Sakamai - Nanbu Bijin Tasting Set

Thanks to the work of Sake Discoveries, I found out that there was a special food and sake pairing at Sakamai, the new-ish izakaya in the lower east side of Manhattan.  Nanbu Bijin was on the menu that night as well as some tasty small bites to complement each brew, or the other way 'round, depending on your take. I was there for the sake, but the food was good enough itself to warrant a trip back.

Being in town for the Mutual Expo, I decided to hop a subway and check the place out.

Sakamai is in a part of the city I used to haunt about 15 years ago, and boy has it changed since then. There were no izakaya there then, and now, you've got a pair just within a few blocks, with Yopparai just around the corner and east.   I don't recall what was right across from the Cake Shop then, but it certainly wasn't an izakaya.

The interior was really very nice, and the bar, though small had this really neat rack hanging above it, complete with what looked like sake-bottle lamps.

Their sake menu was thoughtfully organized and included just enough description and pictures.

The Nihone Sampling Set was the perfect way to begin a meal.

First was the Nambu Sembei cracker with brie cheese and fig, matched nicely with Nanbu Bijin Daiginjo. The light cracker, rich cheese and aroma of the fresh fig melded very well with Daiginjo, also light but with a solid acidity that tied together each separate element.  This one worked very well, and wouldn't be too hard to re-create at home.

Next was a black Garlic Miso Dengaku. The dengaku was made from konnyaku. The rich, salty and slightly bitter black garlic miso was sprinkled with clay pepper. It was paired with Nambu bijin umeshu. The umeshu has a natural sweetness to it that took on the savory, salty black garlic miso, and the konnyaku was the foundation for this yummy little bite. A good match.

Rounding out the set was the Senbei Jiru. Here was a paitan soup with cracker and maitake mushroom and Tokyo scallion.  This was paired with Nanbu Bijin Tokubetsu Junmai. This pairing said to me everything good about sake and food, bigger body to this sake met the thickness of the soup and the balanced earthy finish was perfect compliment to the maitake.  Another true winner.

A really nice pairing set. The best I think I've had.

Before I left, I was lucky enough to meet Jamie Graves, who is charge of sake at Sakamai. Mr. Graves recently received honorable mention in the 4th World Sake Sommelier Competition in Japan, and he shared with me some very special junmai daiginjo that he brought back in his suitcase.  That was above and beyond.

Thanks to Sakamai for a delicious pairing and thank you to Jamie for sharing your time and some delicious sake for me.