I want to host a sake night at my new house...Ideas?!
Me & my long term boyfriend just moved into our new house and I would really like to change things up a bit!.!.!.instead of a regular old housewarming/get together I would like to have a Japanese themed sort of "Sake Night"!.!.!.I would love to hear some ideas! 10 Pt's!. to the best answer! Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
Pass on the sushi, it's expensive, spoils easily, and a lot of people won't eat it!.
Instead, look up recipes for soba (esp!. "zaru-soba"), katsu/tonkatsu (fried pork or other meat cutlets), tempura, and other non-sushi Japanese foods!. Making it isn't hard, but usually you do need to go to an international or asian-specialty grocer to get some of the ingredients (like soba noodles, *good* tofu, and miso stock)!. You could also try making o-nigiri, or rice balls, which are easy to make and usually have something tasty in the middle!.
For drinks, serve some sake hot, some sake cold, umeshu plum wine, and gin for saketinis or something!.
Hot sake can be cheap, just warm it up over the stove and put it into a carafe that won't lose the temperature!. If you have a coffee burner that you can turn WAY down, that's an excellent place to put it!. Sake to be served chilled should be the good stuff!. What's available varies wildly by region, but expect to pay a *minimum* of $25 from most retailers for a decent bottle, and keep it in the fridge or on ice!.
At the end, instead of serving your guests coffee, offer them green tea instead!.
Good decorations and things are obviously japan themed stuff: painted fans, red paper lanterns, maybe get a man's and a woman's kimono from a costume shop for you and your bf to wear, make people take off their shoes, etc!.
For party favors, you can get nice chopsticks for your guests!. If this is a serious thing with you and your boyfriend, get personalized ones with your names on it, but if not, just get some with nice decorations!.
www!.everythingchopsticks!.com can do personalizations, but they're kind of expensive!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Instead, look up recipes for soba (esp!. "zaru-soba"), katsu/tonkatsu (fried pork or other meat cutlets), tempura, and other non-sushi Japanese foods!. Making it isn't hard, but usually you do need to go to an international or asian-specialty grocer to get some of the ingredients (like soba noodles, *good* tofu, and miso stock)!. You could also try making o-nigiri, or rice balls, which are easy to make and usually have something tasty in the middle!.
For drinks, serve some sake hot, some sake cold, umeshu plum wine, and gin for saketinis or something!.
Hot sake can be cheap, just warm it up over the stove and put it into a carafe that won't lose the temperature!. If you have a coffee burner that you can turn WAY down, that's an excellent place to put it!. Sake to be served chilled should be the good stuff!. What's available varies wildly by region, but expect to pay a *minimum* of $25 from most retailers for a decent bottle, and keep it in the fridge or on ice!.
At the end, instead of serving your guests coffee, offer them green tea instead!.
Good decorations and things are obviously japan themed stuff: painted fans, red paper lanterns, maybe get a man's and a woman's kimono from a costume shop for you and your bf to wear, make people take off their shoes, etc!.
For party favors, you can get nice chopsticks for your guests!. If this is a serious thing with you and your boyfriend, get personalized ones with your names on it, but if not, just get some with nice decorations!.
www!.everythingchopsticks!.com can do personalizations, but they're kind of expensive!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
You can usually buy sushi at your local sushi restaurant, and fill a big boat with it!.!.!. but sushi is pretty expensive for alot of people:) Since it's summer, how about a few blenders with different flavored frozen margaritas (Mexican theme) or frozen daiquiris (Jamaican Sunfest)!.!.!.!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
mmm!. go with japanese food! eat mochi icecream balls! they are soo good!. and have fish!. play some cool japanese music like: Kiss kiss fall in love!Www@FoodAQ@Com
If you wanted to serve sushi and not spend a ton of cash and worry about keeping fish cool, opt for some veggie sushi!. It is really fun to make and you can get really creative with your veggie fillings!. Plus it looks super awesome and guests will be impressed!. I've done this for parties and it was very popular!.
Here is a link that has some great sushi tips as well as vegetarian sushi ideas to get your brain going!. I would recommend getting a sushi rice and not skipping the rice vinegar, it really packs an authentic flavor punch!
http://theppk!.com/recipes/vegansushi!.sht!.!.!.
I would also have other Japanese snacks!. Do you have a Daiso near you!? It is a great dollar store where everything is from Japan!. It is full of little dishes, cheap sake sets (that don't look cheap) and other great ideas for decorations!. They also have snacks (chips, candies) that are good to have out for people to nosh on!. I just found a link that has tons of snack ideas:
http://en!.wikipedia!.org/wiki/Japanese_sn!.!.!.
I would not worry about getting one really good bottle of sake but would instead focus on getting multiple bottles!. I think having warm and cool options is a great idea! What if you get one and it is just so so!? Price does not necessarily mean that you will like it!. I like to go to Asian supermarkets to buy sake and I find the people that work there very helpful!. I would also recommend a sparkling sake, they are very sweet, different, and good!.
If you wanted to add a few other beverages get some good Japanese beer (I love Sapporo), soju, and whatever mixers you like mixing with vodka!. The Soju is a great substitute!.
Finally, go for the cute! Japan is crazy with tiny, cute, plastic accessories!. You basically want to think how can I add the equivalent of a Japanese cell phone charm to my house !.!.!.!.then you're there!
Have fun! Sounds like a great time!. Www@FoodAQ@Com
Here is a link that has some great sushi tips as well as vegetarian sushi ideas to get your brain going!. I would recommend getting a sushi rice and not skipping the rice vinegar, it really packs an authentic flavor punch!
http://theppk!.com/recipes/vegansushi!.sht!.!.!.
I would also have other Japanese snacks!. Do you have a Daiso near you!? It is a great dollar store where everything is from Japan!. It is full of little dishes, cheap sake sets (that don't look cheap) and other great ideas for decorations!. They also have snacks (chips, candies) that are good to have out for people to nosh on!. I just found a link that has tons of snack ideas:
http://en!.wikipedia!.org/wiki/Japanese_sn!.!.!.
I would not worry about getting one really good bottle of sake but would instead focus on getting multiple bottles!. I think having warm and cool options is a great idea! What if you get one and it is just so so!? Price does not necessarily mean that you will like it!. I like to go to Asian supermarkets to buy sake and I find the people that work there very helpful!. I would also recommend a sparkling sake, they are very sweet, different, and good!.
If you wanted to add a few other beverages get some good Japanese beer (I love Sapporo), soju, and whatever mixers you like mixing with vodka!. The Soju is a great substitute!.
Finally, go for the cute! Japan is crazy with tiny, cute, plastic accessories!. You basically want to think how can I add the equivalent of a Japanese cell phone charm to my house !.!.!.!.then you're there!
Have fun! Sounds like a great time!. Www@FoodAQ@Com