Cherry Blossom Celebration at CHAYA

The cherry blossoms are blooming, which means spring is officially here. To celebrate the change in seasons and the 100^th anniversary of the Cherry Blossom Festival, CHAYA Brasserie is offering a special happy hour menu beginning today, April 16, through Friday, April 27.

From 4pm until closing, come by CHAYA to check out special items prepared by Chef Yuko Kajino:

• Crispy takoyaki with sakura mayonnaise, fish flakes, seaweed, teriyaki-balsamic sauce
• Japanese-style fried chicken with shichimi togarashi aioli
• Crispy Monterey calamari with spicy mentaiko aioli
• Soy braised short-rib skewer with horseradish crème fraîche
• Sakura-dai roll with cherry blossom leaves
• Sakura-dai nigiri with salted cherry blossom, pickled kobo
• Sakura “mochi” with vanilla ice cream, roasted strawberries and balsamic reduction

Seasonal cocktails have also been added to the menu, including:

• The Cherry Blossom: cherry vodka, Crème de Cassis, lime and cranberry juice, with ginger beer
• The Bourbonite: muddled cherries soaked in Angostrua bitters

CHAYA Brasserie cherry blossom festival celebration
Available in the bar, lounge and patio April 16 to 27, Monday through Friday, 4pm to closing
132 The Embarcadero, San Francisco; Tel. 415.777.8688

Image courtesy of Vanessa Kanegai

Emilia Varshavsky grew up in the Bay Area and studied English and International Relations at UC Davis. While in college, she planned concerts and hung out with rappers and rock stars. Nowadays, Emilia spends her 9-to-5 time working as an internal communications manager for a big Internet company and her free time blogging, attempting yoga, and creating failed "shortcuts" of Muni routes.