Tag: UK

Japanese Cuisine · Pop Culture and Japan

Bringing Sake Down To Earth In Manchester With Monkey Trio

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The UK has one of the fastest-growing Japanese food and drinks scenes in the world and historically, London has been the place where everything goes down. But that’s been changing in recent years and Manchester has been flying the flag for Japanese food and drinks up North.

That momentum doesn’t look like it’s going to slow down any time soon, especially with the unveiling of the city’s first dedicated sake bar: Monkey Trio. 

Continue reading “Bringing Sake Down To Earth In Manchester With Monkey Trio” →

Japanese Cuisine

A Sake Tour Of Manchester

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The world is full of fascinating drinks. Beverages that go hand in hand with the stories and histories of different cultures and a perfect example is Japanese sake. Versatile, delicious and accessible, sake has lots of enjoyable qualities and in the UK, the majority of sake activity is concentrated in London. But the capital isn’t the only sake game in town. 

Manchester is flying the flag for Japan’s national drink up north through organisations like the Northern Wine School for sake education and tastings. 

Meanwhile, the Japanese food scene in Manchester continues to go from strength to strength with loads of tasty concepts that involve finding the meaning of life at the bottom of a bowl of ramen or elevating sushi to new heights. 

Among these restaurants and bars, you’ll find plenty of great sake and this guide will take you on a voyage across Manchester in search of what to try and buy. 

Continue reading “A Sake Tour Of Manchester” →

Japanese Cuisine

Celebrating The Beauty Of Nature’s Impermanence: The Story Of The Sparkling Sake Brewery

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The Sparkling Sake Brewery.

When it comes to sake categories, sparkling sake is growing in popularity, due to the similar characteristics it shares with champagne and because there’s a lot of creativity going on in the space. So, when a sparkling sake producer pops up in the UK, it’s something to shout about and that’s certainly the case with The Sparkling Sake Brewery.

Based in the suburbs of Cambridgeshire, The Sparkling Sake Brewery is the first of its kind in the UK and there’s a great story behind its genesis. Read on to learn more about the philosophy of the brewery and where it hopes to take sparkling sake in the future.

Continue reading “Celebrating The Beauty Of Nature’s Impermanence: The Story Of The Sparkling Sake Brewery” →

Japanese Cuisine · Pop Culture and Japan

Why London Sake Is One Of The Best Places In The UK To Get Your Sake Fix

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London Sake.

In the UK, sake is experiencing something of a revolution through the likes of places like Moto and Kanpai Brewery in the South of England and The Sparrows in the North. Distributors are also leading the charge for getting nihonshu into the hands of the masses, with London Sake being at the forefront of the conversation.

With an ever-growing and diverse portfolio of sake and shochu to choose from, London Sake is a brand that should be on the list of sake fans across the UK and beyond. 

Continue reading “Why London Sake Is One Of The Best Places In The UK To Get Your Sake Fix” →

Japanese Cuisine

Get Your Fresh Wasabi Fix With The Wasabi Company

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The Wasabi Company.

Across the world, there’s been an explosion of interest in Japanese ingredients, with chefs and bartenders infusing things like sake, dashi, miso and shochu into their culinary creations. Fresh wasabi is another ingredient that’s become highly prized, especially when you consider that much of the stuff that comes in mass-produced paste form is probably horseradish or mustard. 

Pound for pound, wasabi is arguably the most expensive vegetable on the planet because of how it’s produced and the demand for getting hands on the genuine article. Down in the South-East of England, The Wasabi Company has made a name for itself by growing fresh wasabi and championing it across the globe.

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Japanese Cuisine

Shoryu Piri Piri Tonkotsu Kit Review: Ramen As Good As You’ll Find In Any Restaurant

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During lockdown, hospitality venues have needed to get creative in order to keep moving forward and this has led to the rise of DIY meal kits that recreate the quality of the food you would find in a restaurant. 

A venue I’ve seriously missed being open in the UK is Shoryu, as it’s where I’ve been able to get my ramen fix for years and slurp many good bowls of heart-warming broth. The next best thing to eating ramen at Shoryu was to order one of their meal kits, so I dived into the awesome Piri Piri Tonkotsu pack.

Continue reading “Shoryu Piri Piri Tonkotsu Kit Review: Ramen As Good As You’ll Find In Any Restaurant” →

Japanese Cuisine

The Definition Of A Hidden Gem: Experience Some Of The Best Japanese Food In The World At Auradaze

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Japanese food is perfect for experiential dining, as there’s an art and tradition behind Japanese cooking that goes back centuries and deserves to be shared with people from all walks of life. One of the most interactive Japanese dining experiences is an omakase menu, which puts the power of food in the chef’s hands. The customer must place their trust in the chef, who serves a range of dishes that are personal to them.

I recently had my first omakase experience at Auradaze, a small Japanese deli/restaurant combination in Ambleside in the Lake District. The definition of a hidden gem, Auradaze was a truly unforgettable experience that brought together humble beginnings, fine dining, great stories and good company under one roof. Continue reading “The Definition Of A Hidden Gem: Experience Some Of The Best Japanese Food In The World At Auradaze” →

Japanese Cuisine · Pop Culture and Japan

6 Of The Best Places To Buy Sake In The UK

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Kanpai Brewery is one of the best places to drink sake in the U.K.

Japanese sake is experiencing a renaissance in the west. More information is available for demystifying Japan’s national alcohol, while sake-related organisations, breweries and sommeliers are breaking down misconceptions about nihonshu and experimenting with a variety of amazing flavours.

One of the most dynamic western markets for sake is the UK and there are some great places to get it if you know where to look. With that said, here are six of the best places to get your sake fix in the UK! Continue reading “6 Of The Best Places To Buy Sake In The UK” →

Japanese Cuisine · Pop Culture and Japan

Experience The Magic Of The UK’s Sake Revolution At Kanpai Brewery In London

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Kanpai Brewery in Peckham is a hidden gem and well worth visiting for the craft sake selection.

It’s an exciting time for the sake industry in the UK. A steady surge in popularity has led to consumers seeking more information about Japan’s national alcohol and one of the best places to start your journey into the realm of nihonshu is in the UK’s first sake brewery, Kanpai. Located in Peckham, Kanpai Brewery is the definition of a hidden gem.

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Japanese Cuisine

Osaka Local Is Manchester’s Answer To Cheap And Cheerful Japanese Food

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Osaka Local is based in Manchester and does some great Japanese food.

Street food is one of my biggest loves of the culinary world, especially when it’s of the Japanese variety. It’s even better when you can find great Japanese street food in your local area, which is what happened when I ate at Osaka Local in Manchester.

Osaka Local are regulars of GRUB, a street food initiative that brings together vendors and traders in Manchester and helps them reach a wider audience through festivals and pop up events. On this occasion, the team were cooking at Stretford Food Hall. Continue reading “Osaka Local Is Manchester’s Answer To Cheap And Cheerful Japanese Food” →