“Understanding and Knowing Sake

Gault&Millau Masterclass in collaboration with EHTL

On November 13, 2023, EHTL was honored to host a Masterclass on the theme of “Understanding and Knowing Sake”, offered by the publisher of the famous Gault&Millau gastronomic guide and Sake Company Luxembourg.

The aim of this initiative is to promote understanding of what Japanese sake really is, the rituals involved in serving it and the possible combinations with food.

The first presentation took place in the morning before an audience of experienced professionals, including chefs, sommeliers, maîtres d’hôtel and bartenders.

In the afternoon, it was the turn of some 50 EHTL students to plunge into the world of Japanese refinement and elegance, and discover this ancestral beverage whose origins go back over 1,500 years. The future professionals followed with great interest the explanations of the two expert sommeliers, Ms Makiko Gräfin von Oberndorff and Mr Yves-Martin Boisclair.

From the production of rice alcohol, to the various categorizations and tips for serving the sacred beverage in the proper manner – this masterclass was a real enrichment for these young people, who are often already fans of Japanese culture through manga, and who have a real passion for the Land of the Rising Sun. A tasting of five varieties of sake enabled the participants to move on from theory to taste discovery. An accompaniment of cheese and charcuterie demonstrated how to marry sake with flavors familiar to our palates.

Valérie Bodarwé, service teacher at EHTL, applauds the initiative: “We give our pupils and students the opportunity to meet experts from a wide variety of backgrounds. What’s more, it allows them to learn about the latest trends in gastronomy.

H.E. Mr. Tadahiro Matsubara, Japanese Ambassador to Luxembourg, also honored the EHTL with his presence at the masterclass. During a lunch prepared and served by the school’s students, Director Michel Lanners and his host discussed various avenues for developing relations between the Diekirch school and Japan, including possible participation in the next World Expo to be held in Osaka in 2025.