Bainbridge Island: Eat mochi and have good luck

For an easy day trip with a ferry ride and a festive lesson in Japanese culture, head across Puget Sound on December 28 for the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community's annual mochitsuki party.

The making of mochi — chewy cakes of rice traditionally pounded with wooden mallets on a big granite mortar — is part of New Year's celebrations in Japanese culture. Eating mochi is said to bring luck for the coming year.

The Bainbridge group's mochitsuki party has been an island fixture for years, and draws crowds of spectators and participants who help in mochi preparation. Sticky short-grained rice is steamed over an open fire and pounded into dough that is hand-shaped into little balls and eaten.

The event is at the Bainbridge Island Filipino American Hall on High School Road just west of Strawberry Hill Park. Pounding begins at noon.

From Seattle, take the ferry from Pier 52 (Colman Dock). From the Bainbridge ferry dock, proceed through town on Highway 305 to High School Road and continue past the park.

For more information, call 206-855-9038.

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