tampa, fla. — wagamama usa kicked off its astemakers event series in tampa on september 8, bringing together local media, influencers and guests for an evening showcasing the restaurant’s recently launched menu.
held in the kaizen private dining room at wagamama tampa, 1050 water street, tampa, fl 33602, the event welcomed 21 attendees for a guided tasting featuring a mix of new dishes and longtime wagamama favorites.
wagamama usa ceo stephen judge opened the evening and welcomed guests before the tasting began. the menu featured dishes including wagyumama sliders™ and ramen, accompanied by a selection of cocktails including the thai chili wagarita™, lychee wagatini™ and sangria, as well as sake.
the evening also included sake education led by monique thomas, director of beverage operations for wagamama usa, and internationally recognized sake expert and wagamama consultant john gauntner. thomas studied sake under gauntner in japan, and the two guided guests through the history and characteristics of sake while introducing several selections throughout the evening.
the event offered attendees an opportunity to experience not only wagamama’s expanded menu, but also the recently remodeled tampa restaurant and the brand’s approach to bringing together food, beverage and hospitality.
following the tasting, many guests remained at the restaurant, continuing the evening at the bar over espresso martinis.
the tampa gathering marked the first in a series of tastemakers events planned at wagamama restaurants across the u.s. throughout september and october. the events are part of the brand’s ongoing introduction of its new menu and are designed to give local media and content creators an opportunity to experience the dishes, drinks and people behind wagamama firsthand.
