Communities across the world have been coming together through different charitable initiatives and fundraisers to show solidarity for the Lebanese people after an explosion ripped through Beirut’s port area on August 4, killing hundreds, injuring thousands and leaving 300,000 homeless.

The latest initiative to come out of the Japan sees Michelin star chefs and culinary experts rally together to raise funds for those affected by the blast through hosting a charity gala dinner in Tokyo’s Arva restaurant, located at the Aman hotel.

Organized and created by Hugo Sanalitro, a Food and Beverage Director at Aman hotel in Tokyo, the charity gala dinner will consist of six-course tasting menu prepared by a culinary expert to allow guests to indulge in the French-Italian cuisine while simultaneously contributing to those in need.

The black-tie event will charge JPY 25,000 per person, of which sixty percent (JPY 15,000) will be allocated to Beirut through the Japan Red Cross, which is the Japanese affiliate of the Lebanese Red Cross.

“Before I arrived in Japan, I lived in Dubai for five years, where I met many lebanese and they became my friends. So after the tragic double explosion in Beirut on the beginning of August 2020, I created this initiative and organized this gala with a few of my friends who are Michelin Star Chef in Tokyo to be able to actively help Lebanon and the victims of the blast,” Sanalitro, the brains behind the event, told Arab News Japan.

The association has selected nine culinary experts in Japan to participate in the event, including: Culinary Director at ClassicFinesFood Japan Bernard Anquetil, Chez Oliver Owner and Chef Oliver Oddos, Executive Chef at ESqUISSE Lionel Beccat, Owner and Chef at Lugdunum Bouchon Lyonnais Christophe Paucod, Executive Chef at Aman Tokyo’s Arva Masakazu Hiraki, Executive Sous Chef at Aman Tokyo, Hiraki, Executive Sous Chef at Aman Tokyo Takahiro Sekine, Executive Pastry Chef at Aman Tokyo Yoshihisa Miyagawa, Chef Michael Michaelidis and Executive Chef and President of Gourmet Consulting Mathuieu Taussac.

The maximum number of attendees permitted the gala is 60 and as of August 30, 55 people have already booked, according to Sanalitro.

To participate in the event, guests must place reservations through contacting the email: sanalitro.hugo@gmail.com in order to ensure seat availability.