Sushi and Sake Tasting
This is a pre-paid event. Disney offers several during the Food and Wine events Ranging in price from about $40 on up to signature dinners. However you need to call the day they release the paid events to get some to them. Even though I called the day they released the events I still did not get the Food and Wine Pairing in Italy. (Oh well theres always next year
.) 2 years ago we had attended a Food and Wine Paring in Epcots France which featured Georges Du Boeuf wines. It was 3 wines with 3 different food pairings and they talked a little about the region the wines come from and why the wines taste different. If you ever get a chance to attend one of these I highly recommend it as you learn about the food the country the production of the beverage
For the Sushi and Sake event we went up the stairs to the Teppanyaki Dining Room. There was a back room to the right of the entrance where they seated us. They were very well organized. They checked us in at a podium and called us by name in Groups of 2s to be seated at a table. We had really neat seat mates who told us they had been to this event last year and enjoyed it so much they were back a 2nd time. The first Sake they served was Gekkeikan Sake Chilled. There was a chef who prepared our food and a Sake expert who spoke about the sake. The Sake expert explained that the reason most sake is served warm in the U.S. is because of the poor quality that is available. Heating the Sake masks the poor quality. The sake was served Cold in a champagne flute. The first Sake was Serves with Tuna thinly slice and a special Wasabi illegal in this country smuggled in from Japan which was very mild and had a food enhancing quality I had not tasted before in a wasabi. (We forgot to take pictures of the first course) When we took out our camera to take pics of the 2nd course we mentioned to our seat mates that the pics were for a message board. Yes They too were Dis Boarders! although Mike refers to himself as a lerker!
Here is a pic of Mike and Debbie:
I cant remember what he said his screen name was. [Mike if you see this jump in and say Hi]. 2nd course was a junmai Sake a sake of a little higher quality. This was served in a glass that looked like a large shot glass and the glass sat in a wooden box with shaved ice. The 2nd Sake was served with a delicate sushi one was beef one was a Japanese potato tasting similar to jicama (if anyone knows what that is) and the other was asparagus.
The 3rd Sake was served in a champagne flute it was called Sparkling Sake. This was by far my favorite. It is delicate and lighter than champagne and slightly sweet but not as sweet as an Asti Spumante or a Ballatore. At the Happy Hour bar closest to my job it costs $15.00 a bottle and they are tiny. At your local wine store they run about $5.00 a bottle in case anyone is interested. Ask for Gekkeikan Sparkling Sake. We tried a few others after we arrived back home but this one is consistently the best. It was served with a Vegetable Roll which had some veggies that were slightly sweet so it was a nice compliment with the sake.
Over all we loved this tasting and would recommend it to anyone. After the tasting we headed back to the room. We were pretty full. When we got hungry we made sandwiches in the room and watched
Heroes.
Lessons Learned:
1)
Nemo is a Skipper.
Nemo was fine but we really wanted to see Turtle crush. If you do too walk to nearest cast member take short cut.
2)
The American Pavillion is nice and Cool on a hot day 
This is a great hang out on a hot day remember its here!
3)
Not all Food Samples are Created Equally
Italy had some of the best. Ask people what their favorite was they will tell you!
4)
Dis people are so Cool!
After the Sushi and Sake was over we sat and talked with Mike and Debbie about all kinds of things. We were I think the last ones to leave because we were chatting.
Wear your Lime Green proudly and talk about Disboards openly!
5)
The Tastings are pretty Filling No dinner reservation needed.
2 Years ago we had a ADR after our Tasting. We cancelled it. This time we did not make one and snacked. Even if you dont have food in your room you can get by with a light snack from the food court at your resort after one of these.
6)
I am having fun writing this Trip Report!
Even though it is a lot of work I am making new friends and enjoying the process!
One More Pic: