Momokawa Saké Pairing Smackdown in Portland Tomorrow

PRLog (Press Release) – Aug 01, 2011 – WHAT: The ultimate saké and food pairing challenge will hit maximum velocity this Thursday when two local restaurants pair Momokawa Organic Junmai Ginjo with dishes from two very diverse cuisines- Modern Japanese fusion and deeply rooted, classic Mexican cuisine.

WHEN: Media arrivals begin at 5:00 p.m., with competition kicking off at 6:00 p.m. sharp

WHERE: Yakuza Izakaya, 5411 NE 30th Ave., Portland, OR 97211

WHO: Chef David Gaspar de Alba of Yakuza Izakaya vs. Chef Oswaldo Bibiano of Autentica

Chef David Gaspar de Alba was born in El Paso, Texas, where the heat and vibrant community gave him a solid basis for the love for spice and flavor in his life. While Chef David holds western Texas near and dear to his heart, food culture brought him to Portland. From the rich Kobe tartare, to succulent duck, all the way to delicate sashimi, Chef David has a hand in a wealth of food components at Yakuza. Inspired by the Japanese izakaya concept, Yakuza is a food-lover’s bar.

Autentica was created through a combination of traditional cooking in Chef Oswaldo Bibiano’s hometown of Guerrero, Mexico, and the appreciation for fine dining he developed while cooking in some of Portland’s most distinguished restaurants. Autentica chooses the freshest ingredients from local farms whenever possible and the menu reflect the changing seasons but keeps its roots firmly planted in traditional Mexican cuisine.

MORE: This event is open to the public. Both dishes featured in the challenge will be available at Yakuza Lounge and Autentica as the special for the remainder of the evening. This challenge was originally inspired by a tweet from Yakuza Lounge asking for a smackdown on the best pairing possible with saké.

Follow developing details on Twitter with #Momokawachallenge

ABOUT SAKÉONE:  SakéOne is America’s premium saké company and importer of some of Japan’s finest saké. Founded in 1992 as an importer, SakéOne has been crafting strictly junmai ginjo quality saké at its state-of-the-art kura (brewery) in Forest Grove, the heart of the Willamette Valley: Oregon’s craft beer-brewing and winemaking mecca, since 1998. In 2010, SakéOne’s Momokawa “Ruby” Junmai Ginjo earned a silver medal at the prestigious U.S. National Sake Appraisal 2010, no small feat for an American producer in a crowd of more than 300 Japanese entrants and a judging panel held to precise Japanese standards. Though SakéOne clearly honors tradition, their Oregonian pioneering spirit is constantly evolving and has truly come to define Oregon craft saké. For more information, please visit www.sakeone.com.

MEDIA CONTACT: Kristin Namimoto at Charles Communications, 415-701-9463 or Kristin@charlescomm.com