The Japanese Bar is a food and beverage blog. I started it in 2017 with the goal of educating enthusiasts and professionals about Japanese alcoholic beverages.
Over time, the blog has naturally expanded to include content about Japanese cuisine.
An Online Notebook of Food & Drinks
I’m a restaurant industry veteran with over 15 years of experience. From the dish pit to fine dining, I’ve experienced a lot.
Early on I decided to combine my love of Japanese cuisine and sake with my career. I took the first restaurant job I could find, a hole-in-the-wall fusion spot in Chicago. This place was brutal, but I learned a lot. And without realizing it, I had found my calling.
Years later, at a higher-quality restaurant, I still had so much to learn. I began creating notebooks to carry with me on the dining room floor. The small pages were stuffed with as much info about our food and beverage menus as I could fit.
Sake, wine, whisky, fish, cuts of steak—you name it. And I constantly reviewed the notes.
These notebooks became more elaborate over the years. But as my knowledge grew, I used them less often.
When I created The Japanese Bar, it was intended to be my online notebook. I hope it can help you on your Japanese food and beverage journey as it’s helped me.
- Brad Smith
Professional Experience
There’s only so much you can learn from a Google search.
My professional journey started with the Certified Sake Adviser course from the Sake School of America. The knowledge I gained was invaluable, and it motivated me to pursue further professional education.
I’ve since completed their Shochu Adviser program, as well.
In between, I became a Certified Beer Server, a Certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers, and a Certified Specialist of Spirits. All of these programs were informative and helped me advance my restaurant career.
I also had the good fortune to be a semi-finalist at the 4th World Kikisake-shi Competition in 2014. And in 2022, I earned the Japan Sommelier Association’s Sake Diploma International.
My quest for more knowledge continues. But now I’m most motivated to serve you and help you advance your career. I hope you find my content useful. Please feel free to reach out to me with questions or requests.
Shouts Outs
I had a lot of help during my journey. Eric Swanson, Toshio Ueno, and Steve Tamura, in particular, deserve credit.
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