and only registered bidders will be able to participate. Email for more info.
