Samin Nosrat, a Bay Area chef is organizing this incredible event to raise funds for the recovery from the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan.  The following information comes from the site Bakesale for Japan:

Where: At locations across the country!

When: Saturday, April 2nd from 10am-2pm

Who: Professional and amateur bakers, cooks, artists, artisans, and musicians coming together around food to make something BIG happen.

How: Want to help? We’ll need bakers, artists, volunteers, and lots and lots of customers. Please send offers of help to bakesaleforjapan@gmail.com

Why: So we can donate BIG BUCKS to Peace Winds Japan and help our brothers and sisters over there in the best way we can. Stay tuned for details.

We will be folding 1,000 paper cranes to send to friends in Japan. Do you have origami paper to donate? Can you teach others how to fold cranes on the day of the sale? If so, send Samin an email.

Our long list of accomplished collaborators includes folks from:

• Pizzaiolo
• BiRite Market & Creamery
• Gioia Pizzeria
• A16 & SPQR
• Chez Panisse
• Peko-Peko
• ClaireSquares
• Tartine Bakery
• Summer Kitchen Bakeshop
• Starter Bakery
• Bakers Dozen
• Viola
• Blossom Bluff Orchards
• Tell Tale Preserve Company
• Four Barrel Coffee
• Blue Bottle Coffee
• Mr. Espresso
• Oxbow Public Market
• June Taylor Company
• Rudy’s Can’t Fail Cafe
• Bar Jules

In light of the multiple tragedies unfolding in Japan, Aiko Designs is donating 30% of sales from the site and upcoming events to the Japanese Red Cross Society via Google Crisis Response.  US dollars will be converted to Japanese Yen and donated through the site.  This will run though the month of March and April.

Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers on the recovery of Japan!

Join Aiko Designs & Kana Jewelry this weekend!

Modern moms and moms-to-be, shop from 50 talented designers, offering unique and adorable clothing, accessories and more for them & their trendy tots.

Saturday, February 5, 2011
9:30am-2:00pm
Jewish Community Center in San Francisco
3200 California St. @ Presidio
(map)

Please join me on Wednesday, December 8th for a holiday shopping fête – Appel & Frank at the Regency Center, Sutter Room in San Francisco (located at 1270 Sutter Street @ Van Ness) from 5 – 9pm.

Buy tickets online at appelandfrank.com to secure your goodie gift bag and receive 30% off the $10 admission price with the discount code: DESIGNERSF

The Marin Store Holiday Sample Sale will take place Saturday, November 6th, from 9 AM – 4 PM at the Marin Country Mart (formerly Larkspur Landing) at 2405 Larkspur Landing Circle (map). Customers can save big on items by local designers of clothing, jewelry, shoes, kids, home and more, with plenty of affordable holiday entertaining and gift options.  There will also be a farmer’s market to add to the festivities.  Aiko Designs will be there…hope you can make it!

Oct. 16, 2010 2-6 p.m. Tahoe Unveiled, PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn, Olympic Valley, Calif. We will be participating in Tahoe Unveiled, which will showcase the area’s finest wedding vendors at a venue that epitomizes casual elegance. The antithesis of a standard wedding fair, this is a wedding experience where attendees will be inspired by creative exhibits from the region’s top vendors and thought-provoking presentations from noted event professionals. Tickets are $25 per person when purchased in advance at www.tahoeunveiled.com and $35 per person at the door. For more information, visit www.tahoeunveiled.com, email: sa@onefinedayevents.com or call 530.386.1609.

Find Tahoe Unveiled on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tahoe-City-CA/Tahoe-Unveiled/123242457706331

Or Twitter  …..   http://twitter.com/tahoeunveiled

Join Rebecca Kousky, the founder of Nest along with the San Francisco board for a fantastic event at the Slow Club to benefit Nest.

The line up of cocktails and food is fantastic and there will also be a special silent auction of donated items & services from local artists and businesses (including jewelry from Aiko Designs!).

Buy your tickets now!

October 8-10 :: San Francisco Open Studios in the Mission District of SF.  Please stop by to say hello and see what’s new! My studio is located at 744 Alabama St., studio 302 (3rd floor).  Opening night party from 7-11pm on Friday. Hours on Sat-Sun are 11am-6pm. (map)

Hope to see you there!

Just back from a trip to Tokyo and I had the opportunity to check out the food trucks that set up in front of the International Forum building in Yurakucho.  These trucks are soooo tiny and yet so efficient.  It was fun just watching them do their thing.

Japanese Pho food truck

side view

Japanese Mexican Taco truck

Japanese Hawaiian food truck

Japanese Creperie truck

Yakisoba food truck

After walking by each truck several times, I decided on ebi-mayo-yakisoba. The chef in the truck had several eggs pre-cooked and waiting on a plastic lid, (I know sounds weird, but I had no worries that the food wasn’t fresh!) and once he stir-fried up the shrimp and noodles, he topped the dish with the egg.  It was tasty, fresh, fast and only 600 yen (about $7.00)!

Ebi-mayo yakisoba

lookit how tiny this truck is!

back of yakisoba truck

More details on this weekend’s exhibition in Tokyo!  Additional artists now include Lady Higa (Kyoko Higa), designer for Boutique Nicole (who has made an appearance on America’s Next Top Model!).