Thursday, September 2, 2021

Thursday Sips & Nibbles

I'm back again with a new edition of Sips & Nibbles, my regular column where I highlight some interesting, upcoming food and drink events. I hope everyone dines out safely and tips well.
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1) John Gauntner, one of the world's top Sake experts, is holding the 6th live online running of the Sake Professional Course, to be held via Zoom on three consecutive weekends from Japan. The dates will be Sunday, October 3, Saturday & Sunday October 9 & 10, and Saturday and Sunday October 16 & 17, from 10:00am to 1:30pm JST (Japan Standard Time) each day. 

Note, for those in the US, because Japan is 13 hours ahead of Eastern Time (NYC time), the dates for the US will be Saturday, October 3, Friday & Saturday October 9 and 10, and Friday and Saturday October 16 and 17, from 9:00pm to 12:30am Eastern Time. 

For those that are not night owls, busy at those times, or inevitably have to miss a session, Zoom recordings will be made available immediately following each session. Furthermore, John will be available for questions about the material at any time throughout the course.

The content of this intensive sake live online course will be identical to that of the Sake Professional Course held across the US and in Japan, with the exception of extensive sake tastings, and sake brewery visits. The goal of this course is that “no sake stone remains left unturned,” and John's motto is “exceed expectations for the course.” Every conceivable sake-related topic will be covered across the five three-hour sessions.

The course is geared toward industry professionals wishing to expand their horizons in a thorough manner into the world of sake, and will therefore be somewhat technical in nature, and admittedly somewhat intense. It is likely more than the average consumer needs but the course is open to anyone with an interest in sake and will certainly be enjoyable. The course lectures and tasting will begin with the utter basics, and will thoroughly progress through and cover everything related to sake. Like its in-person counterparts held in the US and Japan each year, it will be quite simply the most thorough and comprehensive English-language sake education in existence.

Each of the five sessions will include a 20-minute break in the middle, a thorough question and answer period, and a tasting exercise of one to three sake (to be procured by each student based on to-be-provided list) held at the end of the session. (Participation in the tasting session is optional!)

The course is recognized by the Sake Education Council, and those that complete it will be qualified to take an exam for Certified Sake Professional certification, which will be offered online on Saturday, July 31, via Classmate. Those that pass the exam will be receive a certificate, and be recognized on the Sake Education Council website as a Certified Sake Professional.

The tuition for the five-session course, including all materials and certification testing is US$375. Also, participants can apply a portion of this amount as a discount to the tuition of the live in-person Sake Professional Course at any time in the future.

Participation is limited and reservations can be made now to secure a seat; full payment will be requested by Friday, September 24. Download a pdf of this announcement here. For reservations or inquiries, please send an email to sakeguy@gol.com.

I've taken John's live course and it was superb, so comprehensive, and you will definitely learn so much about all aspects of Sake. John is an excellent teacher, and I highly recommend this course to anyone who truly wants to learn all about Sake.

2) Tambo 22, an excellent Peruvian restaurant in Chelsea, is now offering half-priced appetizers at the bar on weeknights from 5pm-6:30pm. You can order Enjoy a hand crafted cocktails and then your choice of Yucca Frita, Ceviche de Tarwi, Wings, or Anticuchos (Beef or Paiche). All delicious choices and even better at half-price. 

Bar seats can be reserved here and walk-ins are welcome. 

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