Gekkeikan is the world's best selling Sake Producer (I can't say how much of their Sake I have tried as I try to get something new each time and I love their Plum Wine as well) and I have tried various items from them. The other day I received two bottles of Zipang Sparkling Sake which not only reminded me of why I love Sake so much but it was the first one that I drank while eating items that were not apart of Japanese cuisine! I love that it has a great light and bubbly texture while also having hints of citrus notes to it. Although it's sweet, it's not too sweet. I enjoyed drinking my first bottle without mixing it with anything and the second I had with a bit of St Germaine's Elderflower which has also become a recent favorite! If you love mixing drinks this is perfect with other fruit juices, Tequila and more! I think this is something that you should always have a few bottles of and I will definitely ask for this whenever I'm at a sushi restaurant or a place that carries Sake. Although it's not available online if you're in NYC, there are a number of places that do carry this such as Katen Sushi Bar at the Marriott Marquis, Kyoto Sushi and Water Moon. If you're in NYC and interested in a few other places, please let me know (of course, if you're not in NYC, I can find out about your area as well!).

So, it’s Saturday morning, you wake up in your moderately priced Brooklyn Heights apartment, your dog is pacing next to your bed, your girlfriend is at the breakfast bar working on her obnoxiously thin laptop and the only thing on your mind is Brook – your secret lover. You welcome the sunshine, as you slowly pull the blankets away from your face and a breath of crisp fresh air brings in a brand new day and a brand new hunger. You throw on your jeans, you grab your flip flops and you are off to walking your dog along the promenade. As the other pet enthusiasts are captivated with their canine friends, you begin to formulate a plan; a plan to catch a glimpse of your secret lover.

Your unsuspecting girlfriend is excited to spend this perfect day with a blanket, a cooler and a couple of ipods at what appears to be the perfect destination – Long  Beach, NY. You pack your things, you grab a couple of chai tea lattés and you are ecstatic to get a seat on the LIRR along with fellow pale urbanite staycationers. Your girlfriend thinks that it might be the caffeine that’s keeping you awake, but little does she know that it’s the memory of Brook that has your mind in overdrive unwilling to relinquish its hold until the very moment you get that final glimpse. As you are welcomed to the beach with the conductor’s friendly reminder that you have reached the final stop, you suggest a slightly different route to the beach with the promise of an earlier arrival. And there it is your lover’s secret lair – the Nagahama.

Long story short, do your self a favor and forget about every sushi place that you have been to anywhere within the five boroughs, buy a LIRR ticket, spend a day at the beach and finish it off with a delicious meal at the Nagahama sushi restaurant on 169 Park Avenue in Long Beach, NY. The fish is always extremely fresh (which I feel should be the number one criteria of any great sushi restaurant), the rolls are generous and the menu boasts enough variety to satisfy the most discerning of pallets. This is not the place for suits or khaki pants, but it is your final destination for mouth-watering sushi. And as for Brook, don’t forget about my girl, you can always find her along with other delectable house specialty rolls waiting for your arrival and ready to service your pallet with the most complete array of flavors. 

On a side note, let go of your inhibitions and try the unfiltered sake. You will be thankful for the milky unassuming beverage and indulged with the finishing touch of a thinly sliced cucumber in your glass.