ARLINGTON, VA -- On Episode 87 of The Rice Stuff podcast, USA Rice Senior Director of Domestic Promotion Cameron Jacobs upholds his record as the show’s most frequent guest, telling co-hosts Michael Klein and Lesley Dixon all about his recent trip to the 4th annual American Craft Sake Fest.
Held in Hot Springs, Arkansas, the festival showcased sake from around the world, including American-made sake brewed with U.S.-grown rice, and featured educational sessions, tastings, tours, and more. Jacobs introduced attendees to USA Rice and provided an overview of the domestic rice industry during an educational session, and also toured Isbell Farms and the Hot Springs-based Origami Sake brewery.
Origami Sake hosted the three-day event, and Jacobs had the chance to speak with the company’s vice president, Ben Bell. He also talked shop with Weston Konishi, president of the Sake Brewers Association of North America, which organized the festival.
“The Isbells and their whole family and team were such wonderful hosts, and helped connect the dots in terms of where sake rice comes from,” said Jacobs. “It was overall just a fantastic event.”
Klein and Dixon live vicariously through Jacobs and chatted about sumo wrestling, koji, delicious sake food pairings, and—for some reason—sourdough.
New episodes of The Rice Stuff are published on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month and can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and online at www.thericestuffpodcast.com.