Just to preface this entire posting if I have never thanked them in this blog before, I need to thank them now. PDX Pipeline is an amazing online promotions/event calendar that I have found to be priceless. It began when I won tickets from them to attend a ChocolateFest and has evolved into a twice weekly must check used to plan weekend outings and cross check against anything else that may be coming down the well, the Pipeline. Their calendar is quick and easy to use and they are constantly promoting and giving away tix to various "gotta be there" events.
Let's just say I was thrilled when I received an email from the Pipeline editor informing me that I had won two tickets to the SakeFest PDX 2012. Mid-week drinking be damned, I deserved those tickets and I was going to celebrate my good fortune.
Thursday evening came and it was glorious, simply a beautiful evening. My spirits were in fine form and it just kept getting better and better. I know, eighty tastings of sake' paired with small bites of yumminess does make for a fine progression into the night but this event really does it right.
Situated in the beautiful Governor Hotel, fifteen purveyors of fine sake, plum wine, beer and spirits snuggled in between seventeen local restaurants and pub-houses. On the main stage at the end of the ballroom a delightful jazz trio plays. All too briefly one of my favorite performance troupes, Portland Taiko takes the stage and drives home just how amazing this evening is turning out to be.
Some of the highlights include my personal favorites, local craft sake brewers~ SakeOne. They offered tastings of their full line-up including Momokawa, a delicious Junmai Ginjo that will change your mind about sake forever. Before K and I started enjoying all the SakeOne has to offer, we despised sake. Was not fond of having to heat up something just to mellow it out enough to slam it down. But then again, I'm not a big fan of "shots".
The sakes we enjoyed at the SakeFest were definitely NOT that type of sake.
An interesting twist with the sake that I didn't expect was the addition of St. Germaine elderflower liqueur. 4 parts sake to 1 part St. Germaine makes for a sweet little cocktail called a Sake Blossom. I will definitely be making more of these in the future.
There were some fairly good food offerings from places like the Saucebox and Wildwood. Then there were a few that had me vowing to go back for more, seek them out on the internet, and make reservations immediately. Kale offered a delicious Japanese comfort food similar to a stew. It was creamy and rich and was the perfect base for the evening. The amberjack sashimi from Park Kitchen was chewy but I enjoyed it. K did not. However, Yakuza Lounge was treating everyone to amazing Spring Run Chinook. I really think it may have just jumped out of the river and onto the chef's carving block. It simply melted in your mouth. Best dish in the place. I snuck back for more and even considered putting on shades and a fake mustache as to not embarrass myself begging for more.
A more low key venue that offered up some delicious treats and has a menu that I will absolutely be seeking out is MiHO Izakaya Japanese Pub. The Sesame Pork Meatballs served with Wasabi Watermelon, oh my.
Next year, I will even consider paying for my tickets to SakeFest. After all~ the $45 admission included over eighty sake/wine/beer tastings, food from seventeen restaurants, some sensational chocolates from Xocolati de David, little sake tasting glasses to take home and tickets to an after-hour party at Saucebox that I was just too pooped to pop for. It was Thursday night after all. I will be back.
