Sake is becoming more and more popular these days. It can be paired with a wide variety of dishes, and served warm or cold.

Sake is brewed like a beer, but served like a wine. It’s made from fermented rice and known to be one of the most natural beverages on earth because it contains only rice, water, and yeast. What excites me the most, is that premium sake is hangover free and doesn’t contain any sulfites.

A couple of weeks ago, I got the chance to attend the Sake vs. Wine Tasting with Food Pairings, and let me tell you, it was a great experience.  My colleague and I sat through a four-course meal, and even though the wine paired best with most of the courses, sake made an interesting combination with some entrees.

For one of the food pairings, we were served Braised Pork Belly Fettuccine with English Peas, Gorgonzola Cheese, Cream, and Fresh Figs. My mouth is watering just thinking about it! The choice of wine was a red, dry Tuscan vs. a Sho Chiku Bai Silky Unfiltered Nigori sake. To our amazement, this particular dish paired deliciously with the Nigori sake.  This type of sake is silky and mild, with a milky white appearance. It’s bold, sweet, and robust with a slight hint of coconut which enhanced the meal perfectly.

I’ve included some recommendations for sake available here at Nino’s below.

Gekkeikan Traditional Sake – $7.99

Considered to be the world’s most popular sake, it has a subtle hint of grapefruit and pairs deliciously with shellfish and coconut Asian dishes.

Ty Ku Black Sake – $11.49

This is a super-premium Junmai Ginjo sake. This sake is rich and silky with hints of vanilla and peach. It’s made with all-natural ingredients.

Sho Chiku Bai Nigori – $6.29

Bold, sweet, and robust. You could pair this with your favorite sushi or even a pot of beef stew.

I highly recommend trying something new and adding sake to your next dinner party or even a quiet meal at home. I hope you found these tips helpful!

Simone