Target Free Family Saturday to Feature ‘Cooking Capers’ at Japanese American National Museum July 12, 2008

 

LOS ANGELES — The Japanese American National Museum continues its popular Target Free Family Saturday series with “Cooking Capers,” including opportunities for the whole family to witness sushi making and a mochi demonstration and then taste whatever is created on Saturday, July 12, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the museum in Little Tokyo. “Cooking Capers” is free and open to the public.

 

As part of the free program, demonstrations and workshops are scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. with participants “Kidding Around the Kitchen”, Fugetsu-Do confectionary shop, and the Sushi Chef Institute.

 

Kidding Around the Kitchen encourages families to make and eat food together and provides tips on smarter shopping and healthier choices. Kidding Around the Kitchen will

provide visitors with the opportunity take part in their drop-in workshops from 12 noon to 3 p.m., including the making of their famous “No So Fried Rice” dish.

 

For more information on Kidding Around the Kitchen, go to

www.kiddingaroundthekitchen.com

 

At 12:30  and 2:30 p.m., Fugetsu-Do proprietor Brian Kito will give mochi (Japanese sweet rice cakes) demonstrations and tastings for visitors. Kito is the third generation of his family to run Fugetsu-Do since its founding in 1903, following in his grandfather’s and father’s footsteps.

 

The business is known for its traditional Japanese confections, such as mochi and manju (sweet bean-filled rice cakes) and has been a fixture in Little Tokyo for over 100 years. For more information on Fugetsu-Do, go to www.fugetsu-do.com

 

The Sushi Chef Institute will provide sushi-making demonstrations and tastings at 1 and 3 p.m. Chef Andy Matsuda, who works as an instructor for the institute and is the first person authorized to teach his craft in California Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education Institution, will be on hand to show that anyone can learn to make sushi.

 

Matsuda, who has appeared on Fox 11 Television and featured in People Magazine, has made a point of encouraging anyone with an interest in Sushi making to follow this pursuit.

 

For more information on the Sushi Chef Institute, go to

www.sushischool.net

 

Hands-on activities include construction of chef hats, designing of aprons and creation of an origami candy dish. This program is generously sponsored by Target with the aim of providing special Saturdays for families filled with fun things to do.

 

Future Target Free Family Saturdays include “A Whale of a Tale (Folk Tales” on September 13; “Brilliant Beats (Drumming” on

November 8; and “Artfully Yours (Art)” on December 13.

 

For more information on this or other programs, contact the Japanese American National Museum at (213) 625-0414 or go to www.janm.org