So many sakes at Uncle Joe’s
By Cory Palencia
On Saturday, Feb. 28, Thirsty Samurai and Pacific Rim Cultural Exchange hosted a sake tasting event at Uncle Joe’s Hong Kong Bistro in Denver. Guests had plenty to do as the event started with a traditional cask opening by the previous General Consul of Japan. There were performances by Mirai Daiko, a Denver-based Japanese drum group, and three different sake booths that poured and explained the differences in each bottle. Uncle Joe’s provided delicious food pairings for each round of sake, too. The cozy and lively atmosphere was perfect for celebrating Japanese culture, that
characteristics. Sakes can be cloudy, unpasteurized, aged or casked. There are clear and refined sakes, or smoother, unfiltered, creamy nigori sakes, fruit forward sakes, and even sparkling sakes. Different sakes are right for different occasions, too. The cultural exchange found in events like this is the goal of Yoon Chang, Lawton Shinsato and Mariko Quinn, the owners of Thirsty Samurai. They see a cultural renaissance coming on in Denver and want to be a part of it all. Keep any eye out for more events like this that will feature Asian and Pacific Island cuisine at upcoming cultural events throughout Colorado.
while known in the United States is not fully understood. This event aimed to educate a curious Western audience about the diverse flavor profiles in the many types of sake. The origin of the classic Japanese drink actually started in China. The Chinese invented a specific rice fermentation process nearly 7,000 years ago, predating written language. The Japanese iteration began close to 2,000 years ago when they turned sake into the drink we know today. While sake has been around for a long time, it remains as one of the least understood alcoholic beverages out there. It can be classified as a beer,
wine and also as a liquor. The term ‘Sake’ in Japan denotes any alcoholic beverage like whiskey, beer, or wine. In Japan, the word for the iconic Japanese drink is ‘Nihon-shu’ meaning ‘Japanese liquor.’ It is also called ‘sei-shu’ meaning ‘clear liquor.’ Colorado residents may be especially well versed in the diversity in beer (we pride ourselves on our knowledge and expertise on IPAs, sours and stouts), but are largely unaware of the many varieties of sake. There are six main types of premium sake: Ginjo, Daiginjo, Honjozo, Junmai, Junmai Ginjo, and Junmai Daiginjo, each with their own unique
Photos by Cory Palencia
Travel & Adventure Show featured worldwide destination experts By Samantha Quee
For the first time, the Travel & Adventure Show arrives in Denver after stops in such other major markets as Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco/Bay Area and Washington, D.C. where the show has ran for more than a decade. The travel show was on March 18 and 19 at the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver. The two-day public show featured thousands of U.S. and worldwide destination experts, travel seminars, local, regional and worldwide cuisines. Celebrity travel speakers who presented at the show included Travel Channel host Samantha Brown, Emmy award-winning investigative reporter and producer and CBS News Travel Editor, Peter Greenberg and also Patricia Schultz, the author of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. The show also spotlighted exhibitors from Africa, Asia, Australia/South Pacific, Caribbean, Europe, Middle East, North and South America, Latin America as well as cruise lines, and lifestyle travel products and services. Visitors has the chance to experience four educational theaters with more than 30 educational sessions and presentations by travel celebrities on the latest trends and information—where and when to go, what to do, how to get there and more. The Denver Travel & Adventure Show also offered a variety of hands-on activities for the whole family from a real camel ride, to custom photos at the world photo booth. Mile-High Happenings | asian avenue magazine
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