The art of pairing sake with Japanese food

Sushi (Toro, Snapper, Sea Urchin, Amberjack and Anago), paired with Izumibashi Junmai Shinriki. - Photos: Glenn Guan/The Star

Sake is almost unrivalled when it comes to Japanese food-and-drink pairings. Many of the sake brewers I have met have told me that their sake is meant to go with food, as the traditional Japanese rice wine has qualities that can help enhance the flavours in the food. Some have even suggested their sake tastes even better when paired with a certain sort of meal.

So, when Japanese restaurant franchise Kampachi invited me for an omakase food and sake pairing at its Pavilion Kuala Lumpur branch, I simply could not resist.