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What's Popping New York?

August 16, 2008
Yohei Nishiyama

It's a pleasure to be a part of the winechilled.com writer's team. My name is Yohei ("yo-hey"), here to share my experience as a former sommelier at Megu--a Japanese restaurant in New York City where I worked for three years with beverage director Vanessa Trevino Boyd. Japanese cuisine is suddenly everywhere in NYC. Sushi is available in grocery stores and delis. Kobe beef is ubiquitous. You can easily find Abriyak--where you grill food over Bincho tan charcoal, and there are a string of Izakaya places serving Japanese tapas. The East Village alone is host to several fabulous Ramen noodle places. Japanese food is nearly as readily available in New York now as it is in Japan.

At Megu, I worked with one of the best Japanese menus in New York, and a winelist that earned the Wine Spectator 'Best of Excellence Award' two years in a row--the first Japanese restaurant in the country to do so. The philosophy of this winelist, according to Vanessa, is to compliment the delicate cuisine that Megu serves whether it's a fresh cut of Ohtoro or the Tempura buttered Rock Shrimp seasoned with zesty Kanzuri sauce. Since I grew up in Japan and am familiar with the ingredients and flavors of Megu's menu, I was thrilled to be a part of a team that is so passionate about pairing Japanese food with wine.

This column will be a place where I can share my knowledge both of Japanese food and of wine. As I write this, in fact, I'm visiting Japan to explore restaurants and Japanese wine producers. Watch out for my report on both here soon!

Montebruno 2005 Pinot Noir, can be purchase at: Bowery & Vine
269 Bowery (NYC near Whole Foods) 212-941-7943

Oregon

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Taste Chart [Aromas In Wine: "A taste chart is a useful mind-jogging guide to identifying elusive aromas and flavors that you may have encountered in a wine, but cannot put a name to - something perhaps that leaps out of the glass and is instantly recognizable yet, at the same time, is frustratingly hard to identify."]

Which wines contain the butter aroma? Answer<--

- Wine Made Easy -

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