Mass. chefs, restaurants semi-finalists for 2025 James Beard Awards [Video]

NEIGHBORHOODS. PEOPLE LOVE IT. HEY THIS PEOPLE LOVE THIS. TO A LOCAL BAR WE’VE FEATURED HERE IN THE EYEOPENER IS GETTING HIGH PRAISE. THE KOJI CLUB IN BOSTON HAS BEEN NAMED ONE OF THE BEST NEW RESTAURANTS IN THE WORLD. THE BAR IN BRIGHTON SPEEDWAY MARKETPLACE ON WESTERN AVENUE MADE CONDE NAST 27TH ANNUAL HOT LIST. THE CLUB IS A SMALL, INTIMATE BAR WITH SEATING FOR 16 AND AN OUTDOOR PATIO DEDICATED TO ONE DRINK AND ONE DRINK ONLY SAKE. OWNER ALYSSA MICHIKO DIPASQUALE STARTED THE CLUB VIRTUALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC, SELLING SETS WITH VIRTUAL EDUCATION SESSIONS ONLINE. SHE TELLS US SHE WANTS TO SHARE HER PASSION AND CHANGE THE MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE TRADITIONAL JAPANESE SPIRIT. THE KOJI CLUB IS BOSTON’S VERY FIRST STANDALONE SAKE BAR, AND WHEN I VISITED LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW SOME PEOPLE IN COLLEGE GET INTRODUCED TO SAKÉ IN THE FORM OF …