Growing Chefs! & Miku Restaurant Partnership

We are proud to announce our partnership with Growing Chefs!, a local non-profit organization that sends chef volunteers into elementary schools—where they grow vegetables, cook with kids, and get kids excited about eating healthy food. Beginning December 1st, some of the proceeds from our Vivreau still or sparkling water sales will go towards this organization that strives to create a forum for chefs to share their knowledge with the greater community and aims to inspire children with the idea they can grow food anywhere, even in the city.

Miku Restaurant loves what Growing Chef! does for the kids in our community, and most importantly, we wanted to support an initiative that is making an impact both environmentally and socially. To celebrate this partnership, we have decorated our Christmas tree to represent this collaboration. So next time you come and dine at Miku, please consider ordering Vivreau , because every bottle goes towards educating children about making healthier and more sustainable lifestyle choices.

Foodie PechaKucha Night in Vancouver

On November 24th, Erica and Lisa attended volume 19 of the PechaKucha series at Vogue Theatre. Hosted by Scout Magazine’s Andrew Morrison, the food-themed PechaKucha featured 12 speakers, including Terry David Mulligan from Tasting Room Radio, executive chef Quang Dang of West restaurant, John Neate of JJ Bean, Coffee Roaster, Heidi Noble of JoieFarm Winery and Alexandra Gill, restaurant reviewer for The Globe and Mail.

Just in case, you don’t know what Pecha Kucha is. . .

PechaKucha Nights are informal and fun gatherings where creative people get together and share their ideas, works, and thoughts. The event is based on a simple presentation format where speakers show 20 images, each for 20 seconds. The images forward automatically and speakers talk along to the images. The presentation format was created by Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham of Klein Dytham architecture, and the first one was held in Tokyo in their gallery/lounge, SuperDeluxe, in February 2003.  Today, Pecha Kucha nights are happening in over 230 cities around the globe.

Here are Erica’s thoughts:

“I couldn’t help but smile throughout the entire presentation.  It made me so happy being in the room full of Vancouverites who came together for one common interest: food.  Everybody’s presentation was different — some made me laugh, some made me cry, some made me do both.  Either way, I was completely touched by the way each speaker spoke so passionately about their story.  One of my favourite talks of the night was by Quang Dang, the executive chef at West restaurant.  He shared his process of creating a dish, from his first scribbles on paper to the final execution of the dish.  As a painter, it made me realize how similar our process is.  Essentially, we are all artists in this world,  working with different mediums, wanting to perfect our craft and create our art.  Heidi Noble of Joie wines creates bottles of wine with the most perfect grapes, John Neate brews cups of coffee with beans, just like how I paint pictures with acrylic paint.  It is rare to meet people now a days who say they love what they do, but that was no exception when listening to the presenters at PechaKucha.  If I learned one lesson from attending the talk, it was to find your passion, practice it and follow your dreams.”

Here are Lisa’s thoughts:

“I was tearing up the entire time,  because the passion of the chefs and business owners of this city is truly remarkable – we definitely live in a special foodie city. A theme that was particularly touching and prevalent amongst the speakers was the concept of family. Adam Chandler (owner of Beta5 Chocolates) spoke of mother being a major influence in his life, as she was adamant about not eating junk food and making sure food was made from real ingredients in the kitchen. Food blogger, Jeanette Ordas, spoke of nostalgic moments she has of her mother when she bakes her chocolate chip bundt cake recipe. Sophie Dikeakos (Sophie’s Cosmic Cafe) shared the importance of letting her sons take on the business in their own way and vision, not hers, for the next generation of the iconic Kitsilano diner. I think it all comes to making sure you have a food culture at a home. From making time to eat at the table together, maintaining family traditions, collaborating in the kitchen, to children being the inspiration to making a healthier and more sustainable tomorrow, food is all about love.”

Toast to the Coast 2011 – Ocean Wise Month

November is Ocean Wise month, and to support the conservation initiatives of the Vancouver Aquarium, Miku’s head chef, Takuya Motohashi, chef Kazuya Matsuoka and media and community relations, Erica Pang and Lisa Nakamura attended the 5th annual Toast to the Coast fundraising event.

It was a sold out event, with 500 foodies indulging in the abundance of food provided by the city’s Ocean Wise restaurants, and sipping on B.C. vino – one hundred per cent of the event proceeds support the Aquarium’s waterways and aquatic wildlife conservation initiatives.

Miku Restaurant has been a participating member of the Ocean Wise program since 2009  - the first Japanese restaurant in downtown Vancouver to partner with this conservation program. To learn more about the Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise program, click here.

Miku’s Ocean Wise Top 3:

1. Aburi Salmon Oshi Sushi 2. Aburi Tuna 3. Bincho Goma Ae

Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup

Written by Erica Pang

On Sunday, September 25th, Abbey Pires (Project Manager), Lisa Nakamura (Communications Specialist) and myself, Erica Pang (Media and Community Relations) were at Beaver Lake, Stanley Park for the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup.  As residents of Downtown Vancouver, we chose this specific area for our cleanup to support the community we live in.  For me, Stanley Park is an evergreen sanctuary in the downtown core.  The majestic trees, the beloved seawall, the spirit of the totem poles, the crisp air, the wildlife — it truly holds a special place in my heart.

The annual Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup is organized by the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) and the Vancouver Aquarium, and aims to engage the Canadian public in keeping all Canadian shorelines litter free.

The initiative began in 1994 by a small group of volunteers in Vancouver. Today, with the support of sponsors, partners and donations, it has flourished to over 45,000 registered volunteers nationwide, dedicated to cleaning up hundreds of beaches and coast lines across Canada.  Our particular group was in conjunction with the Stanley Park Ecology Society, a non-profit organization devoted to promoting urban ecological conservation and stewardship through research, education and action.

 
After being equipped with rubber gloves, tongs and garbage bags, Greg Ferguson (team lead) guided us down Beaver Creek to begin our garbage-picking journey.  As we trekked, he enlightened us with the fact that Beaver Creek is one of Vancouver’s few remaining free-flowing streams and salmon spawning grounds.  Within the first few minutes of our walk, we were all surprised at how much garbage we were already picking up.  A cigarette butt here, a candy wrapper there, a beer can thrown in the bushes, it all began to accumulate very quickly. It was astonishing, once emmersed in the act, how much garbage you actually notice.  By the end of our two hour walk, we collected one garbage bag full of miscellanous trash, and another packed with recyclables.  Some odd things we came across included a vintage belt, a Christmas light, skate guards and an “adult toy” (which we won’t go into further detail…ahem). Throughout the walk, Greg collected data and tallied up each item we came across.  Whenever we picked something up we would call out the item by name.  In short time, it was clear cigarette butts and random plastics were in the lead.  We became so tired of saying ‘cigarette butt, cigarette butt, cigarette butt,’ we abbreviated it to ‘c-b’. At the end of our day, we all felt a sense of accomplishment.  I felt our efforts helped play a role in something much bigger.  It validated my belief that one person can make a difference, just like how one less cigarette butt in the ecosystem can do the same.

Thank you Greg for sharing your knowledge.  Thank you Stanley Park Ecology Society for your commitment and respect to the natural world.  Thank you Vancouver Aquarium and WWF for such an admirable movement and inspiring so many people.  Most importantly, thank you volunteers for taking part in such a great initiative, we were so proud to be apart of it.

Participating in this event is just the beginning of Miku’s commitment to volunteering in our community. Once a month, we will choose an organization which aligns with our beliefs and give our time and heart to the cause. If you know of a worthy-cause you believe would be a good fit for us, or if you are part of an organization let us know through Twitter, Facebook or email. We would love to hear from you!

Sustaining Japanese-Canadian Culture

Written by Lisa Nakamura

Me with Justin Ault (Owner, Hapa Izakaya)

Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to attend the inaugral 2011 Nikkei Place Community Awards & Fundraising Dinner. Emceed by Justin Ault, owner of Hapa Izakaya restaurants, the event recognized key leaders and contributors making a difference in the Japanese-Canadian, Nikkei Place community. Their fundraising initiative also raised $75,000 for centre programs and museum.

You often hear the term ‘Nikkei’ in business reports from the Tokyo Stock Exchange, but it also refers to someone whose ancestor was a Japanese that immigrated to another country before/after the second world war. Today, sociologists use the term to refer to the general population of Japanese immigrants across generations, around the world. In Canada, based on a 2006 study,  there were 98,900 (about 62,430 of whom are of mixed heritage), and each generation has a specific name:

• Issei (一世) – The first generation of immigrants, born in Japan before moving to Canada
• Nisei (二世) – The second generation, born in Canada to Issei parents not born in Canada
• Sansei (三世) – The third generation, born in Canada to Nisei parents born in Canada
• Yonsei (四世) – The fourth generation, born in Canada to Sansei parents born in Canada
• Gosei (五世) – The fifth generation, born in Canada to Yonsei parents born in Canada

At the awards, I sat at a table with six very successful young Japanese-Canadians, including lawyers, teachers, and civil servants. But when I looked around the room,  I couldn’t help but notice nearly half of the attendees were over 60 years of age. This frightened me a bit,  because I’m not sure if there are enough youth and adults to sustain the Japanese-Canadian culture in the next 20 years. Can a young Japanese-Canadian even name a community leader (other than David Suzuki) off the top of their head? Most Japanese-Canadians are now mixed heritage, also known ‘hapas,’ so how do we ensure we keep this community engaged in Japanese language, culture, traditions and values?

But every time I walk into Miku Restaurant, I feel there is something very special happening that room. Half the staff are Japanese (some mixed heritage), and half are of other ethnic backgrounds. What we’re experiencing is the creation of a distinctly new Japanese-Canadian culture, where it is our Polish, Chinese, Filipino, Hungarian and Indian staff who are eager to embrace Japanese culture, learning not only about the food, but the language, etiquette and values. Which makes me think, perhaps the answer to the cultural dilemma is right in front of me. The Japanese-Canadian culture will be sustained by the open minds and hearts of Canadians as a whole, rather than an exclusive ‘nikkei’ society.

Passions Gala – Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation

Written by Erica Pang

On Sunday September 11th, Vancouver food and wine lovers gathered for the 8th annual Passions Gala to raise funds for the Dr. Peter Aids Centre — a hospice providing care and support to people living with HIV/AIDS.  24 of  the city’s top restaurants participated in the fundraiser including:  Hawksworth, Cibo, Market at the Shangri-la, Ensemble, Provence and many more.  At Miku restaurant, we are pleased to support this great cause.

Nathan Fong founded the Passions Gala in 2003, and has grown the event from its humble beginnings as a small cooking class. Today, it has earned the reputation as “Vancouver’s Best Small Gala,” and this year was no exception. The Dr. Peter Aids Centre transformed into an elegant space, adorned with red lanterns, fresh flower arrangements and twinkling lights.  The event was hosted by Global TV’s Sophie Lui and Jay Janower with CBC’s Fred Lee as the auctioneer.  The musical duo, Sangre Morena and their flamenco guitar serenaded the crowd with beautiful and fiery Latin tunes.  One of the highlights of the event was the participation of the city’s top chefs, where they got to showcase their signature dishes.  It was a extravagant culinary feast!  Upon entering the building, guests were greeted with poutine from the food cart Fresh Local Wild and sushi from Mr. Hidekazu Tojo himself.  The food was endless and every dish did not cease to amaze.  My personal favourites were the Sloping Hill pressed pork with peach compote from Hawksworth and the scallop ceviche with nahm jim sauce from Maenam.  It was a spectacular night filled with good food, good wine and good company.  A gracious thank you and congratulations to Nathan Fong and the Dr. Peter Aids Centre!

The Dr Peter Aids Foundation was founded in 1992 with a mission to provide comfort care for people living with HIV/AIDS.  To fulfil their vision, a day health program was established in 1997 at St Paul’s Hospital in Downtown Vancouver.  The lease was only a temporary agreement, and in 2001 the foundation successfully completed a $9.8 million campaign to build a new four storey building at 1100 Comox Street.  In 2003, the construction was complete.  Today, the Dr. Peter Aids Centre provides care, programs and services to over 350 Day Health Program participants and 50 residents annually.

For more information or to donate please click here.

Celebrate Canada Day in Vancouver

Happy Canada Day!!! Miku Restaurant will be closed for lunch on Canada Day
(Friday, July 1). We will be open for dinner service at 5:00pm.

Canada day is a time to celebrate our beautiful country, amazing people, breathtaking landscapes, diverse culture, and warm hospitality…oh yes, and happy 4th of July too for our Miku L.A. colleagues like Jesse – first guy in the next row of pictures…we didn’t have an American flag for him, so he was a bit grumpy…(he secretly wants to be Canadian…shhhhhh!!)

Canada Day events, near and around Miku Restaurant:

1. Canada Day on Granville Island – Vancouver
One of Vancouver’s most beloved and patriotic Canada Day events is the all-day extravaganza on Granville Island, where the party starts 7:30am with the $8 Truly Canadian Pancake Breakfast and continues with a Canada Day Parade, free Official Canada Day Ceremony, free concerts courtesy of the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, the international MELA! bazaar, and more!

2. Vancouver Canada Day Parade & Canada Day at Canada Place – Vancouver
The place to party in downtown Vancouver, Canada Place’s free, all-day festivities include five music stages—2011 performers include The Irish Descendants, Chic Gamine, and Montréal’s afro-pop group, H’Sao —as well as art exhibits, the annual Vancouver Canada Day Parade and, starting at 10;30pm, the fantastic Canada Day Burrard Inlet Fireworks Show.

3. Canada Day at Waterfront Park – North Vancouver
Just 15 minutes north of downtown Vancouver, North Van’s free Canada Day party features live entertainment, mini golf, rock climbing, and a bouncy castle on the shores of the Burrard Inlet.

4. Canada Day at Lonsdale Quay – North Vancouver
Celebrate on the water with live entertainment, face-painting, and kids’ activities.

Sun Run team from Miku Restaurant

A 10km run is a breeze for trained runners, but a definite challenge for the majority of us- it’s especially difficult when you spend the majority of the day on the restaurant floor working days, nights and weekends. So we want to congratulate the 9 people, who had the guts to represent Miku at this iconically-Vancouver event. Wearing Miku-logo t-shirts,  most of the group finished the Sun Run over an hour. Woot woot!