Food by the ton

Every year, the Sacramento Buddhist Church prepares a giant Japanese feast for the community. In the weeks preceding the event, the church releases a shopping list of the ingredients purchased for the preparations. Satisfying 50,000 Sacramentans’ sushi and teriyaki cravings requires 10,000 pounds of chicken, 500 pounds of noodles, 100 gallons of soy sauce, one-and-a-half tons of rice and six tons of ice (not to mention more than 2,000 pounds of shrimp, beef and raw fish). Where do church officials purchase such large quantities? How do they transport it? Where do they store it? When your mind grows weary pondering the logistics, refuel with delicious Japanese cuisine. The 57th annual Food and Cultural Bazaar happens on Saturday and Sunday from noon until 9 p.m. Admission is free. Follow the smell of tempura to the Sacramento Buddhist Church, 2401 Riverside Boulevard. Call (916) 446-0121 or visit www.buddhistchurch.com for info.