First Meeting with a Sake Ambassador from Japan in Sanya City

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October 6, 2025

In a landmark event for culinary enthusiasts, Sanya welcomed its first-ever sake ambassador from Japan for an exclusive tasting experience. This unique gathering introduced local connoisseurs and food lovers to the refined world of Japanese rice wine through an immersive cultural and educational event.

In late September, Green Garden restaurant hosted a unique culinary event – a premium Japanese sake tasting featuring ambassador Maxim Polkin, who visited Hainan for the first time.

The event was organized by Sergey Orlov, an expert in the bar industry (with experience at Novikov and Rappoport restaurants, Hainan Gaofei Catering Service Co., Ltd).

Green Garden's chef Nikitiniо (Nikita Ilokhin), already renowned for his beloved pastas and tartares, created perfect gastronomic pairings that complemented the selected rice wine samples.

Nikitiniо boasts an impressive professional background:

·UO band (listed among the world's best restaurants) – a company with six restaurants in St. Petersburg, one in Moscow, and two in Dubai.
·Duo Gastrobar
·Duo Asia
·HARVEST
·FRANTSUZA BISTROT

The event brought together guests from nine countries, united by their passion for new taste discoveries and interest in sake culture and history.

The organizers sincerely thank all attendees for the wonderful evening atmosphere and inspiration for future tasting and educational gatherings.

The tasting featured rare rice wine varieties highly sought after by connoisseurs even in Japan, presented by global sake ambassador Maxim Polkin – a world-renowned expert in the field.
He founded a sake school in Japan and is a certified WSET educator for sake (London, Tokyo, 2018 – present).

Maxim also works with the prestigious beverage store IMADEYA Ginza and leads their Global Marketing team (2022 – present).