Sake Tasting & Food Pairing with a Sake Sommelier

Hosted by Gil

The experience in a nutshell

Type of the event

Tasting, Japanese

Number of guests

8 to 20

Time of the event

6:00 PM (2.5 hours)

A word about the experience

From learning the history of Sake to tasting and learning how to order it, Host Gil breaks it all down at this sit-down dinner in a brewery in San Francisco. Learn all about Sake while hearing Gil's experience in his many years spent living in Japan. Gil has worked as a Sake sommelier at the two Izakaya restaurants "Sozai" and "Nombe" and loves to teach other all that he has learned.

About the host:
"In my time as a sake sommelier at the two Izakaya restaurants "Sozai" & "Nombe," I always sought to show the beauty and utility of sake. From "dai ginjo" styled sake best suited for a chef’s elaborately composed sashimi, to a funky, rich "honjozo" or "kimoto" sake that will tackle that plate of wing or that fat skewer of slow braised pork belly, I loved making sake approachable.

I want to give people the confidence to ask for and to order different sakes to suit their tastes and the dishes they order at restaurants (and I don’t just mean Japanese ones). That is what I hope you will get from spending time with me in our kitchen."

Why we love this experience

Learn the basics of sake history and productions from a certified Sake sommelier

Try three premium sakes expertly paired with 3 Nombe dishes to show the variety in styles

Hear stories of Gil's time in Japan

Master the way of ordering sake at restaurants or at home

Can cater to vegetarian options and pescatarian options

See the menu

Natural Marriage

Assorted Sushi & Junmai Daiginjo Sake
Hako-zushi & Temaki with Junmai Daiginjo Sake

What the Funk

Grilled Kurobuta Pork Belly & Yamahai Sake
Pork Belly Marinated in 9-year old braise, grilled & served with Wasabi Mash and a sharp, acidic & funky Yamahai Sake.

For the Sweet Tooth

Green Tea Panna Cotta & Sparkling Sake
A light, sweet way to experience dessert-style sake.

What to expect

Gil is really knowledgeable restauranteur and sake sommelier. He introduced us to local and Japanese versions of various sakes, helped us understand the differences, and paired them with delicious and typical Japanese foods. I feel much more comfortable choosing from sake selections now and eager to experiment with additional varieties.

Meal was incredibly tasty and learned so much about various types of sake. Really appreciated being able to taste something new and exciting!

Gil was such an amazing host and sake connoisseur. He walked us through so many aspects of sake that I had no idea about and also shared very cool stories from his time living in Japan. The food was DELICIOUS! My favorite was the pork belly, but the sashimi and matcha were also fantastic. I would definitely recommend this event!

$48 Price per guest

4.7/5(3)