Yui Aida @Taiwanfest #2

(Continue from #1 – Charlie Wu of Taiwanfest asked me to lead a project.)

“Yui Aida is a dessert chef and food painter from Tokyo, Japan. She uses naturally grown local ingredients to create desserts, no dairy, no egg.”

– Taiwanfest

First things first. I went to Yui’s Website. And something caught my eyes!

(photo credit: Yui Aida)

How could Yui make the delicate, soft, easily-dehydrating mushrooms stand up?!

– Iris in wonderland

I was definitely, immediately, intrigued!

I could not wait to meet her!

But until then, I had to meet a challenge.

How could I put a program together to inspire a Japanese artist, who has a wondrous imagination with meticulous observation skills, to incorporate naturally grown Canadian local ingredients into her dessert creations?

– Iris in wonderland

A trip to the local farmers market or Edible Canada or Choices was certainly not enough.

Charlie apparently had an idea before he called me.

“Do you think your friend Judy would be willing to help?”

I knew it!

Judy, or “Teacher Judy”, with her husband Jonathan, offers an adventure eco-education program in Canada. She is a long time dear friend, my sister by choice.
So I called her. And my plan started taking shape.

Like any project, planning is one thing, but the execution is everything. There were many challenges, unfortunate circumstances, personality conflicts, reality knocks, and changes of plans. I joked about it to the team: “Wow, I rarely have to move to plan C. Now I broke my own record.”

With all pieces falling in place in my plan, I finally can dream about the taste of a clear blue sky.

Next: #3 Taste of The Ocean Beyond Its Contents

Previous: #1- The Taste of Sweet Rocks

If you happen to be in Toronto August 25-27, or in Vancouver September 2-4, please come to Taiwanfest to check it out!

For all my Taiwanfest related articles and photos, please come to my garden.