2nd Annual Pechanga Sushi & Sake Festival Back by Demand, Benefits Habitat For Humanity Inland Valley
Sashimi served at the inaugural Pechanga Sushi & Sake Festival in 2019
Festival season gets into full swing Southern California and for sushi and sake fans, there is one event at Pechanga Resort Casino not to miss. The 2nd annual Pechanga Sushi & Sake Festival gets underway Saturday, July 9, 2022, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. for VIP pass holders, and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for general admission. The event includes an afternoon filled with premium Japanese sake, house-made sushi by master Pechanga chefs, a silent auction and live music. Tickets are on sale and may be purchased at the Pechanga Box Office, by calling (877) 711-2946 or online at Pechanga.com. Proceeds from the event benefit Habitat for Humanity Inland Valley.
Four ticket levels are available:
• VIP – $150 and includes sampling more than 40 varieties of sake, eight types of beer and talk with sake makers, chefs and bid on silent auction items before general admission attendees
• Designated Driver VIP – $70 and allows guests to sample sushi and bid on silent auction items before general admission attendees
• General Admission – $75 and includes sampling more than 40 varieties of sake, eight types of beer, sampling the freshest sushi prepared by master Pechanga chefs, and bidding on silent auction items
• Designated Driver – $45 and includes trying the freshest sushi prepared by master Pechanga chefs, plus bidding on silent auction items
With one ticket, guests can taste more than 40 premium sakes (daiginjo, ginjo, junmai and sparkling) including many award-winning brands and styles from all over Japan and around the world. Pechanga chefs get rolled up in the festival as they prepare thousands of fresh sushi pieces to pair with the sake selections. Chefs Kiyo Ikeda, head chef of Umi Sushi & Oyster Bar, Kok Che, executive sous chef of Pechanga’s Asian restaurants, and Andre Pinto, Pechanga Executive Chef, will be on hand to meet with guests, present them with fresh, made-on-site sushi, and share their expert suggestions for matching sushi with sake.
A traditional Japanese Taiko drummer, a Japanese guitarist, and a “Koto” – Japanese harpist – will set the mood of the festival’s musical interludes for the festival. A silent auction also features sought after gifts such as art, vacation packages and more.
The festival’s idea sprang from the popularity of beer and sake within Southern California, as well as the continued rise of sushi as a mainstay of sought-after fare in America. The 2nd place win for Pechanga’s Umi Sushi & Oyster Bar in USA Today’s Best Casino Restaurant readers’ poll in 2018 also helped cement the festival’s possibility at the Temecula resort/casino.
Proceeds support Habitat For Humanity Inland Valley’s programs that provide housing needs and home repairs to senior citizens and those no longer able to do such work themselves.
The festival’s tasting menu and sake selections will be released soon.
About Pechanga Resort Casino
Pechanga Resort Casino offers one of the largest and most expansive resort/casino experiences anywhere in the United States. Voted the best casino resort in the west by the readers of USA Today and rated a Four Diamond property by AAA since 2002, Pechanga Resort Casino provides an unparalleled getaway, whether for the day or for an extended luxury stay. Offering 5,400 of the hottest slots, table games, world-class entertainment, 1,100 hotel rooms, dining, spa and golf at Journey at Pechanga, Pechanga Resort Casino features a destination that meets and exceeds the needs of its guests and the community. Pechanga Resort Casino is owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians. For more information, call toll free (877) 711-2946 or visit www.Pechanga.com. Follow Pechanga Resort Casino on Facebook and on Twitter @PechangaCasino.