25136 Tue Jul 29 19:09:04 -0700 2003 8 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 99936 Last week, Psssst... posted a notice about a very special sake tasting. I'm the one who hand carried these sakes from Tokyo earlier this month, and they have been waiting in my refrigerator. Their next destination is a special tasting on August 2nd. For details, click on the link below. For several years running I have brought sakes to San Francisco in June for tastings with friends. My main reason is to show everyone interested what really fresh sake in Japan tastes like. Unfortunately, most sake served in San Francisco places is past its prime, and has often been stored improperly. Here's your chance to have some of the best small-producer sakes available in Japan. I have brought mostly unfiltered and unpasteurized sakes that have been bottled in the spring. Plus, there will be an unfiltered unpasteurized cloudy sake donated by Beau Timken, who will soon open San Francisco's (and America's) first retail shop specializing in fine small-producer sake. And, at the tasting there will also be two surprise spirits from the south of Japan, one of which is rare and expensive even in Tokyo. Planning to attend is the dean of American beer writers, Mr. Fred Eckhardt, who is also a sake homebrewer and author of the first U.S. book on sake, Sake U.S.A., which is now out of print. Rumor has it that Fred will bring a bottle of his Portland-brewed sake for me, which I will donate to the tasting crowd. This is a rare opportunity to taste fresh sake just as you would in a nice Tokyo sake bar. Sake enthusiasts should reserve immediately. It will be a sake cocktail-free zone. Yoroshiku! Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/25076#99618 Tue Jul 29 19:09:04 -0700 2003 0 Bryan Harrell 1 99942 "And, at the tasting there will also be two surprise spirits from the south of Japan, one of which is rare and expensive even in Tokyo." Awamori? Tue Jul 29 21:08:35 -0700 2003 99936 0 Debbie M. 2 99948 Yes, and none other than Royal Mizuho, winner of the Monde Selection in Brussels one year. It's a "ko-shu" (ku-su in Okinawa dialect) and is heavy, complex and wonderful at 86 proof. Be there. Tue Jul 29 22:06:42 -0700 2003 99942 0 Bryan Harrell 3 99966 I'm really looking forward to this, Bryan. Gotta get my advance sake homework done! Wed Jul 30 04:15:38 -0700 2003 99948 0 Melanie Wong 3 100059 It sounds like it will be a fascinating event. I'm sorry I won't be able to make it. I'll be interested to read people's reactions to awamori -- I'm familiar with it because I have family in Okinawa, but I've never seen it for sale here (but I haven't looked that extensively, either), so I expect it will be something new for many people. I look forward to reading your reports! Wed Jul 30 22:49:39 -0700 2003 99948 0 Debbie M. 4 100068 Sorry you won't be able to join us. Hope we'll hear more from you, Debbie! All slots have been reserved now and there's a waiting list. Link: http://chowhound.safeshopper.com/23/cat23.htm?842 Thu Jul 31 01:25:48 -0700 2003 100059 0 Melanie Wong 1 100146 Could you give us more information about the sake specialty shop that you say Beau Timken will be opening? Thu Jul 31 19:12:55 -0700 2003 99936 0 B L Croteau 2 100855 I passed a 'store-in-progress' in Hayes Valley a block or two up from Abinsthe on Hayes Street on Friday that looked like it could be this sake specialty store .... anyone know if this is it and any word on when it might open? Sun Aug 10 13:45:08 -0700 2003 100146 0 Celery 3 100878 That's the spot. Opening is said to be imminent...maybe this month. Sun Aug 10 22:41:02 -0700 2003 100855 0 Melanie Wong