THE JOY OF SAKE on 9/16 in NYC

The Joy of Sake (@joyofsake) is the world's largest sake celebration outside Japan that's returning to NYC bigger than ever this year on September 16, 6:30-9:30pm, Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 W 18th St. This unique event gives sake lovers the chance to taste 408 daiginjo, ginjo and junmai sakes, dishes from 16 top restaurants, including a poke bar, and meet the two reigning Miss Sake. Tickets ($95) are now on sale at www.joyofsake.com.

Some of the city's best sushi and izakaya restaurants including Sushi Nakazawa, O Ya, 15 East, EN Japanese Brasserie, Yopparai and Sakagura will serve sake-friendly bites. Satiating New Yorkers' latest obsession with poke, a new poke bar by SakaMai and Noreetuh will debut, the latter offering a trio of poke from the land: Beef, Taro and Zucchini with Eggplant, while SakaMai's Ahi Poke, Yakumi Salmon Poke and Oahu Shrimp Poke are straight from the sea.

A walk around tasting of premium sakes last held here in 2014, The Joy of Sake returns next week with more sakes than ever before.

Gold and silver award winners from the 2016 U.S. National Sake Appraisal-sakes the judges deemed exceptional-will be available for sampling, with about 200 sakes in the ultra-premium daiginjo category, made from rice milled down to the grain's innermost core. In addition, 240 sakes featured at the event aren't currently available in the U.S. and rarely found in Japan as well. Whether a sake novice or hard-core fan, with so many choices and styles, each guest will be able to sample a wide variety of outstanding sakes in an inviting atmosphere that emulates a bustling Tokyo street fair, with ambient lighting and music vibrating through the crowd.

Also debuting at next week's event are the two reigning Miss Sakes: Sayuri Tanaka, Japan's Miss Sake 2016, represents her country's ancient craft beverage around the world, and American Sake Sommelier Jessica Joly, who was crowned the inaugural Miss Sake USA in New York this year. Dressed in traditional kimono and sash, Miss Sake will pour sake and discuss the beverage with guests.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of The Joy of Sake