Credit: Supplied / Anna Kucera

It is easy to sense when the Spring season is settling in. There is the warm arrival of sunny weekends, fairy-floss sunsets and balmy afternoons outside. But perhaps the key to the turning season is the pink hue and honeyed scent of cherry blossoms that line the streets during September. 

In Japanese culture, the cherry blossom – traditionally known as sakura – represents the fragility and beauty of life and serves as a reminder of the meaning of life. Paying homage to this heritage, one of Australia’s most awarded Japanese connoisseurs Saké Restaurant & Bar will celebrate the arrival of spring with a series of mouth-watering events.  

Credit: Supplied / Anna Kucera

Across the month of September, Saké will showcase the unique cuisines of East and West Japan with two exclusive dinners in all six locations. From September 3 and beginning at The Rocks, guests will be taken on a culinary journey throughout palates of each region with the use of fresh, spring produce. With hero ingredients including succulent tuna, snapper, crisp seasonal vegetables and traditional flavours of miso and ponzu, each dish will be paired with a curated list of wines and saké. 

In a fusion of Australia’s beloved past times and Japanese food, Saké will also hold its first ever Japanese picnic. Held at The Rocks, Hamer Hall and Eagle Street Pier, the private dining rooms of the famed locations will be transformed into a Japanese floral wonderland. Featuring an extensive share menu curated by its expert head chefs, attendees will be invited to dine tatami style. A cocktail will be offered on arrival with the picnic including two hours of Veuve Clicquot Rosé, Cloudy Bay wine, and Sapporo beer.  

Additionally, Saké Restaurant & Bar will hero sakura – often found in traditional desserts – in four limited-edition cocktails. Available at each location, the menu features the ‘Not An Ordinary Cherry’, ‘Yozakura’, ‘Cheri Dorinku’ and ‘Little Geisha’, each experimenting with cherry-infused liquors and fan-favourite flavours including lime, strawberry and elderflower. 

Reservations for each dinner and picnic is extremely limited. Each dinner is priced at $159 per person with a special price of $300 per person for both East and West dinner. The weekend picnic is priced at $169 per person. For more information and to make your reservation, visit the website here. See dates below.

Chef Dinners

EAST JAPAN
The Rocks – Tuesday September 3, 6:30pm
Eagle Street Pier – Tuesday September 3, 6:30pm
Hamer Hall – Wednesday September 4, 6:30pm
Flinders Lane – Wednesday September 11, 6:30pm
Manly – Thursday September 12, 6:30pm

WEST JAPAN
The Rocks – Tuesday September 10, 6:30pm
Eagle Street Pier – Tuesday September 17, 6:30pm
Hamer Hall – Wednesday September 18, 6:30pm
Double Bay – Thursday September 19, 6:30pm
Flinders Lane – Thursday September 26, 6:30pm
Manly – Thursday September 26, 6:30pm

Japanese Picnic

The Rocks – Saturday September 14 & Sunday September 15, 12:30pm
Hamer Hall – Saturday September 21 & Sunday September 22, 12:30pm
Eagle Street Pier – Saturday September 28 & Sunday September 29, 12:30pm