The New Side of "Dassai": Special Menu Using Sake Kasu and an Event to Savor Autumn Food Pairing with "Dassai" Held in Shinjuku, Tokyo Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Guide-

Update-date: Oct 13 2023

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

The New Side of "Dassai": Special Menu Using Sake Kasu and an Event to Savor Autumn Food Pairing with "Dassai" Held in Shinjuku, Tokyo

"Dassai," which has now made a name for itself overseas and even established a brewery in New York in March of this year, is a pure rice, daiginjo sake produced by "Asahi Shuzo," located in Yamaguchi Prefecture. The name "Dassai" is derived from the place name where the brewery is situated, "Osogoe", and the pen name of the literary master Masaoka Shiki, "Dassai Sho-oku shujin" (Otter Bookstore Ower). Among locally brewed Japanese sake, Dassai stands out for its exceptional drinkability and the purity of its sake quality, captivating people worldwide. From October 18th (Wednesday) to October 31st (Tuesday) in 2023, for a period of 14 days, "Dassai and Food Pairing for 14 Days" will be held at Shinjuku Takashimaya Restaurants Park. Let's introduce this special event where you can enjoy collaboration menus using Dassai's sake kasu and pairings with Dassai sake.

See full listings of Sake restaurants found in and around Tokyo and Shinjuku.

■ "Dassai and Food Pairing for 14 Days" held at Shinjuku Takashimaya Restaurants Park

■ Chefs discovering their favorite Dassai for pairing

■ Experience the special deliciousness with the use of fragrant sake kasu.

"Dassai and Food Pairing for 14 Days" held at Shinjuku Takashimaya Restaurants Park

The venue for this event is "Restaurants Park," located on the 12th to 14th floors of "Takashimaya Times Square," in the heart of Tokyo's Shinjuku district. With direct access from JR Shinjuku Station, it boasts high convenience and is popular both domestically and internationally as the largest high-rise restaurant district in the Shinjuku area, offering a range of dining options from traditional Japanese cuisine to casual eateries, representing Japan's culinary culture.

Chefs discovering their favorite Dassai for pairing

For this event, the "Dassai" sake offered is chosen by each restaurant's chef to complement their menu from among the various labels available. "DASSAI 45" represents Dassai's standard, embodying the motto of "Asahi Shuzo," which is, "It's not meaningful if it's not delicious." It is known for its delicate sweetness and elegant fragrance, made by polishing Yamada Nishiki rice down to 45%.

"DASSAI 39" is appealing for its rich, fragrant aroma when poured, a well-balanced and clean sweetness when sipped, and a long-lasting aftertaste upon swallowing. It's the kind of flavor that makes sake enthusiasts exclaim, "This is pure junmai daiginjo!" (junmai daiginjo: the highest grade of sake, made from pure rice)

The "DASSAI Sparkling 45" is characterized by the splendid aroma typical of junmai daiginjo, the sweetness of Yamada Nishiki rice, and the refreshing carbonation resulting from secondary fermentation in the bottle. This label is recommended not only for sake enthusiasts but also for those who may not typically enjoy sake or drink it sparingly.

Additionally, a special sake known as "Funabakumi" is available in limited quantities, only twice a year in spring and autumn, and it will make its appearance at select restaurants to coincide with its release on October 19th (Thursday). This sake is unique as it's bottled right after pressing, allowing you to savor its elegance, freshness, and crisp taste.

The sake kasu used in the dishes is derived from "DASSAI 45." Sake kasu is a nutrient-rich byproduct that remains after sake is pressed from sake rice. Since Dassai uses only Yamada Nishiki rice, it imparts a distinct and fragrant aroma to the sake kasu, characterized by its richness and fullness.

Experience the special deliciousness with the use of fragrant sake kasu

For this event, each restaurant in Restaurants Park is offering menus that pair autumn ingredients with Dassai sake. They are presenting new creations, seasonal offerings, and even enhancing existing dishes to provide a unique and special culinary experience that can only be enjoyed during this event. Among the Food Pairing event participants, five of the restaurants are offering collaborative menus featuring sake kasu.

"Chilled Duck Nanban with Dassai Sake-Steamed Duck and Sake Kasu × Duck Fat Sauce" (2,400 JPY) and "Thick Rolled Omelet with Dassai Sake Kasu" (1,400 JPY) (at Sohonke Komatsuan)

Experience the essence of sake kasu by steaming duck wrapped in sake kasu, served with alternating slices of grilled eggplant that evoke the flavors of autumn. Enjoy it with the sauce made from sake kasu and duck fat, along with the dipping sauce. As a snack, we recommend the thick-rolled omelet with a subtle hint of sake kasu flavor. (Dassai sake is available at an additional cost.)

"Amadai (red sea bream) Kasu-Zuke Age" - 1,100 JPY (at Shinjuku Tsuna Hachi)

Experience the delightful combination of the tender texture of amadai (tilefish) and the aromatic essence of sake kasu that unfolds in your mouth. Dassai enhances the refined taste of amadai even further. (The background amadai is for illustration purposes only. Dassai sake is available at an additional cost.)

"Dassai Sake Kasu Panna Cotta with Coconut Sauce" (at YUKA-I)

This Panna Cotta maximizes the fruity and aromatic qualities unique to Dassai sake kasu. While the alcohol content has evaporated, you can still savor the fragrance and umami of Japanese sake. It's paired with a complementary coconut sauce that adds a crispy, popping sensation to your mouth.

*Available as a dessert choice for all courses during weekday lunchtime (11:00 am to 3:00 pm) and weekend/holiday dinner service (5:00 pm to 11:00 pm).
*Additionally available as an add-on menu for weekend/holiday pasta lunches for an extra charge of 660 JPY (including tax).

*Dassai sake is available at an additional cost.

In addition, you can also find menus featuring sake kasu at the Korean restaurant "Suranje" and the café & diner "Dexee Diner." Dassai not only complements Japanese cuisine but also pairs well with Western, Chinese, and ethnic dishes. So, through the sake kasu menus and pairings at this event, you'll have the opportunity to discover new flavors.

With a commitment to creating sake not for the purpose of intoxication or sales but for the enjoyment of savoring, nearly 200 craftsmen spared no effort to craft "Dassai." It has now become one of the most famous Japanese sakes in the world. Shinjuku Takashimaya Restaurants Park, where Japanese and global cuisines converge, offers a chance to enjoy the creative sake kasu menus and pairings that each restaurant has prepared. Why not take this opportunity to savor these unique combinations and explore the myriad of flavors that complement the richness of Dassai? Various chefs from different restaurants have curated their finest menu selections. For more details, please refer to the provided information.

"Dassai and Food Pairing for 14 Days"

Event Dates: October 18, 2023 (Wednesday) to October 31, 2023 (Tuesday)

Location: Shinjuku Takashimaya Times Square Restaurants Park

Participating Restaurants: 11 restaurants with collaborative menus, 4 restaurants with menus for the Grand Hokkaido Exhibition, and 5 restaurants with sake kasu collaborative menus.

Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.