We hear it all the time - it is the gold standard line of customers when they come to True Sake to buy a bottle of sake for dinner - "What goes well with sushi?" Aaaaahhhhhhhh! The sake world outside of Japan is very blessed to be "associated" with the sushi world. It has brought us a lot of sake drinkers - 9 out 10 folks say that their first sip of sake came at a sushi restaurant - but it is also a serious disadvantage for us who want to open consumers eyes to the fact that sake goes with much more than sushi! (I have written in past Newsletters that in fact most drinker/eaters in Japan do not drink sake with sushi - it is a rice on rice sort of deal - and pair their rice beverage with sashimi more often than not)

Now back to your stomach! As this is the season of "Grillin'" I wanted to produce for you a gentle reminder about the flexibility and dexterity of sake when it comes to dancing with anything off of the grill. In Japan you can get most any food substance grilled. You name it - they grill. As such, the flavor of sake goes extremely well with anything off of the coals - or gas - or rocks - the hood of your car. There is something about that semi-charred, semi-salty, semi-juicy flavor that highlights the starch factor of sake so much more than the heated flavors grappling with grape wine. Sake works! Plain and simple.

So herewith are "The Top Ten Grillin' and Sake Chillin'" food pairings for the summer. I have selected a range of sakes that are delicious and won't break the bank. (Several are for that special occasion!) Take them for what they are - partners in crime, bussom buddies, kissin' cousins, bedmates, cellmates, and dangerous liaisons. Bottom line is that we do not want you to forget sake when the flames of summer are fanning, when your skin is red, and when you are at ease. Summer grilling rhymes with sake. (In some language I hope)