Oct

Meet The Dasher: Pairing Selected Food With Sake from Local Japanese

There is no doubt that we, Hong Kongers, are fascinated with everything Japanese. Therefore we cannot miss a chance to expand our knowledge of authentic drinking culture from Goro San, who is from Tokyo! Read on to learn more about his choices on sake food pairing and his stay in Dash Living.

What are your choices on liquor?

When we go to Izakaya (居酒屋), beer is always the 1st choice if we are thirsty, while sake is for a sensory journey. I enjoy trying different flavours of sake.

Can you share a bit more about choosing food to pair with sake?

There are no strict rules for it. I usually decide on the food by the taste or aroma of sake. For example, fresh sashimi or vegetables go well with fruity or light sake. At the same time, full-bodied sake is perfect for pork, beef, and chicken.

Do you have any recommendations for a sake food pairing?

There are four types of Sake: Aromatic (薰酒), Aged (熟酒), Dry (爽酒) and Rich (醇酒).

If we pair Yaki Hotate with sake, I suggest pairing this popular Hokkaido cell fish with fruity and light taste sake.

For the dry squid, the salty taste makes it a super versatile pairing choice for fruity-type sake.

And Miso Mackerel, which has a sharp and complex flavour, pairs well with matured sake.

For かまぼこ (kamaboko), they are processed seafood products prevalent in Japanese cuisine. The first one is Pollock Roe which is a bit spicy, and the second one is Salmon. They are fish products that go well with fruity or light sake.

The Kaki No Tane Rice Cracker combines rice, cracker and peanuts. This cheap Japanese and trendy food is suitable for all types of sake.

The last one is pickled smoked oysters. It is intense, which is an excellent pairing choice with matured sake.

How’s your stay in Dash Living?

My apartment was cosy and convenient and had gorgeous one-bedroom units with full-height windows. Compared to other apartments, it was stylish! So glad to have an area to cook food in the room, which can hardly be found in a hotel.

Going to the gym is a regular routine for me. Thus, I’ve joined the 24/7 gym with a Dash Living discount, and I may visit the CUZ barber shop or the 8 to 8 Barber Shop afterwards.

What do you usually do when you are free?

I like to wander around and explore mouthwatering cuisines during my leisure time, especially bars for craft beers. Every so often, I would visit a bar called The Madhouse, located near Mongkok East. So far, it was my favourite.

Apart from beer, I enjoy eating cold tofu pudding in Yan Wo Dou Bun Chong (人和荳品廠), Sour and Spicy noodles (傷心酸辣粉) and buying fruits from Yau Ma Tei Fruit Market.

Besides food, I like taking pictures too. I love checking out vehicle registration plates on the street. It is relaxing and fun.