Move Over Oktoberfest Time to Make Room for Nihonshu No Hi

October 1st is Nihonshu No Hi or Sake Day, a worldwide celebration of the start of the Sake brewing season. What started as a Japanese national observance, it has seen rapid growth in popularity across the globe as the premier opportunity to learn more about the traditions and culture of Japanese cuisine and to enjoy fresh sake and sushi.

SAH-kay (not SAH-kee) is made in the fall immediately following the harvest of sake rice which will be fermented over the winter season. Sake’s aromatic and mellow character is a great companion for winter foods like Tempura or Steaks. Often referred to as “rice wine,” it is actually brewed more like a beer. Since sake is brewed, it is meant to be consumed fresh, like beer and not meant to be aged.

Drinking sake with the deities and offering gifts to them on festival days are traditions passed on to today. The ceremony jichinsai, for the construction of the new buildings, is performed by sprinkling sake over the property and offering it to the owners. People drink it to ward off evil spirits and wish for a long life. Also, on New Year’s Day, there is a custom by which people wish the peace for the new year by drinking sake called toso, a mixture of about ten kinds of herbs mixed with seishu (refined sake).*

“If you’re having dinner together and there is a bottle of sake in front of us you will never pour your own sake,” said Alfredo Martinez, director of beverage for Benihana Inc. “You take the initiative and hold the bottle and pour it to you then I will sit the bottle down and you then will pour it back to me. There are many different styles that range from the light and elegant and even sweet. It’s a matter of what type of sake you’re drinking. The fuller bodied earthier bottles of sake typically would be warmed up.”

“At RA Sushi our menu has a lot of the traditional items you would expect in a normal sushi restaurant,” said Martinez. “But, over the last 21 years we have expanded that thinking and added our twist to that so you’re going to have sushi rolls which is the spiked sake roll that we’re featuring in October but some other specialties, some of them are going to be crunchy and spicy and some of them are going have a sweet element with fruit and sushi. We just try to create a fun atmosphere where people are going to try different things. Ramen is also a big thing right now; we have a great Ramen menu as well. “

RA Sushi is celebrating 21 years so go on in have dinner or try a Asahi Sake Bomb

For more information visit rasushi.com

About Alfredo Martinez

Martinez is the Sr. Director of Beverage for RA Sushi Bar & Restaurant. He plans and manages the full range of beverage operations, including the creation and launch of new items on all beverage menus and
the selection of sake, wine, beer and liquor offerings for guests. In addition to being certified as a Sake Specialist and Sake Advisor, Martinez completed a Culinary Program at the French Culinary Institute
in Vancouver and is working towards his advanced Master Sommelier Certification. He lives in Cooper City, FL with his wife and three-year-old son.

Courtesy: RA Sushi

Photo Courtesy: Luigi Anzivino CC-BY-SA 2.0 from Wikimedia Commons

* http://www.talkativeman.com/sa...