Sunday, November 5, 2023

Jizake 18th Anniversary x Hanaka@Laguna Niguel ★★★

Great Premium Sake Tasting Event in OC. Hanaka is the first and only sake bar in OC. My favorite were all of the Fifth Taste sake featured individually below. My first time trying the nice Abe Junmai Daiginjo Sake. Sake and Japanese food were fantastic pairing. Food was buffet style including Sunomono Cucumber Salad, fried dumplings, shrimp tempura, robata, sashimi, sushi, & Pocky snacks. Acidity in Sunomono Salad pairs with sake especially well. $40 per person via Resy.

Fifth Taste Sake



Asahi Beer

Heiwa KID Hiyaoroshi Junmai Ginjo

Heiwa KID Hiyaoroshi Junmai Ginjo with Sunomono Cucumber Salad

Heiwa KID Hiyaoroshi Junmai Ginjo with Sashimi

Kamoshibito Kuheiji Eau Du Désir Junmai Daiginjo with Sushi

Kamoshibito Kuheiji Eau Du Désir Junmai Daiginjo with Robata

Kaze no Mori Alpha 3 Junmai Daiginjo

Abe Junmai Daiginjo with Sunomono Cucumber Salad

Akabu Junmai Ginjo

Akabu Junmai Ginjo with Sunomono Cucumber Salad

Fried Dumplings Party Tray Buffet Style


Fried Dumplings & Sunomono Cucumber Salad

Shrimp Tempura

Sashimi

Crab Roll Sushi

Sake Tasting Presented by Hanaka

Shota-san from Fifth Taste

Akabu Junmai Ginjo

Jizake Sushi
30001 Crown Valley Pkwy Ste C
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
(949) 922-0203
jizakeoc.com

Hanaka (Sake Bar)
30012 Crown Valley Pkwy Ste C
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
(949) 359-3894
hanaka.jimdosite.com

Saturday, November 4, 2023

Manzke@West LA ★★

Michelin Star Modern European with Asian/ Japanese Influence. Space used to be picca restaurant. Dishes were nice. Service can be better and more attentive with better explanation in general. Tasting menu $295 per person. Classic Wine Pairing $165. Non-alcoholic Zero Proof Pairing $95. Water charge $5 per person. Dinner was 3.5 hours. Advanced reservation via Tock. Valet parking or limited metered street parking.

Tostada
blue fin tuna, salsa fresca, mezcal margarita


Sake



Zero Proof Pairing: Watermelon, Thai Basil, Leitz Eins Zwei Zero Sparkling Riesling

Japanese Hamachi
rocky sweet melon, strawberry nuoc cham

NV Billecart-Salmon Rosé


Zero Proof Pairing: Tomato-Peach, Basil, Calamansi Vinegar



Brioche
rodolphe le meunier normandy butter


Norwegian King Crab
sungold tomatoes, plums, smoked trout roe

NV Claude Cazaks, Blanc de Blancs, Cuvée Vive,
Le Mesnil-sur-Oger Grand Cru



Zero Proof Pairing: Eric Bordelet "Perlant" Jus de Pommes a Sydre

Kaluga Queen Caviar
king crab, hokkaido uni chawanmushi, brown butter dashi

2020 Willi Schaefer, Graacher Domprobst, Kabinett, Mosel


Zero Proof Pairing: Martini & Rossi Floreale n/a Vermouth Bianco, Thai Curry, Melon

Heirloom Tomato Soup
thai curry


Zero Proof Pairing: Nishi Sensha Green Tea

Japanese Kinmedai
chanterelle mushrooms, rede flame grapes, sauce vin jaune

Italian White Truffle available for additional $95 per person

2020 Guy Robin, Montée De Tonnerre Premier Cru, Chablis


Honeynut Squash Agnolotti

2019 Camille Giroud, 1er Cru Aux Clous, Savigny-lés-Beaune


Zero Proof Pairing: Hibisicusm Rooibos Tea, Blackberry, Banyuls Vinegar, Verjus Rouge


Liberty Farms Sonoma Duck
shinko pear, spiced cider-jus

2012 Clos du Marquis, Saint-Julien


Miyazaki Wagyu Striploin
matsutake mushrooms, sauce bordelaise



Zero Proof Pairing: Horchata, Coconut, Almond, Cardamom

Tamai Farms Strawberries
crème brûlée

madelines

Hot Cocoa

Manzke
9575 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90035
manzkerestaurant.com