TEMECULA, Calif. – (February, 22 2023) – Festival season stays on a roll this spring at Pechanga Resort Casino. The Annual Pechanga Sushi & Sake Festival serves up the freshest catches and smooth sake inside the Summit Events Center Saturday, April 8. The popular one-day 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 – $160 and includes early entry at 11 a.m., sampling delectable sushi and several dessert items, 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 – $75 and allows early entry at 11 a.m., sampling just-sliced sushi, dessert items, bidding on silent auction items before general admission attendees, and enjoyment of live music
- General Admission – $120 and includes entry at 1 p.m., sampling delectable sushi and several dessert items, more than 40 varieties of sake, eight types of beer, sampling the freshest sushi prepared by master Pechanga chefs, live music and bidding on silent auction items
• Designated Driver – $75 and includes trying the freshest sushi prepared by master Pechanga chefs, enjoying dessert items, plus live music and 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.
“There have been other sushi festivals around Southern California, but none that have had the saying power that Pechanga’s Sushi & Sake Festival has,” said Kiyo Ikeda, head chef of Umi Sushi & Oyster bar at Pechanga Resort Casino. “The fact our guests can enjoy amazing sushi, sake, have a great time and help charity while they’re doing that, it makes everyone feel great about the whole event.”
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 viability at the Temecula resort/casino.
Proceeds support Habitat For Humanity Inland Valley’s programs that provide housing to deserving individuals and families, 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.