If you drink saké (Japanese rice wine), you’ve gotta check out my buddy Henry’s new video series. I met Henry in 1996, when he introduced Ciao Bella Gelato to the West Coast, opening their SoMa production facility. If I recall correctly, that was sandwiched between his successful launches of Brooklyn Brewery in New York, and Belvedere Vodka across the world. At the time, I was just grateful that he’d swing by my stall at the San Francisco Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market with hot coffee on cold winter mornings. Henry, along with my friends Ami, Brian, and Loci, made hawking butter (and other related dairy products) a fun way to spend a Saturday (their visits would also allow me bathroom breaks and time for flirting with customers). Years later, Henry helped me land a sweet gig spearheading Chopin Vodka‘s attempted conversion of potato farms and vodka processing facility in Poland to certified organic. A few years ago, Henry launched JotoSake, importing artisanal rice wine from multi-generational Japanese producers who use locally raised, indigenous rice varietals. Basically, this is the good stuff. Henry’s new videos go behind the scenes with his partners, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see Henry with his own Food Network show.
