Seafood Loves Sake at FOC Restaurant

In recognition of the rising influence Sake has on the Singapore culinary scene, a 2-month collaboration between 12 fine dining restaurants and sake is running till 30 Nov (this Sat) to celebrate the unique harmony between seafood and sake.

The campaign features a myriad of seafood pairing dishes alongside premium sake flown in from different prefectures of Japan, specifically curated to enrich and bring out the best flavours of each dish. FOC Restaurant is one the participating restaurants with a special FOC x Sake pairing menu:

With advice from profound Sake sommeliers, each restaurant curates its own set of unique dishes to be paired with top notch sake they have chosen.

Majority of the prestigious Sake brands have been awarded at the International Wine Challenge (IWC) Sake Competition, first introduced in 2007.

FOC Restaurant is headed by Barcelona-born Chef Jordi Noguera, who grew up surrounded by a family of chefs who are proud descendants of a rich food history that dates back more than six decades. Chef Jordi’s culinary philosophy is influenced by renowned Spanish chefs that have renewed and enhanced Spanish cuisine.

In a dynamic collaboration with one Michelin-starred Chef Nandu Jubany, he is the FOC Group Brand Ambassador & Culinary Director (FOC Restaurant, FOC Sentosa and FOC PIM PAM), aiming to bring the essence of vibrant Barcelona, giving a 360° authentic experience of everything that this fascinating city has to offer.

The FOC x Sake dishes for pairing are personally curated by Chef Jordi.

Sake needs not necessarily be paired with just Japanese food. A good glass of Sake goes equally well with other international cuisine like Spanish food for instance at FOC Restaurant. This was the initial notion I had which was quickly dispelled after I sampled the first paring dish at FOC.

The paired Sake was able to enhance the flavours of the seafood and complete the dining experience for an evening of indulgence and relaxation. The pairing at FOC includes:

Grilled Mediterranean Tuna Belly with Strawberries and Green Apple x Keigetsu Cel24 Junmai Daiginjo 50

The pairing here is to bring out the flavours and textures and most importantly, the fattiness of the premium tuna.

Alaskan King Crab Canelon x KATAFUNE Tokubetsu Honjozo

This fruity sweet Sake is paired to bring out the taste of the crab and creamy texture of the sriracha mayo used.

Squid Ink Paella with Seafood x Shimazaki Junmai Yamahai Uroko

No meal is complete at FOC without their signature paella dish. The strong taste of seafood is perfectly combined and balanced here with this dry Sake.

Interested to find out more about the Seafood x Sake campaign? More details are available via the official website.

Participating establishments:

1. béni
2. Burnt Ends
3. CURATE
4. Iggy’s
5. FOC Restaurant
6. Morsels
7. Nouri
8. Preludio
9. Punjab Grill
10. Restaurant JAG
11. Whitegrass
12. Zen

The Seafood Loves Sake campaign is brought into Singapore by the Japan Food Product Overseas Promotion Center (JFOODO), a newly formed organisation within the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO). With the aim to educate and enlighten Singaporeans about Sake culture, it is with hopes that the positive association between seafood and Sake is further established and the position that Sake has in the culinary scene can be further elevated. 

Next time you head out for a seafood meal, consider pairing it with Sake!