Joy of Sake gets competition

Relations between two heavyweights of sake in the Bay Area -- World Sake Imports, a major sake importer, and True Sake, the world's first sake retail shop -- have always been a little standoffish.

They need each other because True Sake sells some of World Sake Imports' products. But True Sake stopped actively participating in World Sake's biggest event, the gigantic Joy of Sake tasting, a couple of years ago.

True Sake is staging -- or upstaging, if you will -- its annual event to directly compete with Joy of Sake. The third annual Sake Day event will take place Oct. 1 at Fort Mason, a large site. Tickets are $85, which gets you some sake-paired food as well as the chance to blind-taste a bunch of sakes.

Joy of Sake is on Oct. 23 this year at Galleria Design Center -- a somewhat smaller (but more stylish) venue than in past years. Tickets are $75.

Does the Bay Area sake fancier have enough in their budget for two big events in 23 days?

I've been to Joy of Sake a number of times and always recommend it, but with reservations: there's never enough water, the food runs out early, and the crowding is annoying. That said, the food is usually great while it lasts -- a number of local restaurants usually make one creative dish each -- and the sheer number of good sakes is unparalleled.

I haven't been to Sake Day, but the description makes it sound like it's targeted at Joy of Sake's weak points. There are fewer food items, but maybe they won't run out as early. Instead of a massive number of bottles on tables, this event offers more guided tastings and even a blind-tasting experience.

On its website, Sake Day is described as "the definitive sake exploration and tasting event in the Bay Area." Clearly the organizers are trying to steal Joy of Sake's thunder.

Is there room for both? I hope so. But the timing showdown is bad for both events. If one event were to move a couple months earlier or later, more people would be likely to attend both.

Sake truce, anyone?