Month: July 2019

Three Week Cruise on NOAA’s R/V Reuben Lasker

From July 29th to August 17th, I’ll be on a a NOAA research vessel called the Reuben Lasker! Not sure what to expect other than I believe it’s going to be an incredible opportunity to experience what marine biologists experience while on these ships. Looking forward to new friendships and a wonderful story to tell!

Demo & Amazing Fundraising Results at ‘Kitchens for Good’!!

Fourth and final gyotaku demonstration for this month, and it was an absolutely amazing way to end June! We were invited to share our art at a dinner fundraising event for ‘Kitchens for Good’ @kitchensforgood in San Diego through local seafood provider @catalinaoffshoreproducts , where we shared the historical origins of gyotaku to a large crowd and demonstrated our approach using the same materials as the ones created in the 1800’s. The two prints we created during our demonstration, sweetened with a private dinner, were donated and auctioned off to the crowd for $1700…..each.

Joyous and SO thrilled to be a part of what ‘Kitchens for Good’ is accomplishing!!

I didn’t fully understand their mission until I heard the testimony of one of their graduates. It’s a very moving program where they take in individuals who have either forfeited their chances in life or have never had a chance to begin with, and teach them structured culinary skills so that they can reshape their lives and join the higher tier restaurants of San Diego. The brave young lady pictured spoke about her troubled past; pregnant at 14, manipulated to sell her body not long after, and so many other disheartening events that eventually led her here. And now at the age of 27, she works at an upper class restaurant, completely independent, stable and now a role model to others. If you haven’t been to one of their dinner events where these very students follow the instruction of premier local chefs and prepare the meals, I highly recommend it. It was a wonderful and very human experience.