• About
  • Contact
  • Testimonials
  • Newsletter
  • More
    • Demographics & Advertising Rates
    • Terms & Conditions
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
No Result
View All Result
California Business Journal
  • Front Page
  • Business
  • Finance
  • People
  • Featured
  • Opinion
  • Technology
  • Law
  • News
  • Food
  • Art & Culture
  • Human Interest
  • Education
  • Insurance
  • Real Estate
  • Health & Fitness
California Business Journal
feat

ALL ABOUT SAKE

by Lee Barnathan, Staff Writer, California Business Journal
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Sake School of America is a Los Angeles-based education and training center specializing in teaching restaurateurs, alcohol distributors and enthusiasts everything there is to know about sake.

 By Lee Barnathan, California Business Journal

Want to learn how sake isn’t really wine but more resembles beer?

Go to sake school.

Want to learn that sake is often served chilled and not always warm as you often see in sushi bars?

Sake School of America will educate you.

You know sake and sushi go together, but how about with oysters, various cheeses, salad, even chocolate?

Sake School of America instructs people on the finer points of this most Japanese of alcoholic beverages – and here’s a bonus tidbit: sake simply means “alcoholic beverage.” Its legal name is seishu.

Toshio Ueno is vice president, executive instructor and master sake sommelier of the Los Angeles-based education and training center specializing in teaching restaurateurs, alcohol distributors and enthusiasts all about sake and other Japanese liquors.

Class in session, led by Toshio Ueno
Class in session, led by Toshio Ueno

“The world of sake is a joyful exploration into Japanese culture, cuisine and the brewing art,” he says, “and it is our mission to spread this wonder of Japan to the people of the world.”

Actually, the school was borne out of sushi and sound business practices. Noritoshi Kanai, the late chairman of Mutual Trading Company, a Japanese food and drink importer and distributor credited with introducing sushi bars in the U.S., noticed that as sushi proliferated in the U. S., the increasingly non-Japanese people preparing the raw fish didn’t know how to properly do it. And he feared that diners would suffer illness.

“Noritoshi wanted to start educating sushi chefs in the safe handling of seafood so people wouldn’t get sick,” Ueno says in an interview at the Mutual Trading conference room in L.A’s Little Tokyo. “So he started a sushi school.  He wanted to promote Japanese food culture, yet it was also for food safety and to elevate quality assurance at Japanese restaurants.”

Ueno started working at MTC in 2002 as a sales rep and he clearly saw how areas without large Japanese populations didn’t have distributors that understood sake. Kanai also noticed.

“We decided to start the school to educate, especially distributor reps much like us,” Ueno says. “I couldn’t go around to all the restaurant and retail shop accounts on my own, so we were given the task of educating sales reps and servers who can learn themselves and then relay the same information to others.”

The sake school opened in 2010. Since Ueno’s parents were grape farmers and he had already worked with wine, he was a logical choice to head the school. But first, he had to learn all about it, too. Fortunately, there are two major schools in the world: the Sake Service Institute in Japan and the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) in London. When Ueno completed his training, he became the first in the world to hold master of sake, master sake sommelier and WSET sake educator designations.

The school utilizes SSI and WSET’s textbooks and offers classes in Los Angeles, Secaucus, N.J., Orlando, Fla., and Charlotte, N.C. All classes include lectures and exams. The costs range from $265 for a one-day WSET Level 1 class to $1,050 for a two-day SSI Sake Sommelier class.

Students learn the history, technique, process, production, regulation and language of sake (it’s mostly Chinese) without ever visiting a brewery (they watch a video).

An interesting story: Sake originally was always a cloudy beverage, but that changed by accident in the 1600s when a very angry and unhappy worker attempted to sabotage a sake fermentation vat by adding ashes.

Instead, it clarified the liquid into the sake that we know of today. As a result, Ueno says, the family became so rich that they were able to start its own bank, Sanwa, one of the financial giants in Japan.

Most people assume sake is rice wine, but Ueno says it more closely resembles beer because of the fermentation process. Whereas grapes have natural sugar that ferments into alcohol, rice is a starch that has to be converted into sugar using a fungus called koji (in Latin, aspergillus oryzae) that produces an enzyme that will break the starch into sugar before it can be fermented. Ueno calls this “multiple fermentation.” Beer uses malt instead of koji to break down the starch in barley, but the process is similar.

Many popular types of sake now in U.S. have fruity and flowery aromas and tastes, the results of new yeast and rice strains. Ueno says heating the sake will affect that. “So drink it chilled,” he adds. But there are traditional sake with earthy flavor character with high Umami that are enjoyed warmed, since warming sake will open up the flavor and Umami.

Sake contains succinic acid so it goes well with fish that also have succinic acid: oysters, lobster, crab and shrimp. And since it contains lactic acid, it mixes well with bleu, manchego, Gruyere, Havarti and Romano cheeses. Ueno recommends warm sake with seafood soups such as clam chowder.

Finally, sake doesn’t have sulfites as wine does, so it’s an alcoholic alternative for people who are allergic to sulfites. It’s intel like that from Ueno and Sake School of America that will leave you drunk with knowledge.

“One would think that most class enrollees are fans of Japanese food,” Ueno says. “However, in reality many are fans of wine who want to further their studies of fermented liquors.”

 

 

Sake School of America

431 Crocker St.

Los Angeles, CA 90013-2114

ADVERTISEMENT

TEL: (213)-830-9557

Web: www.sakeschoolofamerica.com

e-mail: info@sakeschoolofamerica.com

 

Tags: alcoholAmericaArtbeerCACaliforniachefsChineseCuisineculturedrunkeducationexecutivefoodgrapeheatinginformationInstituteinstructorLeeLos AngelesnaturalrestaurantsSake School of AmericasaladspecializingToshio Uenotrainingtrustvideowine
ADVERTISEMENT
Lee Barnathan, Staff Writer, California Business Journal

Lee Barnathan, Staff Writer, California Business Journal

Related Posts

Glish: The New Beverage That Is Making Ginger Fun
Glish: The New Beverage That Is Making Ginger Fun Again
lemon-dill-pan-fried-salmon
On the Stovetop: How to Grill Fish with a Grill Pan
Le Chene, French Cuisine, Santa Clarita, Calif.
Experiencing Fine Dining in Santa Clarita, California
Lauren Craig of Endymion Wine & Spirits
Spirit of Change
The Zevia Braintrust at the New York Stock Exchange: (L to R) Paddy Spence, CEO; Amy Taylor, President; Robert Gay, Chief Strategy Officer ; Hank Margolis, Chief Operating Officer
Zevia’s IPO Signals The Biggest Day In Its 14-year History; Goldman Sachs, Bank of America Securities and Morgan Stanley were lead underwriters as Zevia Skyrockets to a $854 million market value.
Is Bean-To-Cup Coffee Better Than Regular Coffee?
Is Bean-To-Cup Coffee Better Than Regular Coffee?
SOS-Hydration
Breakthrough Dehydration Solution Discovered by World-Class Athletes
Winemaker Erich Russell
Master California Winemaker Erich Russell Makes Rabbit Ridge Winery A Paso Robles ‘Institution’
wine time
Wine Time
coco vodka and rum image
Launching a Business During Covid ... And Flourishing
Klaus BellinghausenOwnerKingFrosch
KING OF THE HILL
advertisement
ADVERTISEMENT

CBJ Newsletter

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram LinkedIn

Advertise With CBJ

Contact Rick@CalBizJournal.com

CBJ Rates and Demographics

Job Postings

CEO Wanted


Requirements: BS/BA + 2yrs of Business Managing Experience

Mail Resume: Grand Life, Inc. 14647 Northam St. La Mirada, CA 90638.

$114,754/year

ADVERTISEMENT
1REALTOUR-SAN DIEGO-WEB DESIGN
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn LinkedIn Instagram
C B J   LOGO  SVG-01
  • About
  • Contact California Business Journal
  • Testimonials
  • Demographics & Advertising Rates
  • Terms & Conditions

Categories

  • Art & Culture
  • Business
  • California Hotel Listings
  • Daily Updates
  • Editor's Choice
  • Education
  • Featured
  • Finance
  • Food & Dining
  • Health & Fitness
  • Human Interest
  • Insurance
  • Law
  • Lawyers
  • Marketing
  • Medical
  • News
  • Newsletter
  • Opinion
  • People
  • Popular
  • Real Estate
  • Social Media
  • Technology
  • Uncategorized

CBJ Partner Firebrand Media

Laguna Beach Independent Newspaper
 Laguna Beach City Guide
 Newport Beach Independent Newspaper
Newport Beach Country Club Magazine
  Montage Magazine
 Omni Escapes Hotel Magazine
 Bespoke Concierge New York
 Evans Hotels
 Laguna Beach Magazine
 On The Menu Laguna Beach
 Newport Beach Magazine
Coastal Real Estate Guide (NB,LB, CDM)
Monarch Beach Resort Magazine
 Pacific Coast Magazine (SoCal)
Sea Island Life Magazine
Salamander Hotel & Resorts Magazine
 View our entire portfolio

 

Most Viewed

  • Gavel, scales of justice and law books

    Lawsuit Basics: How Much Does It Cost to Sue Someone?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Investigation: Can TriumphFX Take Your Money?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Impact of Covid: Racing to Buy Second Citizenships

    3 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • What to Do When an Online Casino Refuses to Pay Out Your Winnings

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Truth About Temu: Where Is It From?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Top 5 Flavors On Elf Bar BC5000 Review

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • NFL Paychecks: How Do NFL Players Get Paid?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Temu’s New Shipping Policy Is A Smashing Hit For Shoppers All Over the Country

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Five Reasons Why The Government Does Not Like Bitcoin

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • How to Start a Telecommunication Business: A Step-By-Step Guide

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Latest Articles

10 Ways to Increase a Home’s Curb Appeal for Buyers

10 Ways to Increase a Home’s Curb Appeal for Buyers

Feel the Health Benefits of a Bemer PEMF Mat

Feel the Health Benefits of a Bemer PEMF Mat

What Can Help Raise the Level of the Game in World of Warcraft if You are a Beginner

What Can Help Raise the Level of the Game in World of Warcraft if You are a Beginner

Benefits of Editing PDF Online

Benefits of Editing PDF Online

7 FAQs About Home Solar Energy Systems

7 FAQs About Home Solar Energy Systems

Benefits of Using Electric Bikes for Camping and Traveling

Benefits of Using Electric Bikes for Camping and Traveling

How to Sign Up for the Best Casino is Listed Below

How to Sign Up for the Best Casino is Listed Below

Does Personal Auto Insurance Cover Rentals?

Does Personal Auto Insurance Cover Rentals?

The Best M4A4 Restricted Skin

The Best M4A4 Restricted Skin

The Top Signs You Need HVAC Repair: Don't Ignore These Warning Signs

The Top Signs You Need HVAC Repair: Don’t Ignore These Warning Signs

California Business Journal | California Business News, California News Media, California business articles | Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, Inland Empire, Northern California, San Francisco | Huntington Beach CA 92649 | (949) 648-3815
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY CALIFORNIA BUSINESS JOURNAL.
Site Design by 1REALTOUR

No Result
View All Result
  • Front Page
  • Business
  • Finance
  • People
  • Featured
  • Opinion
  • Technology
  • Law
  • News
  • Food
  • Art & Culture
  • Human Interest
  • Education
  • Insurance
  • Real Estate
  • Health & Fitness

California Business Journal | California Business News, California News Media, California business articles | Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, Inland Empire, Northern California, San Francisco | Huntington Beach CA 92649 | (949) 648-3815
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY CALIFORNIA BUSINESS JOURNAL.
Site Design by 1REALTOUR