Monthly Newsletter
April 2024
Spring has arrived, flowers are blooming and it’s a perfect time to visit Casita & Garden. Offering nightly entertainment, join us for the best wine and sake in Puerto Vallarta. Spring also is a symbol of new growth and life, and we’re excited about the opening of our new Izakaya Sake Bar.
Izakaya Sake Bar opens at Casita & Garden
Last month we announced the opening of the Izakaya Sake Bar at Casita & Garden. On March 27 we served our first customers. Modeled after traditional sake bars found in Japan, our experience will immerse you into the world of sake. Like traditional sake bars, customers will gather for amazing sake, delicious food, and good conversation.
Puerto Vallarta’s sake sommelier, Rafael Martinez, greets customers at the bar offering them a selection of sakes and tapas-style Japanese snacks. An Omakase experience (“I leave it in your hands”) is also available to try different sakes that are paired with delicious bites.
Chef Hiroshi Kawahito recently arrived from Mexico City, to help develop the menu for the Izakaya Sake Bar. The chef previously hosted Chef’s Table events at Casita & Garden and is excited to help develop the menu for this new experience in Puerto Vallarta.
Born in Tokyo, and raised in Los Angeles, Chef Hiroshi returned to Japan after studying music, philosophy, and architecture. Following the advice of his mother to get a job in a restaurant, “so you don’t starve”, Hiroshi began as a dishwasher. Within 5 years, after doing almost every job in a restaurant, he started cooking. Fast forward six years and Hiroshi soon found himself in the position of Hana-Ita, the top position at a sushi bar. Hiroshi had found his career, a chef.
Chef Hiroshi returned to LA to explore the Japanese cooking culture in the United States. He quickly rose to Hana-Ita at the restaurants he worked at. Understanding the eating culture of the US was different, Chef Hiroshi began to experiment with Japanese food using regional ingredients.
Through a contact, Chef Hiroshi was an invited chef at Maximo Bistrot in Mexico City. Maximo Bistrot, a well-known restaurant in Mexico City, allowed Chef Hiroshi to meet other chefs and visit some of the city’s top restaurants. After some research and exploration, and the excitement of cooking Japanese food in Mexico, Chef Hiroshi opened Rokai, an Omakase-style restaurant based on the concept of Chef’s Choice where the menu, products used, flavors, and cooking techniques were different every day.
Rokai was a big success. And so, what started as an invitation to be a guest chef in Mexico City, turned out to be the next chapter in Chef Hiroshi’s career, as a Japanese Chef in Mexico.
Over the last 10 years, Chef Hiroshi has partnered in other restaurant ventures, and participated in various chef events around the world, including judging a cooking competition for up-and-coming chefs. In Mexico City, Chef Hiroshi currently has two restaurants, Koya and Santo, and does private events as well.
Casita & Garden is excited to have Chef Hiroshi develop the menu for the Izakaya Sake Bar and partner with sommelier, Rafael Martinez. With tourism continuing to grow rapidly in Puerto Vallarta, Chef Hiroshi, and Rafael believe the sake bar will provide tourists with a new and different experience, offering a bit of Japanese culture along with some of the best sake and food Mexico has to offer.
Chef Hioshi said, “As I did in Los Angeles and Mexico City when I first arrived in those cities, I’m interested in exploring local ingredients and markets to bring together the best of the Japanese and Mexican cultures to create an experience Puerto Vallarta visitors won’t forget.”
The Izakaya Sake Bar at Casita & Garden will be open Monday - Saturday, from 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM.
Upcoming Events
Purchase your tickets today for our monthly wine-tasting events. Tickets usually sell out so buy your tickets early. April wine tasting is Thursday, April 18, at 6:00 PM, and May wine tasting is on Mother’s Day, Friday, May 10 at 6:00 PM. What a great way to treat mom but with delicious wine and snacks.
We’re more than excited to have our first Yakitori night on Thursday, April 11th. No tickets needed but reservation is recommended. Sample delicious Yakitori dishes from 5-10pm with your favorite wine, sake, cocktails, or beer.
Join us on Friday, May 3rd, 7:30-10:30pm to celebrate the birthday of one of our favorite local musicians, Diego Guerrero. Diego will be performing with many special musical guests, and all donations will benefit Vallarta School for Girls.
We frequently add events during the month. To find out about the latest events or purchase tickets, check our website
March 2024,
Izakaya Sake Bar opening in March at Casita & Garden
Have you ever experienced an Izakaya? In March, you’ll have your chance as Casita & Garden opens the first Izakaya sake bar in Puerto Vallarta. Modeled after traditional sake bars found in Japan, Casita’s sake bar experience will immerse you into the world of sake.
Helmed by Puerto Vallarta’s first sake sommelier, Rafael Martinez, our Izakaya Sake Bar will provide a curated sake and food experience for guests with different sakes and what fresh ingredients are available. Traditional sake bars in Japan are popular social gathering spots where sake, food, and conversation are shared among guests. Rafa believes the sake bar will be an extension of the atmosphere that already exists at Casita & Garden.
According to Rafa, “With the growing popularity of sake in Mexico, we want to build on what people love (food, wine, and conversation) about Casita & Garden, offering a new experience that will give you a taste of Japan, right here in Puerto Vallarta. With all the fresh ingredients available in Mexico, I’m excited about the potential of our sake and food pairings, which are so part of the experience at traditional Izakayas in Japan.”
Our Izayaka Sake Bar will be open from 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM.
Entertainment Spotlight
Casita & Garden entertains nightly with some of the best performers in Puerto Vallarta. This month we highlight one of the performers, Alison Lo, who performs every Tuesday at 7:30 PM with guitarist and vocalist Mau.
Alison has been singing her whole life, being born into a musical family. Four years ago on a trip to Puerto Vallarta, she got up on stage to sing at one of the local clubs, and her professional singing career was born. Soon she was singing at the best venues across the city and this year relocated from LA and now considers Puerto Vallarta home.
How do you like living and performing in Puerto Vallarta?
It’s great. PV is a beautiful place, and Mexico has such a strong sense of culture, art, nature, and of course, music. I feel fortunate to live here. And performing here is amazing. There is a real passion and commitment to entertainment from the audiences. I can feel it on stage. People here want to listen to live music.
I also love the diversity of the audiences in Puerto Vallarta. People here get excited about all the different styles of music which is great for me because I love to perform pop, rock, and R&B. There is also a strong sense of community among the performers in Puerto Vallarta. We support each other which can lead to great collaborations and exciting entertainment options for PV residents and visitors.
Do you have any collaborations coming up?
Yes, I’m excited about my next collaboration with Effie Passero. We put together a new show for The Palm for March 18 called “Tits and Sass”. It’s going to be a fun show for everyone!
What do you like about performing at Casita & Garden?
Casita & Garden is a great space to perform because it feels like you're performing in the garden of a beautiful home, surrounded by nature. The plants, the trees, and the flowers create a warm and inviting space that’s great for performers and audiences alike. There’s something intimate and sensual about performing at Casita & Garden. Mau and I love doing our show there.
What’s next for Alison Lo?
Performing and more performing. I love what I do. I enjoy performing with a band so I’m hoping to put together a new show with a band. Stay tuned!
February 2024
Puerto Vallarta is the best place to spend the winter!
The crowds escaping winter in the north have descended upon Puerto Vallarta. There’s no better way to forget thoughts of cold, snow, and ice than to relax in a beautiful garden to eat delicious food, drink your favorite beverages, and listen to some of the best entertainment in Puerto Vallarta. The team at Casita & Garden is waiting to welcome you to our paradise in paradise.
Upcoming Events
On February 22, 6:30PM, we have our Monthly Wine Tasting with Francie, Natalie, and Vanusa. Come join your fellow wine enthusiasts for an evening of amazing wine, delicious food, and interesting conversation. Complemented by pairings from Bonito Kitchen.
Tickets for both events can be purchased here.
Sake at Casita & Garden
Casita & Garden provides customers the opportunity to experience a sake that is rapidly growing in popularity across Mexico.
In the January newsletter, we gave some history about sake and introduced Rafael Martinez, one of the founders of Casita & Garden, and the first sake sommelier in Puerto Vallarta. In Part 2 of this interview, we’ll discuss the process required to become a sake sommelier, brewing sake, and highlights from his most recent trip to Japan.
Interview with Rafael Martinez, Sake Sommelier (Part 2)
What made you want to become a sake sommelier?
Rafa: The more I immersed myself in Japanese culture, the language, and sake, the more I wanted to learn. I first joined an online group of sake enthusiasts and that led to meeting other people in the industry. The more I learned and the more people I met fueled my passion and one thing led to another, and now I’m a sake sommelier. It’s been an incredible experience.
What does it take to become a sake sommelier?
Rafa: It’s a combination of education, training, and tasting. Lots and lots of tasting…it’s my favorite part. I enrolled in the Japan Sommelier Association (JSA) certification program. The programs provide material that familiarizes you with sake history, production, regions, tasting techniques, and food pairings.
Ultimately, all the studies and tastings led to a two-day certification exam last September. I’ve been studying Japanese for 12 years and I’m a certified interpreter and so passing the certification exam, in Japanese (the second Mexican to do so), is an accomplishment I’m very proud of.
Sake Brewing
Sake brewing likely originated in ancient Japan, around the 3rd century BCE. Early sake production was simple, involving the fermentation of rice with natural yeast and enzymes.
Over time, Japanese brewers refined the sake brewing process, incorporating new methods and ingredients. By the 8th century CE, sake production had become more standardized, with the introduction of the koji mold to convert rice starch into fermentable sugars.
In the 12th to 16th centuries, sake brewing guilds, known as "brewers' guilds" or "sakaya," emerged in Japan. These guilds played a crucial role in regulating sake production and maintaining quality standards. Beginning in the 17th century sake brewing saw significant advancements, including the use of polished rice. Brewers discovered that removing the outer layers of rice (bran) resulted in a cleaner and more refined sake.
You recently visited sake breweries in Japan. What was that experience like?
Rafa: I spent a month in Japan in 2023. In addition to the sake certification exam, I traveled over 3000 KM, saw 12 cities, and visited 32 sake breweries. I wanted to get to know some of the breweries of the sake that we sell at Casita & Garden.
I spent 5 days at one brewery, learning about the entire process. I was so impressed with their patience, kindness, and interest in sharing information about the brewing process with me. I’m already planning my next trip as I’d like to immerse myself more in the brewing process. You never know…someday we could have a sake brewery in Puerto Vallarta.
So what’s next for you and Sake at Casita & Garden?
Rafa: I think sake is a lifelong learning endeavor, so I plan to continue to immerse myself in the world of sake. I’ve met some incredible people along the way who have been generous in sharing information with me. I want to do the same. I believe interest in sake is growing in Puerto Vallarta. I started a sake appreciation group with Mexican nationals as an opportunity to discuss sake history, types of sake, brewing techniques, and of course tastings, in Spanish. We’ll also look for ways to increase the program at Casita & Garden, promoting opportunities for people to learn about and taste sake. I’m excited about the future.
Planning an Event
Need an event space for an anniversary, wedding, engagement party, charity event, birthday celebration, or other type of event? Then contact Casita & Garden, to have your event in one of the most unique and beautiful, tropical spaces in Puerto Vallarta. You can send an email to casitagardenpv@gmail.com or fill out the simple form on our website, https://www.casitagarden.com/book-event
We have different catering options for the space, food, and drinks depending on your interests and needs. One of our event planners will contact you within 2 - 3 days after receiving your request. We look forward to hearing from you.
Casita & Garden Wine & Sake Store
The Casita & Garden Wine & Sake store has over 100 different white wines, red wines, champagnes, and sakes available to enjoy in your home or vacation spot. Whether you're celebrating a special event with friends and family or wanting to enjoy a glass of wine as you watch one of the amazing Puerto Vallarta sunsets from your terrace, we have a wine or sake for you. Visit us today.
January 2024
Happy New Year!!!
All of us at Casita & Garden hope you enjoyed a wonderful holiday season and that you are ready for an exciting new year! Before we embark on the new year, we thought we would highlight some of the fun and exciting events in December to close out 2023.
• A holiday sparkling wine tasting with Francie, Natalie and Vanusa
• Our Chef’s Table Event with Chef Roman Ventura’s Mexican Holiday Celebration Dinner highlighting dishes and flavors from different Mexican holidays.
• An Art Event with guests enjoying drinks and food while viewing art from local artists.
• Afternoon High Tea, following the tradition of high teas across the world.
• Holiday Concert benefiting the Vallarta School for Girls with some of the best local entertainers.
• And we ended the year with a trip to Spain with Chef Fabrice’s Evening of Paella and Sangria
Upcoming Events
What’s coming up at Casita & Garden in the New Year?
We have 3 events scheduled this far in January, all different and interesting
with something for everyone’s taste.
• January 11, A Vegan/Vegetarian Extravaganza with Chef Roman Ventura
(start the new year right with vegan/vegetarian flavor-forward menu -
a highly requested event and what better way to start the new year but with a vegetable focused meal!)
• January 18, Sake/Food Pairing (explore some of the best sakes available in Mexico complemented by delicious bites, a new experience for the new year!)
• January 25, Monthly Wine Tasting with Francie, Natalie and Vanusa (a popular, monthly event exploring wines from Mexico and around the world, complemented by pairings from Bonito Kitchen)
Sake at Casita & Garden
When the team behind Casita & Garden envisioned the wine garden, they wanted to provide not only an inviting space with delicious wines and food but also give customers the opportunity to experience something rapidly growing in popularity across Mexico, sake.
Driven by the passion of Rafael Martinez, one of the founders, Casita & Garden now offers 86 different sake labels, the largest sake offering in Puerto Vallarta and one of the largest in all of Mexico.
Over the next few months, in addition to discussing wines, food, entertainment and events at Casita & Garden we will also highlight interesting facts about sake. In this newsletter, we’ll provide some history of this drink as well as Part 1 of an interview with Rafael, the first sake sommelier in Puerto Vallarta and only 1 of 20 in Mexico.
Interview with Rafael Martinez, Sake Sommelier
(Part 1)
Rafael Martinez, a musician, and professional drummer, born in Guadalajara, and who now calls Puerto Vallarta home, first became interested in sake on his first trip to Japan seven years ago while celebrating his birthday. Initially focused on drinking Japanese beer and whiskey, Rafael decided to give sake a try. And just like that, he found a new passion in life and embarked on a journey that would immerse him in the Japanese culture, language and the national drink, sake.
What was your first impression of sake?
Rafa: I found it highly aromatic, refreshing and a drink that provided a relaxed “buzz”. And because I happened to indulge in sake…just a little…I found that I didn’t get a hangover.
And now that you know a lot about sake, why do you think someone may be less likely to get a hungover if they indulge?
Rafa: Sake is 80% water and water is always a good thing. In addition, it’s rich in amino acids, is free of sulfates and doesn’t have any additives. It’s a “healthy”, natural drink!
Any other first impressions?
Rafa: Sake also reminded me of a drink from my childhood, Lechuguilla, which I think originated in Jalisco, my home state. It’s a fermented drink but it’s made from the agave plant and doesn’t have alcohol. But like sake it’s also really refreshing.
Being from the country of tequila and mezcal, how does sake compare?
Rafa: Similar to tequila and mezcal, sake is rich in tradition and deeply rooted in culture and the identity of the country. Also, like tequila and mezcal, the ingredients are simple, the fermentation process is complex and there is great pride in the tradition in making the drink. I think sake pairs much better with food, like other wines.
For someone new to sake, what’s the best way to learn about it?
Rafa: Drink it! Try different types. I guarantee there is a sake taste for everyone. Also, try it with food, which can enhance both the food and the sake. Like other drinks and spirits, you need to find the type of sake that most appeals to your palate. One way to get introduced to sake, is to try one of our sake tastings that we offer daily. We also do special sake events, like the one on January 18 where we’ll do a sake and food pairing and have a more in-depth discussion about sake. The events are also a great way to meet other people who are also interested in learning more about sake.
Look for Part 2 of the interview with Rafael in the February newsletter where he’ll discuss the process of becoming a sake sommelier, brewing sake and experiences from his most recent trip to Japan.
