Sake Brisbane - Sunday funday champagne and sashimi

http://www.sakerestaurant.com.au/

Now that we're getting into the warmer months, I bet you're looking for a cool spot, hopefully with river views and a nice breeze. Someplace that you can sit down, chill out and have a fabulous Sunday-funday.  I'm guessing it would be even better if there was some relaxed tunes and the type of refreshments that just work on those hot summer afternoons.....

As part of the recent #G20 global flavours, I was invited along to such a spot and spent a completely relaxed and chilled Sunday afternoon in one of the best dining spots in Brisbane.  Sake Restaurant is arguably the best Japanese restaurant in Queensland (tied with Sono Portside and Wasabi) and turned out to be the perfect spot for a quiet Sunday afternoon leading up to Brisbane's own global event.

With a coveted Good Food Times chefs hat, you're always guaranteed to have a sensational Japanese meal at Sake, which has a lot to do with the way Executive Chef Shaun Presland has set the place up. Teamed with Head Chef Daisuke Sakai, Sake Brisbane distinguishes itself from its sister restaurants in Sydney and Melbourne with its use of regional produce that, in my opinion, is the best in Australia.

We experienced some of that regional produce when we cruised over to check out the Champagne and Sashimi Sunday on the deck at Sake in Eagle Street.  With four different options to choose from, the idea behind the sessions was to pick a bottle of bubbly and pair with a selection of Sake's finest fresh seafood.  With options including' the Classic' with Jansz Premium Rose; 'the Brut' with Moet and ChandonBrut Imperial NV; 'the Madame' with Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label NV; and finally 'the Pink Lady' with Veuve Clicquot Rose NV, there was a selection to satisfy most discerning champagne lovers.

While SC enjoyed a glass or two (or three) of the bubbly, it was all about the sashimi for me and I was in awe of the first chef’s selection of sashimi.  The huge plate of fresh fish came simply presented on a beautiful plate that had tones of light and dark.  The plate helped to contrast the fish, with the dark tuna looking stunning against the pearl side of the plate, with the stark white octopus on the dark.  There was a generous amount of sashimi on the plate, which included seared salmon belly, scallops, king prawns and king fish.  All supremely fresh and melt-in-the-mouth.

The seafood was so fresh and delicious, we decided that another round of sashimi was required and if anything, our second serving was more delicious than the first.  I have to say, I'd never had sashimi scampi before....  It was amazing!  It's such a delicate flavour when cooked, it often loses its natural sweetness, not so when eaten raw.  It was perhaps the single nicest piece of sashimi I've ever eaten! Our second plate also had some sea urchin, a unique texture and flavour that takes some getting used to, along with some barramundi, kingfish and benito tataki style tuna. Our second plate also included some flavoured ice, which we ate like ice blocks once the fish was all devoured.

While both SC and I had eaten at Sake before (see post here), it was the first time we'd been together and I have to say, there couldn't have been a better way to share our first Sake meal together.  It was a sunny Sunday afternoon, the tunes were superb (we Shazammed a heap of tracks) and while it was quiet due to the pending G20 event, the ambiance was perfect.

If you're wandering around the CBD on a Sunday afternoon, wondering what you could get up to that would be worthy of your limited time on this earth, you couldn't do much better than the Sake Sunday Champagne and Sashimi sessions.  Yeah, I think it's going to be fine this weekend - get on down there and check it out....

@FoodMeUpScotty