Sake: A Modern Guide [Hardcover]

Beau Timken (Author), Sara Deseran (Author), Scott Peterson (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 30, 2006

Sake is hot, hot, hot (though the best are actually served cold). It's the hippest sip at the cocktail hour and, as the sommeliers will tell you, can be a delicious accompaniment to food. This fun and informative guide demystifies an age-old wine and explains the many types of sake and how to properly taste their complex flavors. Beau Timken's foolproof TasteMatch system profiles 50 suggested sakes and provides their beer and wine flavor equivalents, creating a simple-yet-effective resource for finding a perfect match. Plus, recipes for 30 sake cocktails and 15 sake-friendly dishes make sake appropriate for any occasion (try a refreshing glass of Sake Sangria, or surprise guests by pairing sake with Fettuccine with Shiitake Mushrooms and Pancetta). There's even a section on planning and hosting a sake-tasting party to share your newfound sake expertise. A contemporary look at a traditional drink, Sake captures 1,000 years of culture and updates it for the modern lifestyle. Kanpai!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Say the word "sake" to most Americans, and what comes to mind is a hot, semisweet beverage meant for socking down alongside spicy tuna. In Japan, however, sake is a serious subject, studied and celebrated much like wine is in France. This little volume seeks to demystify the sophisticated side of sake, providing a brief history and an in-depth examination of its rituals and preparation. The authors survey the surprisingly varied sake universe: "Kira," or "devil sake," is a dry and peppery version which marries well with spicy foods, while "fukunishiki," or "happy fortune" sake, is a "dependable, safe sake," tasty alongside fried snacks. Pushing international boundaries, the authors note that "Dessai 50," or "Otter Festival," goes well with risotto, and "Bishonen," which means "beautiful boy," is great with a burger. The authors also provide a few appealing recipes to match with different sakes; a "Crab and Grapefruit Salad with Fried Shallots" is elegant, easy to prepare, and faintly spicy, while "Roasted Chicken Wings with Garlic And Ginger" beg for beer-or for a cold glass of "Gokyo Junmai." They also offer recipes for sake cocktails, like the super-sweet "Citrus Mistress" and the "Geisha's Delight," which pairs Italian limoncello with citrus and sake. Not traditional, to be sure, but delicious enough to get any sake neophyte's attention.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Sara Deseran is a senior editor at 7 x 7 magazine in San Francisco. She has contributed to such publications as Food & Wine , and is the author of Picnics (0-8118-4299-1).

Beau Timken is the owner of TrueSake in San Francisco, the first store dedicated to sake. He holds two professional sake-tasting licenses and is a master sake sommelier. This is his first book.

Scott Peterson is a San Francisco based photographer whose work has appeared in 7x7 , Bon Appetit , and Sunset magazines.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 120 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (March 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811849600
• ISBN-13: 978-0811849609
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 7.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #283,136 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #49 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Drinks & Beverages > Wine > Buying Guides
  • #75 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Regional & International > Asian > Japanese

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for Sake lovers of all levels, September 19, 2006

By 

Kate (Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sake: A Modern Guide (Hardcover)

I've read many Sake guides over the years. Some leave me with lengthy, lengthy lists of sakes I'd like to try, if I could ever decipher the labels at my local Japanese liquor store. Most leave me even more confused than before I started reading. This book was the first I ever read where I walked away feeling like I could explain why I liked what I liked. But the best part of the book is the list of Sakes to try that are available in the US. Afterall, what's the point of a long list of exotic drinks to try if you're never going to be able to find them?

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Beginner's Guide to this Mysterious Beverage, June 7, 2006

By 

A Sake Enthusiast (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sake: A Modern Guide (Hardcover)

Whether you enjoy sake already or are just interested in learning more, this is a wonderful place to start. The book includes a short sake history, a lesson on how it is made, and some key terminology necessary for understanding this amazing beverage. The best part of the book is Beau's detailed reviews of 50 different sakes. Plenty of tastes to begin or continue your journey. There are also recipes in the back that help demonstrate that sake isn't just good with Sashimi, it can taste great with risotto or even a pizza.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Must Have Guide for the Sake Traveler, May 17, 2006

By 

Michael LaPlante (Zephyrhills, Florida USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sake: A Modern Guide (Hardcover)

For those people who love the adventure of good food and soirits, this book is a must have. Very informative, it provides the reader with a very good basic understanding of Sake. With history, science, and etiquette all wrapped into one informative guide, I highly recommend this book. If you love Sake, or are interested in learning more, you MUST read this book. I find I return to it time and time again as I delve deeper into the fascinating world of Japan's most famous beverage. One of the bibles of Sake...