Hello January and happy new year! Personally, this was an exciting month being in Europe, connecting with people and experiencing how sake is perceived outside of Japan. But it is also nice to be back in Japan, catching up with events, brewery visits and sake tour or two.
Photography & Sake - Munich DE
My first sake event overseas in collaboration with @agedsake.de and what a great evening!
Bringing back our concept of combining photography and sake, I was showing some of my photos with great sake to taste from@kubiki_shuzo at the wonderful at@unearthed.gallery in Munich.
It's been great talking to people about my photography, life in Japan and of course the sake in front of us and in general. For anyone who joined us - Thank you for coming in this rainy evening it was a pleasure to meet you all!
Bavarian Breakfast - Weisses Bräuhaus im Tal
I have not been in Munich for what feels like at least 2 centuries and one thing that was on my list and a non-negotiable was Bavarian "Breakfast"!
Weisswürst, Prezel, and sweet mustard with a beer accompanied by traditional music played right in front of you - what better way to start a day? So we headed to the Weisses Bräuhaus im Tal and although many might find this touristy, I was incredibly excited and it did not disappoint. It might not be something I would want to do every day, but this was great fun!
Why so early you may ask? Well, Weisswürst traditionally should be eaten before 12, some even say 11 am, as historically the meat could not be kept cool, so it was necessary to consume them before they turned bad...
Monaco Ramen - Soft Opening
Super stoked we got to go to the soft opening of @monaco_ramen while I was in Munich!
Really great to see authentic Japanese food well done outside of Japan. So if you are in Munich this is definitely a nice way to get a taste of Japan. Of course, what we know as some of the most affordable dishes in Japan, does come with a little bit of a price tag here, however, it is worth it.
I was also pretty excited as aside from eating delicious Ramen and Gyoza, I also got to try one of the sake from@gosakecom, which I was really looking forward to for a while!🍶🔥
Hello Dublin!
It was a bit of a whirlwind visit, but I am glad I made it!
Having lived for 15 years in Dublin before moving to Japan, this very much feels like going home, maybe even more so than actually going to my home country (Switzerland). And it goes without saying, next time I will stay longer!
Unfortunately, I did not make it into any establishment that serves sake and barely got to drink a pint of Guinness or two so I will definitely plan that in on my next visit, along with hopefully getting a chance to kanpai with a few more people while I am over.
Sake Dinner Zurich
Great night catching up with sake friends in Zurich at popular eatery Miss Miu and so excited to finally meet@swissyamasake and try one of Oliver's sake made in Switzerland!!!
Really appreciate the fact that paying a little bit of corkage to bring your own drinks is pretty normal, so I also got a chance to bring and share one of my all-time favorites from @mutsu_8000, their Tokubetsu Junmai, which I picked up at the airport on my flight out of Tokyo.
Great food, amazing sake, and lovely company - perfect night out!
Where to Drink Sake in Tokyo:
Freshly landed in Japan and what better way to jump right back in and fight the jetlag, than with a quick sake-heavy dinner with Mac from @kanpaiplanet and fellow Sake on Air Host Chris Hughes?!
It's been ages since I've been to Ebisu, but will be back more often because @chocotte_ebisu is such a great sake bar! The food was fantastic and the sake, where do I even start? Definitely one for your "where to eat and drink sake list in Tokyo"!
Akagane Resort 10 Year Anniversary
I probably walked by the @akagane1925 resort in Kyoto at least a 1000 times and always wanted to check it out, so I was very excited to join their 10th Anniversary event! Especially as they were celebrating with sake curated from all around Japan where they have partner hotels like the@nipponia_sasayama in which I had the pleasure to stay at and love!
The food was exquisite and what a beautiful venue! Also very much enjoyed to kanpai with sake from@kotsuzmi and Kyoto local @sasakisyuzo who I thought had the most beautiful label of the evening...
Umenayado Brewery Sake Tour and Sake Pairing Lunch
It was great to join "Deep Experience" as they were looking to create a new potential sake tour in Nara and advise them on it.
So this is as sneak peek at both their brewery tour and sake tasting! And what can I say, I loved them both. So many smart visuals integrated in the tour, like how big of a rice field goes into an Isshobin (hypothetically) or a look under the microscope at both Koji spores and yeast 🦠
Followed by a super smart tasting, including different temperatures and vessels. My hands-down favorite was their Honjozo, versatile at 3 different temperatures: room temperature, 30° and 50° degrees and just so good with food. Great for them to have a kitchen studio on site and with Chef Nobuhiro Maruta combining local ingredients from Nara prefecture with French and Japanese food, the perfect match for Umenoyado Sake Breweries sake. Of course, topped-off with some of the best Umeshu & Yuzushu I had in a while...
Shōryaku-ji “The Birthplace of Sake”
I got a chance to quickly visit Shōryaku-ji in Nara, which is said to be “The Birthplace of Sake”.
Why is it referred to this? Well, here on Boudaisen (a mountain) in Nara, it is said, that the yeast starter known as Bodai-moto was created.
Now, to be honest, it is pretty far and difficult to get here unless you are driving. Once here you will find a small temple complex and a tiny shop and depending on when you are visiting you may be able to watch some sake-related activities. We got here just in time to watch a little bit of the brewing and ceremony - which was very special.
Noh meets Sake
I love when events combine not just food and sake but also performances, activities, or music, so this event at the@crosshotelosaka was the perfect excuse to go to Osaka and indulge a little.
Sake from @kikumasamune_official was paired with a French-inspired menu and a “Nohgaku” workshop followed by a short private performance of Takasago, which was really the highlight as I am absolutely obsessed with Noh Theater.
I also quite enjoyed their Hyaku Moku "Alt 3" ( a blend of sake), which I quite liked, especially paired with the beef, so a bottle of it made it home with me.
International Visitors!
We have seen a crazy influx of people coming to Japan this year, but who can blame them? And it has been great to meet so many sake people finally in person that I have been chatting or following over the last few years!
So it was great to finally meet @namazakepaulin for a drink in Tokyo as well as catch up with @joshuakalinan who I am always excited to share a beverage or two.
Loved the sake selected by Paul from @yukawa_sakebrewery in Nagano. Just by the label I am not sure if I had chosen it, but what a great surprise! A Junmai Yamahai that has been slightly aged - I will definitely order this again if I see it.
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