Joy Of Sake Tasting Event Featuring Over 200 Sakes Returns To San Francisco

Gala Tasting Event
featuring over 200 Sakes
Hotel Nikko San Francisco
September 15, 2005
6:00PM to 8:30PM

San Francisco's third annual "Joy of Sake" celebration, featuring over 200
sakes and delectable appetizers prepared by leading San Francisco restaurants, will be held on September 15 at the Hotel Nikko San Francisco.

The Joy of Sake is the largest sake-tasting event held outside of Japan, and a rare opportunity to sample outstanding labels in peak condition. Included in the tasting are gold and sliver award winners from this year's U.S. National Sake Appraisal, held in Honolulu on September 9. The event is sponsored by the International Sake Association, the Japanese Restaurant Association of Northern California, The Japan Society, IMP Foods, Inc. and True Sake.

Many of the Bay Area's finest restaurants will serve appetizers for the event. Participants include: Anzu, Betelnut,Dining Room at the Ritz Carlton, Hana, Hog Island Oyster, Kiku of Tokyo, Kirala, Kyo-ya, Memphis Minnie's BBQ Joint, Ozumo, Roy's, Sakae Sushi, Sanraku, Sho's and Sushi Ran.

The Joy of Sake will be held in the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel Nikko
San Francisco from 6:00 to 8:30p.m. Tickets for the event are available at $65/person and can be purchased on-line at www.joyofsake.com

A portion of the proceeds from the event will be dedicated to the Takao Nihei Memorial Fund, honoring the legacy of Takao Nihei, who revived sake brewing in the United States following WWII and developed early techniques for making sake from California rice.

The Joy of Sake has been held annually in Honolulu since 2001. Following the San Francisco date on September 15, the event will travel to New York on September 27, 2005.