Slightly sweet wines are also in play. Think Kabinett riesling, Vouvray, and gewurztraminer. Fruity reds with low tannins are also a nice match. Zinfandel, Mendoza Malbec, and Pinot Nori will pair with these sardines. Mentaiko is salted and marinated cod roe. It’s essentially a flavored version of tarako and is an uber-popular Japanese delicacy used in all kinds of dishes. And once again, it’s an excellent otsumami. Takunomi is a 4-panel manga and anime focused on drinking at home. Each episode features a different drink, but due to Japanese drinking culture, multiple sakana and otsumami are shown being paired with each drink as alcohol is rarely drunk without a food pairing. Okinawan tofu, or shimadofu, is firm with a rich flavor and more protein. But this particular product from Shokuno Kakehashi is a lot more than that. As for the name of “Chiitara (チータラ)”, it actually can be divided into 2 words, “Chii (チー: Chee)” and “Tara (タラ)”.

finest quality and flavour, coming to you from the hidden corners of Japan. Prepared with meticulousness andSalads are a good option when splitting food amongst a group. Wakame seaweed salad, tofu salad, and onion salad are all common Japanese salad offerings. Many restaurants in Japan also offer caesar salad if you’re looking for a Western-style salad. Again, I started this culinary experience with sake. Everything I tried worked. It was very good with a slightly savory tokubetsu junmai. And I like it more with a fruity and soft Kyoto daiginjo.

Kokoro’s smoked mentaiko are made in Miyagi by Minato Suisan. The company marinated the roe in salt, sugar, mirin, bonito shavings, kelp, and chili peppers. And uniquely, this mentaiko is smoked using sakura wood chips for added aroma and flavor.There are a whole lot of vegetarian friendly Otsumami. For instance Edamame is basically boiled or steamed immature soybeans. It is very popular and cheap in Japan. It can be salted during or after boiling. You do not eat the pods, you should take the beans out, eat and discard the pods. It seems simple but it's really chewy and can get addictive. Otsumami (おつまみ)”, also known as “Sakana (肴)”, is the Japanese word for simple dishes and finger foods that are eaten alongside alcoholic beverages. After about a minute, the sake had taken on a greenish color and an oceanic smell. It was rich, briny, and loaded with umami. I highly recommend trying this. Just don’t let it soak too long. I mentioned that this yamitsuki cabbage is typically an izakaya dish, but you might be wondering what an "izakaya" is exactly. Izakaya is a traditional Japanese casual eatery that serves a wide variety of Japanese cuisine (tapas style) along with drinks and alcoholic beverages, making them great spots to hang out with friends or unwind after work. You can simply think of them as Japanese tapas bars or pubs. Japanese butterfish from Nagasaki Prefecture are served to guests while freshly caught. The white flesh has a refreshing texture, and the white rice accompanies it.