Join us for a 5-course SoGood Saké food pairing experience at the California-inspired Michelin-starred restaurant SOLA in Soho.
SoGood Saké’s unique versatility makes it a seamless match for many dishes, from sushi to steak to sorbet.
Thank you to SOLA for hosting this tasting menu for the SoGood Saké team and special guests.
SOLA focuses on the latest and the best in North American Wine, with a particular emphasis on California, and a style of service that embraces a splash of theatre, which will take you on an extraordinary trip.
Victor Garvey serves his creative Californian cooking in an elegant, intimate dining room in the heart of Soho. Abundant plants and sculptural lighting evoke the lush greenery and sunshine of the Golden State.
SOLA celebrates the modern cuisine of America’s Pacific West Coast, bringing a taste of California to Soho via LA.
Below, we show you how SoGood Saké can be enjoyed neat or in cocktails and how well it pairs with a variety of dishes.
Act I
Dish: Canapes: Devilled Egg Lox Smoked Sardine Hush Puppy Baby Back Rib
Drink: SoGood Negroni Sbagliato: SoGood Saké, Campari, Mancino Sakura Vermouth, Prosecco. Garnish: Dark chocolate and orange
We aim to showcase culinary creativity with SoGood Saké. The Negroni Sbagliato is easy to drink and offers a unique balance of bitterness, sweetness, and umami, complementing the diverse flavours of different canapés.
Act II
Dish: Langoustine
Drink: SoGood Saké neat
Pairing SoGood Saké neat with seafood, the clean and smooth flavour of the saké complements the delicate taste of langoustine without overpowering it, enhancing the seafood’s natural sweetness. The saké and langoustine share umami qualities, creating a harmonious and satisfying taste experience. Neat SoGood Junmai Daiginjo Saké can adapt to various preparations of langoustine. The flambé introduces an extra smoky, caramelised flavour to this experience.
Act III
Dish: Turbot
Drink: So L.A. Lychee Martini SoGood Saké, lychee liquor, dry vermouth. Garnish: rose petals
In pairing SoGood Saké with light and delicate flavours, the Lychee Martini has only three ingredients, allowing the sake’s freshness to take centre stage. The naturally sweet and floral lychee perfectly complements the delicate, slightly fruity notes of SoGood Saké, resulting in a refreshing and elegant food pairing experience.
Act IV
Dish: Venison
Drink: SoGood Passion Fruit Float to pair with Venison: SoGood Saké, passion fruit, lime juice. Garnish: Shiso leaf
To achieve the goal of pairing SoGood Saké with bold tropical fruits, we can venture into a unique twist on a classic cocktail like the Porn Star Martini. The bright tropical, acidic, and sweet notes of passion fruit contrast the rich, gamey flavour of venison, offering a tenderising effect that enhances the meat’s texture. This combination results in a vibrant, well-rounded dish.
Act V
Dish: SoGood Saké Affogato Berry Sorbet and zesty key lime pie
Drink: SoGood Sorbet Affogato to pair with the dessert
We can bring fruity notes to the sake when we pair SoGood Sake with herbs and sweet flavours. They work wonderfully with the Kaffir Lime Leaf and create a blend with the Berry Sorbet.
“We both thought it was an amazing event and were delighted to be part of it. The venue was not known to us and the food and drink pairings worked really well. The concept behind SoGood Saké is a good one – hopefully bringing saké to a wider audience. We thought Ken and Meryl (SoGood’s founders) were great and it’s interesting to hear about how they went from rice farming to our world! I thought the saké itself was really easy-drinking. Top cocktail for me was the negroni. I’m a consciously light drinker nowadays and I thought that was an easy win!”
Roisin Stimpson and Edmund Weil of Nightjar
In 2021 SOLA was awarded a Michelin Star and 3 AA Rosettes. It’s currently rated 40th in the UK at the National Restaurant Awards.
