Justin’s Japan: Wismettac Wows at Japanese Food Fest

By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi  Shukan NY Seikatsu. Visit his Examiner.com Japanese culture page here for related stories.Lovers of Japanese food and drink gathered at 230 Fifth in Midtown Manhattan on June 20 for the Wismettac Asian Foods 2015 NY Premium Sake and Shochu Tasting Event, an annual business-to-business gathering that served up a foodie's paradise.Formerly known as Nishimoto Trading Co., Ltd. USA, Wismettac Asian Foods, Inc. was established in Kobe in 1912, and is one of the oldest importers, wholesalers and distributors of Asian food products in North America. It is well known in the U.S. for its Shirakiku brand food products, which include rice, noodles, and seafood.Now in its eighth year, the event featured around 25 different Japanese sake and shochu companies and 15 different food manufacturers. It's a place where one can enjoy piping hot savory katsudon curry rice followed by chocolate mochi ice cream with freshly sliced strawberries, finishing with a crisp, refreshing selection of daiginjo sake."Participating in this event is a great opportunity, because I can introduce Japanese culture and it's a great way to introduce how to use Japanese ingredients properly to make a delicious dish," said Hideko Lilley, a sales associate for Wismettac attending the New York event for her third year.For more on Wismettac, visit www.ntcltdusa.com.