UPSCALE JAPANESE DINING: Masayoshi Baba and Tomohisa Uchida, formerly of Tojo’s, have ventured out on their own opening a 24-seat Japanese fine dining restaurant on Fraser Street. Working under celebrated chef Hidekazu Tojo for more than a decade, Baba has honed his craft skillfully expediting some creative dishes. Dashi, a delicious clean clear broth of dried bonito flakes, shiitake, kelp and anchovy was distilled before our eyes in a siphon maker. Chawan mushi, a savoury steamed egg custard filled with fresh seafood was prepared to perfection. And the delicately grilled ginger soy sablefish — marinated for a week — melted in our mouths. Plating is also top notch. For a full appreciation of Baba’s talents, pony up to the bar and order the Omakase (chef’s choice) tasting menu. Then allow your palette to surrender to his magic. Lingering is encouraged. Since its opening five months ago, Uchida continues to refine the room. Due to its intimacy, children are not welcome, he says.
HOT LUNCH: When the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Canadians baseball club, led by Jake Kerr, Jeff Mooney and Andy Dunn, set out to develop their foundation seven years ago, the goal was to help as many local youth as possible develop self confidence and a skill set that will help them succeed not just on the baseball diamond but in life. The firm welcomed 800 guests to its sixth Hot Stove Luncheon at the Hotel Vancouver. Featuring executives and players from the Blue Jays organization, including new GM Ross Atkins, fielder Dalton Pompey and former Expos great Tim Raines, the noon hour benefit aimed to top last year’s $180,000 to support the franchise’s Challenger Baseball program, an opportunity for children with cognitive or physical disabilities to enjoy the game, the Boys and Girls Club and the National Women’s and UBC’s baseball programs.
LOVE OF ART: Love was definitely in the air at the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Art Gallery’s In the Mood for Love Gala. A banquet in celebration of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Art Gallery’s Institute of Asian Art, the fundraiser chaired by Amelia Gao and Zheng Shengtian featured a photographic exhibition honouring the career of Chinese actress Hu Die, China’s most adored movie actresses during the 1920s and 1930s. Attendees were treated to a Golden Globes-like evening, enjoying a champagne reception and sumptuous dinner orchestrated by Four Seasons’ Ned Bell, before a spirited live auction of coveted works from some of China’s most acclaimed artists. Proceeds of more than $500,000 from the first-ever event will support future development of the institute, which aims to promote the appreciation of Asian Art through exhibitions, public programs, and collections at the gallery.
