Schedule note, April 22: Keita is giving a lecture on entrepreneurship to students at Johns Hopkins SAIS this afternoon. The shop opens at 4:00 pm today instead of 11:30 am.
Bluefin Tuna — Chutoro Running Low
We received a large institutional order of Chutoro this week, which has drawn down our stock significantly. Chutoro remains available, but if you have your eye on it, order early — we cannot guarantee supply through the weekend.
The good news: Otoro and Akami are well-stocked this week and in excellent condition. If Chutoro is your usual go-to, this is a good moment to try the Otoro — the current fish is carrying exceptional fat for this point in the season. The Akami, as noted last week, is bright and direct, with vivid color and clean acidity. Both are worth your attention.
Murasaki Uni — Season Just Opened
Murasaki Uni (紫雲丹) is back. The season just opened in Hokkaido, and we have stock in from a producer we trust — the quality at the start of the season is already strong.
Murasaki Uni is the larger of the two main Japanese sea urchin species, with a flavor profile that tends toward sweetness and a slightly more assertive brininess than Bafun Uni. Early-season Hokkaido Murasaki tends to be clean and well-defined — the lobes are firm, the color is pale gold, and the finish is long. If you have been waiting for the season to start, this is the week.
Meet the Winemaker — Jennifer Dasom Anderson, Novella Wines
One of the three winemakers joining us for our AAPI Heritage Month tasting on May 16–17 is Jennifer Dasom Anderson of Novella Wines.
Jen grew up in Seoul and came to craft beverage through an unexpected door: brewing makgeolli, the traditional Korean rice wine. From there she built an award-winning wine program career in Washington, D.C., while gaining hands-on harvest experience at wineries in Virginia. In 2024, she started making her own wine through Novella Wines alongside her friend and fellow sommelier Karl Kuhn, with a focus on Petit Manseng — a grape that suits Virginia's climate well and produces wines with real texture and acidity.
It's a story that moves from fermentation to fermentation, from Seoul to the Shenandoah Valley, and the wine reflects that range of reference. We're glad to have her at the table.
novellawines.com · @novellawines
AAPI Heritage Wine Tasting — May 16 & 17
Three winemakers of East Asian heritage, two days, two venues. Unlimited pours, bottles available with winemaker signatures, sashimi platter included. Tickets and full details →