June 06, 2019
SAKE SMACKDOWN AT KATANA

Tuesday, June 18, 2019
6:30pm // $85 per person (not inclusive of tax and tip)
Call Katana Chicago for reservations: (312) 877-5544

For International Sushi Day 2019, we’ve decided to do something extreme, something that perhaps has never before been done in Chicago. We’re putting The Sake Ninja Chris Johnson and Sake Esquire Masahiro Takeda to the test in a quickfire sake pairing challenge.

Join Cream and Katana for this 6-course tasting menu with a twist. Both Chris Johnson, representing World Sake Imports, and Masahiro Takeda, representing Wine of Japan, will pair their sake with 3 of the courses. The catch? Neither will know the dishes until the night of the dinner! A coin toss will decide who goes first. Then, each will have 10 minutes to try their course before it’s served and choose a sake from their portfolio to match. There’s another catch! Only 6 sakes from each portfolio will be available that night, and they cannot use a sake more than once.

Who will win this game of flavors?

You decide. During the dinner, guests will rate the sake pairings to declare either The Sake Ninja or Sake Esquire the “King of Flavor!”

#sakesmackdown // #creamsakeweek

The Sake Ninja Chris Johnson
Chris Johnson is Chris Pearce’s right hand man and represents World Sake Imports in the U.S. World Sake Imports (established in 1998 by Chris Pearce) represents regional sake breweries and shochu distilleries that produce premium beverages. The breweries are among the most respected in Japan; they are standard-bearers for the industry in terms of quality, innovation and technical mastery. Chris Johnson’s accolades include: sake sommelier certified by the Sake Service Institute, member of the board of directors for The Joy of Sake, judge for the U.S. National Sake Appraisal since 2000, Level 3 sake educator certified by WSET, Sake Samurai title earned in 2013.

Sake Esquire Masahiro Takeda
Third generation Masahiro Takeda is currently the vice president of Wine of Japan (and yes, he is also a lawyer). Established in 1973, Wine of Japan is one of the oldest family owned and operated national importers and distributors of ultra-premium Japanese sake, spirits and beer. With over 42 years of experience, WOJ continues to introduce the best Japan has to offer to an ever-growing audience in the United States. Keeping current with evolving consumer palates, the portfolio is continuously evaluated and curated to ensure that only the most exclusive and select products are offered. Longevity is a testament to WOJ’s expertise, foresight, and unrelenting focus on customer service.