Bithja Gebrulien
Google
Sake, Ya! Hosted by Offline should be a Permanent Feature!
I recently enjoyed a private dining experience offered to Offline members. Neither an ignorant nor ardent fan of sake, I embraced the opportunity to learn. I'm glad I did.
As you step through the threshold of Bar Kada, notice the threshold. The stark black exterior with minimal inscription does conjure speakeasy vibes. My date and I were grateful for a passerby, who, noting our dress, said, "Are you looking for Soseki?"
We replied, "Bar Kada."
She pointed to the all-black door. I grasped the handle, ushered my date inside, and was transformed.
The transformation was subtle. First, you note the quiet. Not the respectful quiet of a reserved space, but the silence of anticipation. The hostess was polite, and while we waited, I noted the decor.
Where was the flair? Accustomed to either car parts or framed chef magazine covers on the wall, Bar Kada has neither. Their minimal aesthetic is artfully crafted and focused. Vessels for serving and preparing sake predominantly adorn the space.
There are no clocks or windows. The "little cousin" Bar Kada to the grand dame Soseki is a phantom appendage. You can feel the hum next door. But this carefully curated space is all its own.
Next, we meet Emika. She is the perfect blend of passion and decorum, tradition and jest, knowledge, and fun. She explains she is half-Japanese, half-Swedish Norwegian, and that she has been to Japan many times.
Her breadth of knowledge spans all facets of sake making, from types of establishments to methodologies in preparation... from bar etiquette to a lesson in industrial history, she knows it all.
Thinking I may learn a twin phrase to the simplistic "kampai" toast, these trite expectations never sprang. Instead, we were taken on a journey spanning 1,000 years of Japanese culture.
Each sake was better than the last. The first felt like a beer one would enjoy after work. We quickly learned that sake is the Japanese word for liquor and therefore covers the gamut of alcohol.
They got fancier and fancier. One felt like a glass of wine from a small village in France, while another had the texture and consistency of fine vodka. Everything will taste different based on your mood and what your palate is accustomed to. I don't know how it works—Emika tells it better. Just know the sake was good, and I was buzzed.
The bar pairings were inspired, and the close working relationship between Emika and the chef was evident. The oyster preparation with cilantro and mint was as palate-pleasing as it was beautiful. Our dinner companion remarked, "I could eat 12 to 14 of these." I agreed with her. For me, the culinary star was the buckwheat noodle. Umami! Simple and rustic, it perfectly accompanied the selected varietals.
We ended our evening with a gift bag from Bar Kada and a promise to return from us.
This should be a regular event!
Or a menu tasting experience where you order The Emika and get the 3 sake with their food pairings.