JAYA at The Setai’s New Tableside Japanese Sake Cart Service

JAYA at The Setai’s New Tableside Japanese Sake Cart Service

Jaya, at the exotic The Setai Hotel in Miami Beach, rolled in their new tableside Japanese Beer and Sake Cart service. The mobile wooden pushcart, once prevalent in Japan, is an old tradition that the Pan-Asian restaurant is bringing back to indulge their dining guests.

There are many types of Sake, or Nihonshu, but, the basic two groups are alcohol-added or rice-based only. Like grapes are to wine or barley to beer, special types of rice are to sake. The taste of sake depends on the balance between sweetness and acidity, which is determined by the combination of proper water, malt, yeast and steamed rice.

I had the opportunity learn more about Sake, when I was invited to sample the cart’s stocked assortment of imported sakes, starting with Dewatsuru Sakura Emaki Rosé.

The rice wine was served chilled, and poured in a frosted round glass cup, placed inside a masu (square wooden drinking box). My server poured extra sake so that it overflowed into the masu. This serving style, called sosogi-koboshi, is to demonstrate generosity to the customer. The sake in the masu is also intended for drinking, either by tipping the bonus sake into the glass once there is room, or sipped carefully from the corner of the box.

Sakura Emaki obtains it rosé color naturally from heirloom purple rice. This sweet class of sake has the aroma of cherry and plum. On the palate, it is light, crisp and fruity. I would pair it with poké, a Hawaiian version of ceviche.

Next, I tried the cloudy Dewatsuru Junmai Nigori. Also served chilled, the unfiltered nigori sake has the aroma of green apples and a hint of citrus. On the palate, it was delicate, dry, and creamy. This sake would be a perfect match for any spicy dish, such as Thai style chicken wings.

The wheeled cart also has a selection of Japanese beers and local Miami craft brews.

Jaya at The Setai is located at 2001 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139.  For more information or to make reservations, please visit: www.thesetaihotel.com or call (305) 520-6000.