Meet Our Sanbiki Team!

             Sanbiki's Christmas/New Years Party brings together staff new and old!

You know their faces but you may not  know their names. This post is dedicated to the hardworking ladies and gentlemen that help us keep it together at Sanbiki, and next door at Mori Mori Grocery.

MEGUMI is usually the first face you'll see when you enter Sanbiki. Is it super busy? Megumi is probably still smiling; an oasis of calm in the controlled chaos. She'll always do her best to make sure you and all of our customers are fed, watered and well-cared for. She has studied here in Kamloops at TRU and also in Shanghai, China! She is originally from Fukushima, Japan.

                   Megumi (right) has been with us for over 3 years. Recognize Chie next to her? Chie left Sanbiki to start a family and restaurant of her own! Her and husband Yuki now own and operate the popular Tiger Ramen in Sahali.

                Chef Hiro is a little crazy, it's a survival strategy out here on planet Sanbiki.....
HIRO

Chef Hiro joined Sanbiki last year. You'll often see him working at Sanbiki's sushi-making station. Previously, Hiro and his wife Seiko lived and worked in Fiji and Japan. They are the proud parents of beautful Reina-chan, their first daughter now 10 kilos and 10 months old!

                                      Hiro folding Sanbiki's homemade gyoza

YAMA

Chef Yama came to Kamloops after an extended stay in Mongolia. Working at the Japanese Embassy there gave him the opportunity to cook not just Japanese dishes but to explore other cuisines as well. 

           Chef Yama visits with Reina-chan, daughter of  Hiro and Seiko and the newest
                              member of Sanbiki's extended family

It was natural that Yama was in charge of creating a special menu for a private luncheon recently hosted at Sanbiki by Japanese Consul General Ito from Vancouver!

         Sanbiki's special lunch box for Ito-san and his Kamloops Japanese-Canadian guests

HIDEKI
Our newest addition to Sanbiki's professional kitchen crew! Hideki came to Kamloops from Japan just a few months back. We look forward to making the most of his experience and skills in Sanbiki's kitchen.

                                                  Hideki and Aya in Sanbiki's open kitchen

NIGEL
He towers (literally) head and shoulders above the rest of us at Sanbiki! Nigel has lived in Vancouver, Revelstoke and the Kamloops area. He has studied Japanese, and his interest in Japanese cusine and his willingness to learn have made him a valuable member of our kitchen crew.

                     Nigel and Yama prepare take out for Mori Mori Grocery every morning

AYA has been studying at TRU and living in Kamloops for several years. With the recent warm summer weather, she can sometimes be found with daughter Sara enjoying the water park!

    Aya's daughter Sara and her friend at Mori Mori...treats from Tomoko keep them smiling!

YUN HEE speaks Japanese and English, but don't be fooled! She's orgininally from South Korea, so she is...trilingual! She has lived in Japan but now calls Kamloops home. With two teenagers, one husband and a full time job, she is a very busy lady indeed. We're happy to have her onboard!

                                Mao (left) and Yun Hee are day shift regulars at Sanbiki!
ZACK can be found doing prep early in the mornings and also cleaning up late at night. He joined us just this year but he's learning lots. Both Zack and Nigel have expressed an interest in skydiving...Time to consider forming a Sanbiki Skydiving Team? Count me in!

It's a Sanbiki tradition...a DQ birthday cake with Zack, Hiro and Nigel.

You'll also see BEN, MAO, SOLANGE and some other new faces in the kitchen and on the floor. We're always looking for good people and good ideas to help us serve our customers better!

Have we saved the best for last? Mori Mori's many regular customers may think so...

TOMOKO has been with us longer than anyone. She came to us back in 2006 when we opened Sanbiki's sister grocery Mori Mori and has managed it ever since. She helped us with the move from Mori Mori's old location at 749 Victoria to our current space at the corner of Lansdowne and 5th. She works hard to ensure both Mori Mori and Sanbiki run smoothly. She works even harder keeping Masato and Heather organized and up to date with the technology they purchase; pretend to understand, and then ask her to figure out!

                                   "It's easy, boss...point and click....."

          Masato and Heather at the entrance to Sanbiki's beautiful new location at Lansdowne and 5th Avenue. The space was designed and built by Chase-based Daizen Joinery

MASATO is the "Papa Bear" in the Sanbiki cave. Born in Osaka, Japan he spent several years working in Thailand. Before opening Sanbiki in 2002, he apprenticed at Basara, a friends restaurant in Tokyo. He played rugby for many years in Japan and Thailand. These days he's hoping for a few days off to relax and enjoy the great fishing in the Kamloops area...

HEATHER is Sanbiki's resident crazy cat lady, cheerleader and executive dishwasher. Born in Vancouver, she spent several years abroad working as a travel writer, English teacher and as a volunteer on development projects in India and Africa. Strange sweet sushi and Hello Kitty cookies on display for fundraising? Probably her weird work...

Masato and Heather met in Thailand and have been married for 12 years. No kids; just cats...and dogs!

             Our "girls"(Goldie and Saba) always look forward to patio visits with Sanbiki's team!

Thanks for your interest in us! We look forward to seeing you soon at Sanbiki and next door at Mori Mori for groceries and sushi to go!