Houston-based Japanese hot spot Uchiko is planning on celebrating Valentine’s season in a big way this year by partnering with a luxury jeweler to create an exclusive cocktail experience so limited and aspirational, it will only exist for a few days.
The $15,000 cocktail experience available for Valentine’s Day at Uchiko.
This exclusive Valentines Day experience, called Zadok Love Trio, will be offered at Uchiko Houston as part of a collaboration with luxury jeweler Zadok’s.
“Zadok approached us with this idea that was not only creative, but a chance to give back to an organization that does so much for our culinary community. We couldn’t resist the challenge to intertwine a one-of-a-kind food and cocktail experience with this beautiful piece of jewelry,” said Uchiko Houston Chef de Cuisine Shaun King.
A portion of proceeds of this collaboration will benefit Southern Smoke Foundation, an organization that offers emergency relief funds to help food and beverage workers in crisis, be it health issues, change in circumstance, being victims of crimes, injury, or natural disasters.
“Southern Smoke exists to support our culinary community in immediate and meaningful ways. While they are based in Houston they have national impact and they felt like a natural fit as a charity partner,” said Chef de Cuisine Shaun King.
The Zadok Love Trio cocktail experience, which has a value of over $15,500 but will cost $15,000, feels like something out of a princess tale, and includes a diamond tennis necklace from Zadok Jewelers as well as a frozen Nikka Vodka Dirty Martini that is made with Bluefin Nigiri with olive kosho and caviar, Krug ‘grand cuvee’ 170ed. Champagne with uni gunkan and caviar, Yamazaki 18-year Mizunara 2024 edition whisky with Gyutoro with whiskey tamari and caviar. Finally, there’s a s’mores dessert, toasted tableside with Thaan binchotan-style charcoal.
The dessert will be a pivotal moment in the cocktail experience in another way as well. “It’s the exclamation point on the experience where the necklace will be presented,” said King.
But the presentation is pretty showstopping from the start to finish, as the dirty martini is made using olive oil washed vodka freezer cocktail served tableside. “This is a bit cleaner than a dirty martini as it has the flavor of olive without the salt. The salinity comes from eating the caviar with the blue fin bite,” said Hai Hospitality Beverage Director Jason Kosmas.
Chutoro is dry aged and brushed with nikiri (a sweet soy) and a Castelvetrano olive kosho. “The kosho had orange zest, lime zest, lemon zest, and Thai chilis,” said King, and the Uni is from Hokkaido, which according to King, has a more brininess and higher salinity. “Champagne adds effervescence and acidity to balance the richness of uni, cleansing the palate between bites, according to King.
“This is a Champagne that is nuanced but sturdy enough to pair with Uni,” said Hai Hospitality Beverage Director Jason Kosmas. Next, there’s a 72-hour sous vide wagyu beef brushed with whiskey barrel aged tamari and fresh Japanese wasabi. “The richness of the Japanese beef and the subtle sweetness of the whiskey is a perfect pairing,” said King.
If Valentine’s Day date night is all about creating meaningful memories, this is one that will be hard to top. “Our goal here was actually to create a once in a lifetime experience for those wanting to celebrate love with a multi-sense event. The memories made will be cherished for a lifetime,” said Amy Zadok.
The Zadok Love Trio cocktail experience will be available from February 14-16, with reservations and seats based on availability.
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