Sake-philes Unite!

Posted Tuesday, September 11, 2007, 4:06 PM by Lonely Planet

When I moved to California, I didn't know my junmai from my daiginjo. To me, sake was simply a warm contrast to my cold sushi, served in sweet little cups. Today, while not as educated about Japan's 1400 breweries or the world's countless sakes as I'd like to be, I love all things sake. And until about a year ago, I was ignorantly happy with my delectably clean and dry Shiratake Junmai Ginjo, or some sweet, milky Nigori.

But then, last year the manager of my favorite Japanese restaurant asked if I was going to the upcoming Joy of Sake sake-tasting event. 'Not to be missed,' she insisted. Oh, how right Gina-san was. The next night, I walked into the Moscone Center, was given a glass and a booklet of the sakes available for tasting, and was changed forever. Tables lined with bottle after bottle of sake - hundreds of them, each with a small dropper in a full sake cup for gathering a few precious drops into one's tasting glass.

It was tremendous. I approached timidly. But once I learned that many of the sakes were not available in the USA, I knew what I had to do. I opened the brochure, tasted and took copious notes until I was thoroughly enlightened, and called a cab.

This month the Joy of Sake event is on again. The largest sake-tasting event held outside of Japan provides a rare opportunity to sample award-winning sakes in peak condition. The three-city tour kicked off in Honolulu in August, and is coming to San Francisco and New York for only one night each. Over 300 sakes will be available for sampling (again, including over 100 not available in the United States), and some of the best restaurants in the Bay Area will be serving up sake appetizers to both complement the sake and to help imbibers maintain.

So if you find yourself in San Francisco or New York and the time is right, experience the Joy of Sake. To quote Gina-san, it is not to be missed.

The Joy of Sake

San Francisco: 13 September 2007, Hilton San Francisco
New York City: 27 September 2007, The Puck Building
Tickets are $70-90. To order, visit the website or call 888-739-1007.


- Emily K Wolman

Labels: Asia and Pacific, Culinary culture, The Americas

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