Everyday Sake - by Yoko Kumano & Kayoko Akabori (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Unlock the world of sake with this approachable, illustrated guide from sake experts and founders of Umami Mart in Oakland. Just like wine and beer, sake is a fermented beverage meant to pair with food. It is highly aromatic, drinks wonderfully in a wine glass, boasts a wide array of flavors, and pairs well with all sorts of dishes-from pizza and burgers, to roasted chicken and pasta Bolognese, to your favorite Chinese dishes. If you've only had sake alongside sushi at a Japanese restaurant but are curious to learn more about this unique rice-based drink, Everyday Sake is here to be your go-to resource. It's no understatement that the world of sake is complex, but Yoko Kumano and Kayoko Akabori are the perfect guides. As the owners of Umami Mart, a sake shop and bar in Oakland, California, they have spent over a decade selling sake and teaching classes on the subject. They know the answers to all the real-life, burning questions you may have, like, Can I use a wine glass for sake? Is hot sake bad? Can I eat pizza with sake? How do I store sake? And now they've written Everyday Sake as a practical guide that will give you the confidence to choose the best sake for any occasion. With informative graphics and helpful, full-color illustrations, Everyday Sake covers sake basics, including essential guidance on selecting, tasting, and pairing that give you all the information you need to choose sake on a restaurant menu or in a bottle shop. For those who want to dig deeper, it features sidebars with extra information, tips, and how-to's that illuminate the complex world of sake. As your sake concierge, this book will make sake more fun, and show you how the drink can join your rotation with beer, wine, and cider for any night of the week"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

Step into the exciting world of sake with this vibrant, illustrated guide from Yoko Kumano and Kayoko Akabori, the trailblazing founders of Umami Mart in Oakland.

Sake is more than just a drink for sushi night--it's aromatic, food-friendly, and endlessly drinkable. Whether you're pairing it with pizza, roast chicken, or pasta Bolognese, sake brings unexpected joy to any table.

Everyday Sake makes this iconic Japanese beverage simple, delicious, and fun. Yoko Kumano and Kayoko Akabori--founders of Oakland's Umami Mart--have spent over a decade selling, sipping, and teaching all things sake. They've answered every real-life question--Can I use a wine glass? Is hot sake a crime? Does it go with cheese? How long does an open bottle last?--and now they've distilled their real-world expertise in this approachable, illustrated guide.

Inside, you'll find everything you need to drink with confidence: how to taste and talk about sake, read bottle labels and navigate menus, and perfectly pair sake with your favorite meals. Packed with expert insights, practical tips, and helpful visuals, this book is your go-to companion for discovering the joy of sake--any night of the week.

About the Author

Yoko Kumano and Kayoko Akabori are the founders of Umami Mart, a Japanese drinks store in Oakland, California. Childhood friends from Cupertino, they started a food blog called Umami Mart in 2007 as a way to stay in touch (and deflect boredom) from their cubicle jobs in Tokyo and New York. After moving back to the Bay Area, they opened their shop in downtown Oakland in 2012. Umami Mart started as a barware and kitchen tools store before expanding to sake and spirits, and it now focuses on sake education through classes and a monthly club. The shop has been featured in The New York Times, Wirecutter, and New York magazine, and the owners are frequent guests on various drinks podcasts.