Pictured above from left, upper-left panel – Chef/Owner, Jacqueline Blanchard of Sukeban, Saké Expert, Shaun William, and Bryan Dias of The NOLADrinks Show at Sukeban, Uptown New Orleans.

We’re back with a new show! This time around, we are at the terrific Uptown sushi spot and izakaya, Sukeban, talking saké and Japanese cuisine. We’re joined by New Orleans saké expert, Shaun Williams, and Sukeban’s chef/owner, Jacqueline Blanchard.

This is a fun and interesting show! It’s a deep dive into the world of saké. We discuss what it is and what it isn’t – there are a lot of misnomers and much misunderstanding out there. We also sample and discuss a few excellent expressions. Part of this allows us to touch on some of the different styles and approaches to making this culturally significant drink.

Our conversation also includes a discussion on the importance of the ingredients used, how the process can vary, and much more (filtering, anyone?!?) Though neither Shaun or Jackie are Japanese, they both hold deep reverence and shared experiences with the culture. That is on full display during our chat.

Importantly, we talk about how saké pairs with sushi and how they are intertwined from both a flavor and cultural perspective. For example, we discuss rice at great length – something that is, obviously, critical to both the beverage and the food.

Shaun and Jackie discuss their backgrounds and we let you know how you can connect with them – there are frequent events at Sukeban where Shaun brings the saké knowledge and fun! We’ll be rolling this one back with them in the near future continuing to explore this fascinating topic! Stay tuned!

Connect with Shaun – @ricegirlrich

Connect with Sukeban – @barsukeban

Cheers and Be Well, You All!

~ Bryan

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