To explore more possibilities of sake pairing, the members from Saketora SELECTION: 'Little Sake Master', 'Sake new comer' and 'Sake Missy' are here again, having a sake pairing with a title of Hokkaido, the famous tourist spot, to find out if there is any surprise.t bring us. Want to know more about sake pairing? Let's find out at the following report!
Sake line up
From the left:
①Okotoyama Daiginjo Kita no Inaho
②Junmai Ginjo Taisetsu
③Otokoyama Junmai Daiginjo
④Junmai Ginjo Wakukura BLACK
'Little Sake Master'
recommendations
Croquette, the superstar from Hokkaido
Hokkaido is rich in crops, and potato is one of the representatives. Therefore, the croquette with potato as the main ingredient has become a famous food in Hokkaido. It can be well paired with different kinds of food ingredients and so there are a lot of different favours which all are delicious.
Sake pairing
Otokoyama Daiginjo Kita no Inaho[NEW]
The sake is full of umami, and able to clear the greasy feeling of the croquette. However, the aftertaste of sake becomes more spicy and strong in alcohol feeling, so love it or not really depends on your favourite taste.
Junmai Ginjo Taisetsu
The ginjo is bit dry, which can be perfectly match with the fried bread crumbs on the croquette. The greasy feeling can be washed away and you can keep enjoying the food and the sake.
Comment from Miss Yamada:
The croquette is crispy and delicious, meaty and full of the umami of potato, no wonder it has been a popular food for a long time. But its greasy feeling sometimes stop us from keep eating, so when paired with refreshing sake, it can cover up its shortcomings, making it more delicious and enjoyable.
Score: ★★★★☆
'Sake new comer' recommendations
Introduced by TV shows! Herring roe in cheese
Very popular! Snacks that have been introduced by Japanese TV shows. The soft and chewy cheese, with the herring roe full of umami, together with the unique crispness of the roe, the overall is delicious and with a very good mouthfeel.
Sake pairing
Otokoyama Junmai Daiginjo
A clear daiginjo with slight sweetness. Not very outstanding, but when paired with the cheese, the slightly fishy smell of the herring roe can be properly cleaned and able to bring out the strong taste of the cheese, and the sake itself seems to become sweeten up.
Otokoyama Daiginjo Kita no Inaho[NEW]
A very clean and clear sake, which make it not able to clear the fishy taste of the roe like the Junmai Daiginjo above, but those who like the umami taste of the roe may fall in love with this pairing.
Comment from Miss Yamada:
Generally, when pairing with cheese, the requirements for sake are to focus on the balance between the two. The two need to have equal strength, so as not to be losing to ther other one. After adding herring roe, how to show its umami is another requirement. Although not all the sakes are suitable for pairing with this snack, as long as you choose a suitable one, this herring roe in cheese should surprise you.
Score: ★★★☆
'Sake Missy' Recommendations
Japanese curry, as a soup?
Since ''hot and spicy'' is not that common in Japanese eating culture, Japanese curry is sweeter than the others in the world. And the Hokkaido public's love for curry has been upgraded from "seasoning" to ''as a soup for drinking''!
Sake pairing
Otokoyama Junmai Daiginjo
Curry has a strong and distinctive taste, while Otokoyama Junmai Daiginjo is light and clear sake. So we are having this combination, the taste of Daiginjo is a bit losing to the curry.
Junmai Ginjo Wakakura BLACK[NEW]
Wakakura is slightly dry with a bit sourness, which can able to wash away the greasy feeling without being totally covered by the curry. Normally, curry is quite difficult to be paired with sakes, but this time really brought me a surprise.
Comment from Miss Yamada:
Japanese curry is relatively sweeter and not as strong in spice by compare with curry in other countries. So besides the sakes which are in Tanrei category, such as some Junmai Daiginjo, you can still find a sense of harmony in the pairing.
Score: ★★★
