Sake Fountain

If you've ever been to a hibachi-style restaurant (and if you haven't, go now! I'm not kidding...stop reading this and go!) you know that one of the key attractions is the show put on by the knife wielding, egg rolling chef. They also like to entertain you (and themselves) by squirting as much Sake into your mouth as possible while slowly increasing the distance between the squirt bottle and your mouth.

Photo Credit: Photo by Emily Anne Epstein

Before you ask, no I'm not in the picture above. What happened to me is much more entertaining (at least from my guests' point of view!)

The meal started innocently enough, we decided to try out Sakura Garden for their Sunday happy hour sushi specials. The fact that only one of us actually ordered sushi (while we decided to sit at a hibachi table) should have been enough of a clue for me to figure out how the rest of the dinner would turn out. Nevertheless, the chef came over and after a few artistic flips of his blade proceeded to cook some fried rice using sake for some added flavor. The obligatory question ensued - "Who wants some Sake??" - and not wanting to pass up the opportunity for a good time (read: being closest to the chef) I promptly agreed. 

Now, imagine him squirting this bottle faster and faster while getting further and further (once you're done laughing at all the sexual puns feel free to keep reading.) By the last few seconds he was standing in the middle of his station while I was at the edge of the table! It would have been nice of him to actually check if I could still breathe, but once he had finished (yes, yes har har!) I attempted to gulp down what seemed like a gallon of the rice-liquor while only succeeding in almost choking myself and ending up with a little of it on my shirt. Ok maybe more than a little....alright already it was a lot!

My saving grace was the fact that the restaurant was pretty much empty besides us, so I didn't have to go through the meal embarrassed enough to hide under the table. I do feel amused that I found a new term for the phrase "wetting oneself". The night did turn out to be quite a bit of fun but I've indeed learned my lesson -- always carry a funnel when going to a hibachi restaurant!

Adrian, Kelly, Me & Evan at Sakura Garden, Hamden