Bachans 100th Birthday

When I think back on all of the many caterings throughout my time as a chef, this particular one is probably the most significant catering that I have ever done. In fact, I get emotional just thinking about how much my Bachan has impacted my life. If you’ve followed my blog for some time, you’ll know that Bachan is my grandmother on my father’s side. She has been a significant pillar in my life and continues to shine with grace and love at the amazing age of 100. 

All the Japanese food I cook and the Japanese New Year traditions that I have kept up with as an adult, are because of Bachan. Though she may not remember now at 100-years young, almost every year, during the week between Christmas and the New Year, I would spend time cooking, helping and preparing some traditional and Fujitaki family traditional foods for good luck in the coming year. I am truly blessed to have held these traditions and to continue them as time moves forward because of her willingness and patience to share them with me. Though the recipes may have changed a bit and the techniques modified ever so slightly, the essence of love and togetherness through food is always the priority. I am so privileged to be able to share this gift with our family and friends and for Bachan’s 100th birthday. We really did create a memorable event for everyone to enjoy! 

When we cater, we always get the question: how long did this take you? And this catering was a lifetime in the making. It consisted of so many different steps, details, and moving pieces that ultimately took weeks to plan and execute, but I wouldn’t have done it any other way. The gift of love she showed me through her cooking over the decades is deeply expressed in my gift of food and love for her and our family during her very special celebration. 

Japanese serving dishes and platters from three households were present on our tables. These special platters and trays are part of the beautiful display of food that we prepared. Each dish has a special meaning to us and these dishes are plated on dishes that are older than I am – some of them even older than my dad! That’s the care and detail that Bachan has always preserved in her home and her cooking. To use these platters, trays, and dishes was a special touch that I am so grateful we were able to execute. It took a lot of time and care to transport and carefully place each dish, but the sentimentality of the presentation made all the difference.

I also want to say that about 85% of this food was made in Bachan’s very own home kitchen. And if you’ve seen Bachan’s kitchen, then you know that it isn’t very big at all. Something I always remember is that it’s not the kitchen that makes the chef, it’s the chef that makes the kitchen. I can cook anywhere and I am grateful to have the help of my amazing husband, Brandon, to do the odds and ends that sometimes just overwhelm me AKA baking, though I did make mochi and matcha cream puffs this year, which was definitely a stretch for me. 

This year we smoked some of the beautiful trout we caught in Mammoth and our Uncle Kenny brought us some delicious tuna he caught for sashimi and spicy tuna rolls. I am so grateful to my sister, my cousins, my Uncle Wayne, and our family for putting together such an amazing party. It truly was a team effort. 

Here is the menu:

Bachan’s 100th Birthday Menu 

Appetizers 

Wonton

Fruit Platter 

Vegetable Platter 

Spinach Dip 

Edamame

Main

Carrot Ginger Salad

Chile Bean Sprouts 

YakiTori (Chicken Skewer)

Grilled Vegetable Skewer 

Asparagus 

Somen 

Chicken Katsu/ Tonkatsu 

Chirashi

Wild Caught Tuna Sashimi 

Smoked Eastern Sierra Trout 

Sushi

Spam Musubi 

California Roll 

Spicy Tuna Roll

Shrimp Roll 

Veggie Roll 

Inari

Desserts

Paradise Cake 

Bachan Jello

Mochi

Fruit Skewers

Cupcakes 

Matcha Cream Puffs

Many of amazing photographs were taken by Lyz Cooper and Monarch Photography. If you need photos and are in the Ventura County area, I highly recommend them.  🙂 Also my cousins and family took a lot of the food photos because I was busy cooking.

Thank you everyone for being a part of this special day and a very special thanks to my amazing sister Kristen and my husband Brandon for putting up with all my shenanigans and making this beautiful event happen.

100 years and so much love. Thank you for all the love you have always shown us all. We love you so much Bachan!

<3 Sachiko