Sake Lovers Photos: New York Loves Japan A Sake and Food Fund Raising Event
Our event, featuring over 100 sake and food from 15 amazing restaurants including Sakagura, Kyoya, Bond St., Matsuri, 15 East and Bao Noodles will be held on Wed., April 27 at La Venue in Chelsea from 7-10 pm. Tickets start at $100, with all proceeds going to the Japan Red Cross via our non-profit organization partner Project by Project http://www.projectbyproject.org/.
Tickets are available online now at http://www.nylovesjapan.com/.
Details regarding an onsite silent art auction, as well as our eBay Giving Works charity auction site will be forthcoming. Online auction items will include NYC restaurant gift certificates, spa certificates, autographed celebrity cookbooks, merchandise and more!
I hope you’ll join us in eating, drinking and raising money for this incredibly worthy cause.
Please also help us spread the word through twitter and facebook as well.
twitter
http://twitter.com/NYLovesJapan
facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-York-Loves-Japan/208537982497068
Photos by Fuko Chubachi More photos here! Sakelovers.com
Sake Lovers Photos: Lucky Rice Grand Feast at Mandarin Oriental NY
May 6th 2011, 7pm – 10 pm $150, VIP 6pm – 7pm $250 Grand Feast at The Oriental Mandarin NY
hosted by LuckyRice Culinary Council Presented by HSBC Bank
Participating food + drink
Angelo Sosa
Asiate
Bann Restaurant
Baotique at Covet
Bar Boulud
Indochine
Kittichai
Má Pêche
David Wong/IFT, Macau
Hasni Ghazali, Bentara/Malaysia Kitchen
Matsuri
Mehtaphor
9 Restaurant for FIJI Water
Orson Salicetti for BOMBAY SAPPHIRE
Pichet Ong/Spot Dessert Bar
PUBLIC
Shun Lee
Suntory Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky
Wines of Germany
Woo Lae Oak
Zengo
And More…
Photos by Fuko Chubachi More photos here! Sakelovers.com
Sake Lovers Photos: The 12th Spring Akita Sake Club Tasting Event
The 12th Spring Akita Sake Club Tasting Event for Tohoku, Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund
Akita Sake Club (ASC) was established in June 2006 to introduce the sake, food and culture from Akita Prefecture to the NYC area. This spring, ASC is proud to announce “The Charity Akita Sake Tasting Event” on May 13, 2011.
Come join over 20 sake from Akita and different all over Japan to taste over 40 of the finest sakes we have chosen for you to try. In addition, we have added many Sake’s from the Tohoku Region to supplement the current variety as well.
Savour some of Akita’s delicacies such as Cold Inaniwa Noodles, Akita Miso- Flavor Honey Chicken, Iburi Gakko (Smoked radish pickles), Reimen (Cold Noodle from Iwate), Miso Oden from Aomori, Zengo-zuke pickles from Yamagata and many others.
Enjoy performances by guest musicians Mr. Satoshi Kanazawa from Aomori, who will be performing on the Classic Piano as well as cool “neo-Enka Japanese blues” The Neo Blues Roll.
http://www.myspace.com/neobluesmaki
Be green and please bring your sake glass.
Sake Sommelier Ms. Chizuko Niikawa will also be present with any questions regarding our sake tastings.
You can exchange your donation for Special goods from Brewers etc. The profit from this event shall be sent to Tohoku, Japan through NY Japanese-American Lions Club.
Organizer: The Akita Sake Club (Akita Yukari no Kai)
Sponsor: The Hoku Hoku Kai and Sun Pop International Corporation
Date: May 13, 2011 (Friday)
Time: 6:30pm to 9:00pm
Location: The Japanese American Association of New York, Inc.
Address: 15 West 44th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10036
Admission Fee: $60
Reservation/Contact: Masatoshi Yamamoto
Sun Pop International Corporation
Tel: 212-682-4393
e-mail: sunpop@att.net
Akita Sake Club Website: http://ascc.blog55.fc2.com/
Sake Lovers Photos: Fordham University Charity Sake Event
Fordam University Global Professional Society (GPS)． International Student Association (FISA) ．Student Advisory Council (SAC) invite you to come learn about SAKE and its close connection with various aspects of Japanese culture.
Open the door to the world of SAKE to enrich your culinary experience and stimulate your palate and your intellectual curiosity. Please join us and support the fund raising for Japan’s recovery after disaster. 乾杯KANPAI!
-Sake List for the night-
Dassai:
Dassai Junmai Daiginjo 23
Dassai Junmai Daiginjo 39
Dassai Junmai Daiginjo 50
Dassai Junmai Daiginjo 50 Nigori
Dassai Junmai Daiginjo 39 Nigori Sparkling
Nanbu Bijin:
Nanbu Bijin Tokubetsu Junmai
Nanbu BIjin Daiginjo
Hakkaisan:
Hakkaisan Ginjo
Hakkaisan Tokubetsu Junmai
Hakkaisan Honjozo
-Special Guest and Lecturer- SAKE 102 -
Mr. Timothy Sullivan
*Lecturer of SAKE 101 at Fordham’s SAKE Tasting event in 2010
*Known as “Sake Samurai” and awarded the title in 2007 by the Japan Sake Brewer’s Association in recognition of the efforts to promote sake outside of Japan
*Founder of Urbansake.com
*RSVP is required due to space limitation and SAKE preparation.
*$25 at door including one raffle ticket. Tasting 6 kinds of high-end SAKE. Sushi and other refershments will be provided
*$5 for additional raffle ticket or bring your own shot glass and get an extra raffle ticket to win special prize!
*Income from ticket sales of this event will dedicate to Japan Earthquake Relief Fund.
- Raffle Prize-
1. Bottle of sake sponsored by Sake Discoveries
2. Sake Discoveries original design sake cup with small bag “My Ochoko”
3. Sake brewery sake cup “Ochoko”
4. Sake brewery square sake cup “Masu”
5. Dassai special Daiginjo glass
6. Dassai sake kas soap
7. Sake brewery apron “Maekake”
8. Sake brewery T-shirt
9. Fordham scarf (limited edition)
10. Fordham card holder and folder set *2
Photos by Fuko Chubachi More photos here! Sakelovers.com
Sake Lovers Photos: Sakagura The Annual “Ohanami” Sake Tasting Party 2011
Sakagura is very excited to announce the arrival of anticipated Sake Tasting Event in 2011. The tasting event will feature 46 selections include newly arrived sakes carefully chosen from sake masters and distributors who have been taking an active part in the “Nihon-shu” industry in the U.S. Market.
It would take a life time consume all the different varieties of sake available, but we believe these selections will open up new regions of the palette for tasters Sakagura will be decorated with lots of fresh real cherry blossoms in the whole restaurant. We will serve Sakagura Executive Chef Mr. Yasuhiro Honma’s special seasonal finger foods on this event.
Welcome you to join us and let us “Kanpai” under the amazing sakura trees!
*Please note that this event is all-standing buffet style. (No tables and chairs)
Admission Fee: $80,00 per person (all inclusive)
Guest: 100 Guest Limited
Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011. 1st Round: 6:15pm – 8:30pm 2nd Round: 9pm – 11:15pm
Midtown: The Hot Spot For Sake Hopping
Sake For Seasoning
11th Autumn Akita Sake Club Tasting
Photos and text by Chamagraphy
More photos available on Flickr
Akita Sake Club (ASC)
The Japanese American Association of NY, New York
15W 44th Street, New York
On November 12, Akita Sake Club’s The Eleventh Akita Sake Tasting Event took place at Japanese American Association in MIdtown, NY. Akita prefecture is located in the northern part of Japan, famous for rice farming and its sake breweries. Akita Sake Club was established in 2006, introducing Akita’s sakes, food, goods and people in NYC area.
The event offered over 40 kinds of sakes from Akita and selected fine breweries all across Japan. Over 100 guests arrived to taste and compare the different kinds or types of sakes, and they could find their favorites. Along with the sake tasting, some of Akita’s home-made delicacies were prepared for the guests. For example, Kiritampo (mashed rice stick broiled and boiled in soup), Akita miso flavor honey chicken, Iburi Gakko (smoked radish pickles), and fermented soy beans Natto pasta.
There were guest performances during the events; “Awa Odori” dance by Keiko Miyazaki from Tokushima prefecture, and cheerful theatrical Geisha dance by Salme from Tokyo.
１１月１２日、第１１回「美酒王国秋田の会主催 秋のきき酒会」がNY日系人会館にて行われました。秋田県の銘酒や名産物などをNYの人々にきき酒会を通して紹介しようと人のNY在住の秋田県出身の有志により２００６年発足。以来、現在は年に2回、秋田のお酒の他、全国のお酒の飲み比べもできるきき酒会として大変人気です。
今回のきき酒会では、秋田県の蔵元 (秋田晴 / 木村 / 雪の茅舎 / 太平山 / 北鹿 / 出羽鶴 / 日の丸 / 天の戸)、そして他県の蔵元 (南部美人 / 大七 / 獺祭 / 鳴門鯛 / 吉乃川 / 天狗舞 / 八海山 / 桃川 / 加賀鳶 / 奈良萬など) 、合わせて２０蔵元以上から約50銘柄の銘酒が出品されました。
秋田名物の「きりたんぽ」「太平山小玉醸造のお味噌を使った地鶏の唐揚げ」「いぶりがっこ」「モッツァレラチーズの味噌漬 け」「天の戸の酒粕で作ったディップソースで食べる野菜サラダ」などのおつまみも用意されていました。秋田ならではのお料理をつまみながら色々なお酒を飲 みくらべられる、お酒好きにとっては嬉しい夜となりました。
今回はスペシャルゲストとして、徳島県から阿波踊りの名手 宮崎景子さん、そして”お座敷レビュー”で日本で人気のダンスパフォーマー集団 サルメ によるパフォーマンスもありました。ダンス有り、美味しいお酒とお料理有りで、今回も参加者１２０名を超えた大盛り上がりの夜となりました。
AUTUMN Dai Shichi “BIG SEVEN” NIGHTS
Photos and text by Chamagraphy
More photos available on my Flickr
Daishichi Night
Midtown and East Village, NYC
On Oct 15, Daishichi (Big Seven) sake tasting event was held at NYC’s biggest sake bar, Sakagura in Midtown. Daishichi Brewery was established in 1752, located in northeast of Japan, Fukushima prefecture. Daishichi makes rich and mellow sakes whose outstanding reputation comes from an insistence on a strictly orthodox brewing tradition: the “Kimoto” method.
For the tasting event, 3 types of selected Daishichi sakes (Junmai Daiginjo/ Honjozo/ Nigori) were served at bar. The guests had an option to purchase a Daishichi brewery’s original Masu – wooden sake cup for $20, and drink their favorite sake from it. The event was organized by my friend sake sommelier Chizuko Niikawa-Helton, welcoming a sake expert Mr. Ad Blankestijn from Daishichi sake brewery who has been living in Japan over 30 years and speaks fluent Japanese.
A night before the Sakagura event, I had an opportunity to join the Daishichi tasting event at Robataya restaurant and Decibel sake bar in East Village. At Robataya, the same 3 types were served with a small chicken and crab meat appetizer. We ordered some warmed-up Kimoto Honjozo sake with some appetizers; chilled tofu with ginger and pickles, grilled sea urchin, snow club dumpling in soup, etc… Then we moved to Decibel across from the Robataya for another Daishichi sake tasting. Decibel is a little underground bar, small tables and chairs under dark red light with graffiti on the walls, like a retro pop sake bar could be somewhere in Tokyo. It was a damp chilly Fall night, but sake lovers came out to enjoy the hand-crafted Daishichi Kimoto sakes.
１０月１５日、NYを代表するミッドタウンの酒バー＆レストラン「酒蔵」にて、大七酒造 海外担当取締役 Ad Blankestijn 氏をお迎えして、大七の酒テイスティングが行われました。大七酒造は江戸時代の１７５２年創業以来、日本酒の最も正統で伝統的な醸造法である「生もと造り」で現在も同じ方法で日本酒が造られています。
今回の酒蔵でのテイスティングでは、３種類の大七生もと酒：純米大吟醸箕輪門、本醸造、本醸造にごり雪しぼり、が用意されま した。イベントと同時に、大七オリジナルのマス ($20) が特別販売され、実際に大七マスで大七のお酒を楽しめる、という大七ファンには嬉しい、日本酒にあまり馴染みのないお客さんたちも楽しんで大七のお酒を味 わっていました。
このイベントの前日、イースビレッジの炉端焼き専門店「炉端や」とアンダーグラウンド酒バー「Decibel」でも大七酒テイスティングが行われ、大七ウィークを企画した利き酒師チズ子さんと Mr. Blankestijn 一緒に参加させてもらいました。オランダ出身の Mr. Blankestijn は日本に３０年以上滞在しておられ、流暢な日本語以外にも英語と中国語も堪能で、翻訳家、トラベルコンサルタント、利き酒師、などのマルチタレント、日本 の文化についても詳しい方でした。
「炉端や」では酒蔵でのテイスティングと同じ３種類がアペタイザー１品が ($18) でセットとして用意され、先着２０名には大七オリジナルのマスがプレゼントされました。私たちはセット以外にも、大七のお酒に合いそうな、冷や奴っこ、雲 丹の塩昆布焼き、蟹焼売スープ仕立てなどのお料理と一緒に、生もと本醸造の擱かんもいただきました。その後向かい側にある酒バー「Decibel」へと移 動。 Decibelは狭い階段を降りてすぐの地下にある酒バーで、赤い暗めの室内は昭和っぽいレトロな感じがして壁中グラフィティで落書きされており、隠れ家 的な酒バーです。この夜は、秋の終わりを感じさせるような肌寒い夜だったので、温かい大七のお酒が体に染みわたりました。
THE FASCINATING TENGUMAI NIGHT IN NYC
Photos and text by Chamagraphy
More photos available on my Flickr
Tengumai Marathon Night
Midtown / East Village, NYC
On Oct 6th, a night before the Tengumai event at Japanese Culinary Center, I had a great opportunity to meet with Mr. Shata who was promoting his sake to Japanese restaurants in NYC, along with my sake sommelier friend Chizuko Niikawa-Helton, and sake teacher Timothy Sullivan.
First, we started “Tengumai Marathon Night” at Aburiya Kinnosuke in Midtown East, which offered limited $30 Tengumai sake testing set (Umagin/ Yamahai/ Umajun). We paired the sakes with fresh sashimi platter, grilled tender Japanese beef, and steamed red snapper. Then we moved to downtown, East Village. After quick stopping by a liquor shop dedicated to Japanese sake & shchu Sakaya, we had dinner at Robataya. $17 Tengumai sake tasting set (Umagin/ Ko-Koshu/ Yamahai) was offered with a free appetizer, chopped raw mackerel marinated with miso paste. In addition to the tasting set, 3-year-aged sake Ko-koshu was paired with grilled fish/ meat/ vegetables, and ended with a king of mushroom Matsutake soup.
The marathon night continued to Japanese Izaykaya Kasadela where we had warmed-up Kanzake Yamahai paired with their popular Nagoya style chicken wing dish. Then we moved to a sake & shochu bar Uminoie which carries more than 50 kinds of shochu and sake, along with Nagasaki Goto Island home made dishes. We had chilled Yamahai, paired with their popular Goto udon noodle soup, and a bit spicy Ma-po tofu dish. Then finally the last stop was at a secret members-only bar lounge restaurant Bohemian, ended with chilled Umajun.
My favorite Tengumai sake is Kanzake Yamahai, not hot, nicely warmed-up. The same sake in chilled tastes good but when it’s warmed-up, it brings out the Umami of rice and rich flavors. I love sake that pairs with various food, and Tengumai Yamahai would be the excellent choice of sake, that goes well with various kinds of food and be able to keep drinking all night.
１０月６日、天狗舞で有名な車多酒造８代目蔵元 車多一成氏、NYで酒と言ったら利き酒師チズコ、そして酒サムライ／酒先生 Timothy Sullivan が、NYで天狗舞を取り扱っているレストランのうち５軒を訪れる『天狗舞マラソン』決行、ということでフォトグラファーとして完全密着同行させてもらいました。
ミッドタウンにある炉端焼きで人気の「炙り屋錦乃介」 では、「天狗舞旨吟 (うまぎん) / 旨醇 (うまじゅん) / 山廃」の３種類 ($30) を奇麗なプレゼンテーションの冷やできりっと。それに合わせて新鮮なお刺身の盛り合わせ、小鯛の煮付け、和州牛のグリルを堪能しました。その後イーストビ レッジに移動。まずNYで唯一の日本酒専門店「SAKAYA」に立ち寄り、オーナーの Rick さんとヒロコさんにご挨拶を。そして、炉端焼き専門店「炉端や」では、「旨醇 (ぬる燗) / アメリカ未発売の Alexander Gelmen ラベルデザイン古古酒 (常温) / 山廃 (上燗)」の３種類の天狗舞にアペタイザー付き (秋刀魚のなめろう) ($17) のセットを、さらにお燗にした天狗舞酒に合わせて新鮮な魚介や野菜の炉端料理、松茸の土鍋蒸しなどを堪能。
まだまだ『天狗舞マラソン』は続き、次に訪れた名古屋風手羽先で人気の居酒屋「笠寺 (Kasadela)」では、手羽先と一緒にお燗にした「山廃」を。そして、６０以上の焼酎とお酒と長崎県五島列島の家庭料理あごだし料理が自慢の「海の家」へ。マーボー豆腐とツルツルした食感の五島うどんと一緒に「山廃」を冷やで。最後に、住所非公開の隠れ家的ラウンジバー「Bohemian」にて、お店でも人気の天狗舞「旨醇」をワイングラスで頂きました。
冷やで飲んでももちろんおいしい天狗舞ですが「山廃」を燗酒で飲むのが一番気に入りました。温かくするとまた違った奥深い旨 みが出て、一晩中飲んでも飽きることのないクセになりそうなお酒です。お刺身や焼きもの以外にも臭みのあるチーズや味の濃い料理にも合う、食事と一緒に楽 しむのに抜群のお酒です。