Soka Success!
When flavours mingled and danced on the palate from the very first taste, John Caruso soaked it all in!
The Sake at Soka lunch hosted by Hello Sunshine Magazine at Soka Maroochydore, was a sensation – think sashimi tacos and kingfish with kosho dressing, fennel and orange and paired with sake I could barely pronounce but happily imbibed.
Eighteen lucky guests, some even braving the Bruce Hwy from Brisbane, joined us for an intimate affair for a masterclass in fresh, clean flavours.
I took my role as emcee seriously, decanting sake into teapots and making sure no one had to commit the ultimate faux pas of pouring their own – which is a no-no in Japanese culture.
Corn with salted ricotta and teriyaki mayo was an absolute standout, followed by eggplant tempura with sweet miso, and the Mooloolaba king prawn in shiso butter and crustacean oil, hot off the hibachi grill was hard to beat for flavour. As was the Scotch fillet with wafu sauce, garlic chips and green salad. Each course matched with a sake that had us all channelling our inner sensei, savouring every sip.
Conversation and cocktails flowed with a coconut sorbet, lychee and raspberry granita adding the finishing touch!
For many of us, it was our first sake experience, and we embraced the cultural and culinary journey, learning about rice polishing and so much more.
Soka, you’ve set the bar high – kanpai!
