What kinds of foods pair well with sake? The obvious answer is Japanese, but, as sake continues to expand abroad, industry professionals and consumers alike are discovering a whole new world of pairing possibilities for the brew.
At the sake specialty shop Sakaya, in New York City, owners Hiroko Furukawa and Rick Smith regularly hold events that match sake with cheese and other foods more commonly associated with wine. Instead of always recommending sake with traditional Japanese dishes such as sushi, they encourage their customers to try sake with global cuisine.
For turkey and game birds, Furukawa suggests tart, flavorful yamahai and kimoto styles; with rich meats like roast beef, she recommends trying robust, unpasteurized nama-genshu.