Sushi & Sake Festival Returns To Pechanga In 2022: What To Know

TEMECULA, CA — Pechanga Resort Casino is preparing for its second Sushi & Sake Festival, planned for Saturday, July 9 from noon until 4 p.m. for VIP pass holders, and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for general admission guests.

Immerse yourself in Japanese culture while Pechanga's master chefs lead the 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.

Sashimi served at the inaugural Pechanga Sushi & Sake Festival in 2019Four 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 bidding 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, and 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.

The festival’s tasting menu and sake selections will be released soon.