From April 15th to May 25th, Akashi-Tai Sake Brewery is hosting London’s first Cherry Blossom Festival in conjunction with some of London’s finest restaurants. In Japan, Hanami is a celebration of the beauty of the delicate cherry blossoms and the arrival of Spring. Every year, the Japanese take part in processional walks through parks and enjoy sake-fuelled feasts under the trees. The UK version celebrates the growth of Japanese culture in the capital, which now boasts well over 200 Japanese restaurants.
The restaurants taking part in the Cherry Blossom Festival have each created limited edition dishes or complete menus to celebrate Hanami, reflecting traditional dishes served in restaurants throughout the season in Japan, and each dish has been paired to an Akashi-Tai Sake. Here are some of the special treats on offer:
On April 15th, Saf are celebrating the opening of the festival and the restaurant’s first birthday with a seven course Spring-themed menu. Dishes include their signature Buddha Bowl (teriyaki glazed tofu, jasmine rice cake, wok fried greens, and kimchee); shitake mushroom soup; Japanese chickpea pancake with umeboshi plum sauce; and cherry blossom tart with rose petal and shiso reduction. The menu is priced at £60 per head or £80 with matching bespoke Akashi-Tai cocktails, including the Whisper Martini – rose infused Shochu with fresh shiso, raspberries and crème de fraise.
Sushinho in Chelsea are offering a Sushinho tempura roll (5 pieces, filled with salmon, crab and cream cheese) and Sushinho Sakerinha for £13, a saving of £4. The cocktail is the restaurant’s signature tipple – a blend of Honjozo Akashi-tai sake, pink grapefruit and passionfruit.
South of the river, diners at Tsuru can feast on a traditional picnic dish of smoked eel futomaki with shitake mushrooms and Japanese pickles. This will cost you £8.95 if you opt for the glass of chilled Akashi-Tai Daiginjo sake, or £9.95 with a Sakura Cocktail (Tokiwa Shochu with cherry syrup, lime juice and rosé wine).
At Me Love Sushi, their set menu (£14.99) includes a sashimi platter, one salmon and avocado temaki, one uramaki duck and a Sushi Love cocktail, made with Tokiwa Shochu (a delicious Japanese spirit).
On Old Compton Street, Bincho will be serving grilled sea bream – a traditional dish eaten during Hanami because the fish takes on a pink hue during the Spring months. With a measure of sake, this treat will set you back just £7.50.
Finally, Saki in Smithfield has created a seven course omakase tasting menu featuring seasonal delicacies served in kaiseki style. The dishes include seared sea bass and Nanohana flower with plum sauce; cherry-leaf wrapped turbot; lobster tempura; miso black cod; and homemade cherry blossom ice-cream. The menu is available from now until mid-May, priced at £60 per head or £99.50 with fine wine and sake pairings. On April 23rd, the restaurant is hosting an Akashi-Tai Sake Tasting and Customer Shopping Day from 5:30 to 7:30pm, with 10% off selected hand-crafted items from Niigata
During the festival, diners who order a Hanami menu at one of the participating restaurants will receive a Hanami card. This card gives each customer entry into a free draw with a guarantee to win prizes like Akashi-Tai mobile phone charms, Akashi-Tai Sake tasting sets and Tokiwa cocktail boxes.
More information about the Cherry Blossom Festival can be found at www.akashi-tai.com/cbf
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