Raising Money for Japan at EN Japanese Brasserie
One week ago, I attended a sold-out gathering at EN Japanese Brasserie, a fabulous restaurant located at 435 Hudson Street in Manhattan. Dubbed Love For Japan, it was a fundraiser for the Japan Society’s Japan Earthquake Relief Fund, put together by the restaurant’s owner, Reika Yo Alexander. There were several speakers, including myself. I spoke about how I feel so compelled to do my part because of how the Japanese people have treated me during my many visits to that country – with such hospitality and with such good will and good nature. Wonderful sake, beer, and hors d’oeuvres inspired by the most affected prefectures; Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima, were served. And the legendary jazzman, Wynton Marsalis and his band performed for the crowd. I’m told that more than $100,000 was raised that evening with 100% of the proceeds donated to Japan Society’s Japan Earthquake Relief Fund and the Japanese Red Cross.
-
- Here I am with Jesse Alexander – Partner of En Japanese Brasserie.
-
- Donated auction item – A gown by award-winning costume designer – Patricia Field
-
- Auction item – A hand bay by Threeasfour
-
- Auction item – Childrens’ clothing by Makié
-
- Auction item – Sake donations from various vendors
-
- Auction items – Donations by various artists
-
- More donations by various artists
-
- There was delicious food – Snow crab tempura rolls and fried shrimp tartar rolls
-
- Onigiri (rice balls and the best miso soup
-
- Ika (squid) tosa age and soba from Tohoku
-
- Buri (yellow tail) carpaccio
-
- Kakuni (pork belly) and fried chicken
-
- Raw oysters on the half-shell
-
- These are En’s plates.
-
- Napkins with En’s Japanese Brasserie’s logo
-
- Wasabi (Japanese horseradish)
-
- Gari (pickled ginger)
-
- En’s freshly made tofu – so very delicious!
-
- The kitchen put together an really great vegetable arrangement.
-
- This is Hiroki Abe, the executive chef.
-
- Wynton Marsalis’s band setting up
-
- En’s kitchen preparing for the event
-
- This was a salmon rice pot.
-
- We were seated in a private dining area.
-
- The chef serving rice pot
-
- This is the band, including Wynton (wearing blue) having dinner before the performance.
-
- The audience patiently waiting
-
- Posing with Motoatsu Sakurai – president of Japan Society
-
- And posing with Chef Abe
-
- Adorable little girls
-
- Here I am with Reika Yo Alexander
-
- Bobby Friedman
-
- Wynton’s daughter, Oni and her mother, Bernice Tsai
-
- Love those red shoes!
-
- Reika Yo Alexander gave a very touching speech before introducing me.
-
- I spoke about how much Japan means to me on a personal and professional level.
-
- Wynton Marsalis spoke passionately about Japan.
-
- A better look at the headdress
-
- Michelle Harper wearing a Pierce Atkinson headdress.
-
- Terence Koh – artist – donated a black-ink drawing to a silent auction.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
