Sake Sommelier Chris Johnson - Find. Eat. Drink.
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Chris Johnson, AKA the Sake Ninja, is the sake sommelier at New York’s Cherry restaurant and the recently opened Cherry Izakaya in Brooklyn.
Here are Chris’ sake drinking tips and recommendations as well as his guide to where to drink sake in NYC.
Chris Johnson
At Cherry, he has created a sake list that is both diverse and large, with more than 80 sakes. His goal is to be able to serve sake to both the novice and the expert, yet also pair it with their French-influenced Japanese cuisine.
This Thursday, he is participating in the annual Joy of Sake event in New York which celebrates 370 different sakes.
Here are Chris’ sake drinking tips and recommendations as well as his guide to where to drink sake in NYC.
September 16, 2014
Sake Sommelier’s Favorite NYC Drinking Spots
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Photograph courtesy of Yopparai
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By Sake Sommelier Chris Johnson
General Information
Cherry Restaurant
355 West 16th Street
New York, NY 10011
T: 212.929.5800
Cherry Izakaya
138 North 8th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11249
The Pros
- Chef Marc Spitzer
- Sushi Chef Josh Bedell
- Sake Sommelier Chris Johnson
I fell in love with sake because: it's amazing.
My favorite dish to eat with sake is: there are so many, but oysters always kill it.
The biggest misconception about sake is: that it should be dropped in a beer.
Ways to enjoy sake:
- Serve it in a wine glass and sip it with cheese. Blue, double creams, and Comte work quite well.
- Put it in the freezer for an hour and a half and pour a little over your ceviche.
- Substitute it for a white spirit and enjoy a great “porch cocktail” -- perfect for lazy afternoons.
Traditions
Don’t pour sake for yourself. Traditionally, you always pour it for your friends. If you are drinking it out of a masu, a wooden box, then drink it from the corner. This saves you from sake shirt. Remember to say Kanpai (Cheers) before you drink.
Pairings
I love sake with oysters. The soft acidity and umami in the sake brings out the best in the oysters. I really like Ginjos for West Coast oysters and earthier Junmai sakes for East Coast oysters. Another interesting pairing is with a dry-aged ribeye. The richness of flavor in the meat and the balance of fat pair beautifully with a Kimoto or Yamahai style Junmai sake.
Temperature
Super premium sakes are more often enjoyed cold, as warming them causes some of the more delicate flavors to fade. But the great thing about sake is that it can be enjoyed at various different temperatures. Like wine, some sakes show better when colder, some at 48° F and some at room temperature. The Japanese have 10 terms to describe the temperature of sake, which range from chilled all the way up to hot, but there is no term for a temperature higher than 131° F. Sake boils at about 180° F, so if your sake comes out bubbling, it is way too hot.
Find the Temperature You Like
I love trying all sakes at different temperatures. A good rule for drinking sake at home is to keep your sake in the refrigerator. To find the temperature of sake that fits your preference, pour a glass straight from the refrigerator and leave the sake on the table. As it warms up, see what temperature you enjoy it the most. It may be different for each person.
Hot Sake on a Winter’s Night
Try warming some sake. If you like it that way, enjoy it and share it with friends. For hot sake, I would stick to the Junmai and Honjozo styles. On a cold winter’s night, a hot sake can be a very warming and an enjoyable experience. Who doesn't desire a hot toddy every once in a while?
Sakes Worth Trying
My favorite three sakes to try as an introduction are:
- Yoshinogawa Gensen Karakuchi [~$20 | Buy]
- Akitabare Koshiki Junzukuri [~$13 | Buy]
- Dewazakura Oka [~$15 | Buy].
Three more unique sakes worth looking for are:
- Kasumi Tsuru Kimoto Extra Dry [~$19 | Buy]
- Kikusui Funaguchi Nama Genshu [~$7 | Buy]
- Tamagawa Kinsho Daiginjo [~$56 | Buy].
Find | Buy Sake
Sake at Sakaya
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Sakaya
Great service, great knowledge, and two amazing people, the owners Rick and Hiroko, make this the place to go for sake in NYC.
324 East 9th Street, New York, NY 10003
T: 212.505.7253 | www.sakayanyc.com
The sake room at Ambassador Wines & Spirits
Photograph courtesy of Ambassador Wines & SPirits
Ambassador Wines & Spirits
A stalwart in the sake department for years, they have a great selection and even have a special room for sake.
1020 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10022
T: 212.421.5078 | www.ambassadorwines.com
Eat | Restaurants
Pressed Sushi at Kyo Ya
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Kyo Ya
Sit with Sono-san, enjoy his delicate and amazing food and his super entertaining personality. Order the sashimi assortment and ask about the battera-pressed sushi.
[Check out chef Chikara Sono’s NYC eating, drinking, and shopping guide.]
94 East 7th Street, New York, NY 10009
T: 212.982.4140
EN Japanese Brasserie
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EN Japanese Brasserie
Abe-san makes amazing elevated traditional cuisine. The food and the room are fantastic. Order from the small plates area or go for the full omakase.
[Read more about EN Japanese Brasserie and see where Abe Hiroki eats in NYC.]
435 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
T: 212.647.9196 (Book a Table) | www.enjb.com
Sakamai
Photograph courtesy of Sakamai
Sakamai
They have a wonderful sake and shochu selections. Akiyama-san makes gastropub food with his own Japanese flair. Grab the burger, snack on the uni crostini, and devour the aged cote-de-boeuf.
157 Ludlow Street, New York City, NY 10002
T: 646.590.0684 (Book a Table) | sakamai.com
Drink | Sake
Sake Bar Decibel
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Decibel
In a dark basement, it immediately transports you to Japan. The night slowly disappears here. The prices are cheap and the glasses are full, but you can always order another. Try a few sakes and keep notes for next time (I promise you won’t remember in the morning).
240 East 9th Street, New York, NY 10003
T: 212.979.2733 | www.sakebardecibel.com
Sake at Bond Street
Photograph courtesy of Bond Street
BondSt
It is an oldie, but it is still fun every time. Great snacks and an excellent sake list.
6 Bond Street, New York, NY 10012
T: 212.777.2500 (Book a Table) | www.bondstrestaurant.com
Sake at Yopparai
Photograph courtesy of Yopparai
Yopparai
A classic Izakaya with a great sake list and super cool glassware. Ask for what they are pouring that night.
151 Rivington Street, New York, NY 10002
T: 212.777.7253 (Book a Table) | yopparainyc.com
For the full F.E.D. New York City Eating & Drinking Guide, download the Find. Eat. Drink. iPhone app.
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