pasteventsinternal.gif

April 7, 2002. Launching Morimoto Food Network

The Food Network will be broadcasting a one hour special on the opening of Morimoto's first restaurant in Philadelphia on April 7, 2002. The show will include the design, construction and development of the restaurant and all the drama that entails. This will be a first for the Food Network and we're looking to some ground-breaking TV. The Food Network is contemplating on dedicating the entire day to Morimoto shows exclusively.

November 13, 2001. MORIMOTO Restaurant Grand Opening. Philadelphia.

The Morimoto Restaurant, just a three-minute trot from the Liberty Bell, opened on Nov 13, 2001, in Philadelphia. The restaurant has 140 seats and 6 Sushi Chefs along with the rest of the kitchen complement. Pumped up for battle, Morimoto is ready for this new Challenge.

Chef Takao Iinuma

Chef Mitsuyoshi Hirunuma

Chef Hideki Fukushi and Chef Yasuhiro Nakai

Chef Ariki Omae and his fiancée

Food Network filming the opening of Morimoto Restaurant.

Morimoto helping the Food Network doing the filming, as usual he likes to take charge.

October 12, 2001. 7:00pm. Demonstration at Chef Central.

On the evening of October 12, 2001 Morimoto paid a visit to his fans at Chef Central located in Paramus Town Square N.J.. Prior to this event, the largest audience Chef Central had attracted was about 300. For Morimoto's event the audience was in excess 0f 600, and due to fire code restrictions, the police prevented many more from entering the store. Unable to get in, many Morimoto fans waited outside to get a chance to talk to him or get his autograph.

Morimoto did a cooking demonstration that included a wonderfully prepared striped sea bass dish with daikon, onions and soy sauce. For tasting he prepared salmon sashimi with garlic, chives, julienned daikon, sesame seeds and hot oil. . A Morimoto knowledge contest was held and cookware awards were given to the winners.

It was a very enthusiastic crowd, and everyone had a great time.

Chef Morimoto signing pictures and books.

October 7, 2001. Tailgate Party at Veterans Stadium. Philadelphia.

Morimoto along with foodtv hosted a tailgate party before the Philadelphia Eagles home game, on October 7, 2001. The food was, for the most part, traditional tailgate party grub, with some Iron Chef twists. Along with Morimoto there was football great Jim Kelly.

Morimoto caught while chowing down.

August 28, 2001. James Beard House.

The James Beard House invited Chef Morimoto to be their honored guest chef for the evening of August 28, 2001. As is the policy of the Beard House, they sent their invitation to their members first and even though the date was late in August, when my people are away on vacation, the event immediately sold-out. Alas, we were unable to make any tickets available here.

Sake Keg Breaking Ceremony (Kagamiwari)

"I will be back N.Y."

August 23, 2001. International Taste of Tennis.

The charity event named The International Taste of Tennis sponsored by the Westin Hotel took place on Aug 23, 2001 in Manhattan. This charity event benefited The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International. Ten notable chefs were paired with top tennis pros from the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament. Each pair maned a table from which they served culinary delights prepared by each of the chefs. Morimoto was paired with chef Todd English and US Open tennis pro Meghan Shaughnessy.

Morimoto cooked "Okanami Yaki" Japanese style pancakes, made with noodles and seafood. These pancakes originating from Hiroshima (Morimoto's home town), remind us Americans what we call Comfort Food.

Morimoto and Todd English

Morimoto and Meghan Shaughnessy

Masaharu Morimoto, Ariki Omae, Yasuhiro Nakai

April 2001. Visit to Hawaii

Masaharu Morimoto loves charities, he was selected as the chef at the Big Brother / Big Sister Annual Charity Dinner in Hawaii. Over 700 guests were invited at the Hilton Hotel Hawaiian village in Waikiki. The event was a huge success. These are few photos from the visit: