Sake to me.

With the popularity of sushi and Japanese food, the well-educated gourmet needs to know a little more about sake, the Japanese rice wine. The local Japan America Society is offering an opportunity to try a nice variety of rare and premium sakes imported from Japan. Their special qualities are being highlighted with food pairings from some of the best area restaurants—Beluga, Cumin, Daveed’s, Honey, Orchids and Slims. For instance, Orchids is matching a Bishounen/Wakatake onikoroshi with slow cooked tuna loin and pickled vegetables and spicy port dumplings with red pepper glaze. Proceeds benefit the Society’s Greater Cincinnati Cherry Blossom Planting. $75 per person/ $140 per couple (mention you read it in the Enquirer, they’ll give you a $5 discount.) 5:30-9 p.m. Friday, at Jungle Jim’s Oscar Event Center in Fairfield. For more information and to reserve, go to www.jasgc.org/saketasting.html