Rant: Boston+ Area Restaurants, Want To Be Cutting Edge? Embrace Sake

Many restaurants want to be on the cutting edge of the drinks world, offering wine from hot new regions, local beer from micro-distilleries, and intriguing new spirits. However, why haven't non-Asian restaurants in the Boston+ area embraced Sake? There are extremely few non-Asian restaurants that carry Sake, and it's usually only one or two, at best. When's the last time a Sommelier at a non-Asian restaurant recommended Sake with your dinner?

This perpetuates a stereotype that Sake is only for Sushi and Asian cuisine. However, Sake pairs well with so many different cuisines, from Italian to French, Mexican to Spanish. They say that Sake does not get into fights with food, meaning that it will never overwhelm a dish. Sake can and should be paired with appetizers, entrees and dessert. It's an excellent accompaniment to a diverse selection of foods, from burgers to pizza, seafood to poultry, mushrooms to cheese. Its versatility is without question and sometimes it's even better a better pairing than wine.

Check out my article, The Science of Sake & Food Pairings, to understand many of the reasons why Sake works so well with various cuisines. You can also read some of my related, and more specific articles, on Sake pairings, including: Sake For Thanksgiving, Pairing Cheese & Sake, and Sake, Seafood & Lobster Anywhere. I've done Sake pairing dinners at Italian and French restaurants, and at home, I've paired Sake with so many different foods. 

Why don't more non-Asian restaurants see the value in adding Sake to their menus? With so few non-Asian restaurants showcasing Sake, it would be a great way to make your restaurant more unique. There isn't a single Boston+ area restaurant which wouldn't benefit from adding Sake to their Drinks list. Let's see a new Burger & Sake restaurant open, or a Pizza & Sake spot. Let's see a sommelier at an Italian bistro recommending Sake with a pasta dish. Let's see a seafood restaurant recommending Sake with fried clams or a lobster roll.  

One of the main obstacles to adding Sake to the menus at non-Asian restaurants is probably a lack of knowledge about Sake. That is simple to remedy, as all you need to do is educate yourself. There are Sake classes you can take or Sake consultants you can speak to. Sommeliers spend time learning about new wine regions, so why not just extend that education to Sake? Look at it as a new challenge to face, to learn more about this fascinating beverage, and see how well it pairs with a myriad of cuisines.

Those pioneering restaurants willing to take a chance on Sake would be in a unique position, with a new selling point for consumers, standing out from other restaurants. They could lead a path to a future where Sake becomes more popular and mainstream. So what are you waiting for?  

Boston+ area, non-Asian restaurants, step up your game and become more cutting edge by embracing Sake!