It was a perfect evening in June, warm but not too hot, when we ventured to Dachi, a family-run neighbourhood restaurant waiting to be discovered by our members and specialising in farm to table fare to compare sake and wine with fine food. We were greeted by owner and manager Miki Ellis and handed a taste of Yoshi no Gawa 'Awayuki' Sparkling Sake from Niigata, Japan while we listened to stories about sake, how they are brewed and the history and families behind their production and nibbled on a tasty canapé of Spot Prawn on Puff Pastry with Prawn Sauce and Nori Sauce.
From the bar, we proceeded outside to a lovely long table set for our dinner, our first courses being Vive le Veg Farm Salad with Elderflower Vinaigrette and Sea Bream Escabeche with Pickled Green Strawberries perfectly paired with Nakashima Shuzo 'Kozaemon Sakura' Junmai Ginjo Nama from Gifu, Japan and a glass of 2020 Chateau Gromel Bel Air Cuvée Eva blanc from Bordeaux – our first interesting comparison of a sake versus a wine with dinner.
Our main course was a Striploin of Beef with a Fermented Turnip Top Chimichurri, Grilled Cucumber and a Cheesy Potato Rosti with Daimon Shuzo 'Daimon 45' Aged Junmai Daiginjo Sake from Osaka, Japan and a glass of 2010 Chateau Tessier St. Emilion Grand Cru, which matched the course well.
Our sweet finish was a Karpatka, Polish Choux Pastry Dessert with Elderflower Diplomat and Fresh Strawberries with Yucho Shuzo 'Bodaimoto' Junmai Sake from Nara, Japan, a lovely match, and a glass of the ever-popular 2014 Chateau Doisy-Vedrines Sauternes from Bordeaux.
Altogether a splendid and enjoyable evening with many compliments and our thanks go to hostess Miki Ellis, to our Cellarmaster Kim Mead and to Milena Robertson. Another evening well spent!