Bring Your Own Sake (BYOS) Tasting at Ichibe

Bring Your Own Sake (BYOS) Tasting at Ichibe

This is our first B.Y.O.S. After going back and forth about the theme, I decided not to set one and just see what everyone brings to the tasting. Initially, I thought Yamahai/Kimoto (http://www.sake-world...) only because I love these types, then swung over to muroka nama because it is sake brewing season and you see good nama available on the market. Then, I thought what the heck! Wider selection gives everyone a chance to find what they really like, right?

Ichibe is a great nihonshu otaku hang out located only a few minutes from the Ogikubo station. Sit on tatami and have sake with hot steamy nabe, and let's enjoy the night. They nicely agreed to host our tasting event and allow us to bring in our own sake.

When:
March 1, 2007 (Sat)
7:00 pm - 7:30 pm Tasting - we will talk about each sake at the beginning and see how everyone will describe them.
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm Dinner and sake (We will close the bill at 9:00 pm)

Place: Ichibe in Ogikubo 5 minutes from JR Ogikubo station.

2 fees for the event:

Fee 1: Dinner - 3,500 yen per person

Fee 2: Sake - 720 ml bottle of your favorite sake.
If you are not sure what to bring, please add 2,000 yen to the fee. We will arrange some random selections of sake from Ichibe.

Please indicate in the comment section if you are going to bring a bottle or if you prefer to pay 2,000 yen for sake. Also, please add what you are going to bring if possible.

Food type:
Nabe and assorted food. If you have special dietary requirement, please let me know in advance.

I believe Ichibe allows smoking. If you need absolutely non-smoking environment, I will check with them.

Hope to see some familiar faces and new fellow sake enthusiasts. Oh, one more thing, I am going to close RSVP on 2/27 to get the final count.

Et-chan@Tokyofoodcast
Your Sake Event Coordinator

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If you are wondering what to bring to the tasting, please read on.

Sake information source:

*March issue of Dancyu has extensive coverage of sake.
http://www.president....

*Nama list from True Sake in San Francisco
http://www.truesake.c...
Or
http://www.truesake.c...

*List of Yamahai/Kimoto on True Sake news letter
http://www.truesake.c...

*General recommendation list on John's site
http://www.sake-world...
or his news letter archive
http://www.sake-world...

Sake shops:
If you are not sure where you can pick a bottle, I like these 5 shops in Tokyo. If you have a good shop nearby, let me know!

Department Store - Tokyu Foodshow at JR Shibuya has a good selection and I had good luck ordering sake not available at the store. I like Tobu Ikebukuro, too.
Suzuden in Yotsuya - very nice shop just a few minutes away from the Yotsuya station. If you need assistance in English, Yoko-san can help you to find a good bottle.
Sakeya Kurihara in Azabu
Mitsuya in Nishi Ogikubo