Conference turris::cooks

    ~Also what is the difference between Rice Wine and Rice
    ~    Vinegar??
    
    
    Rice Wine is wine made out of rice (ie: fermented rice.)  Rice Vinegar
    is vinegar made out of rice wine (wine turns to vinegar when it
    "spoils" - I forget the process that makes this happen.)  The
    difference between the two is the same as between Red Wine and Red Wine
    Vinegar.  Wine is alcoholic and fairly sweet; vinegar is very sour and
    acidic and not alcoholic.
    
    Rice Wine is also known as "Sake" (sah-kee).  It has a higher alcohol
    count and a stronger, less sweet flavor than, say, white grape wine. 
    Rice Vinegar has a distictive oriental taste.
    
    Diana

The same as the difference between any other sort of wine and any other sort of 
vinegar.  Wine is the product of fermentation (usually by the action of 
yeast) of some sugar source and contains ethyl alcohol (ethanol).  Vinegar 
results from the fermentation of wine by acetobacter bacteria, which convert 
the ethanol to acetic acid.

Wine is in essence a dilute ethanol solution, while vinegar is a dilute acetic 
acid solution (and thus tastes sour).

--PSW

    Sharon,
    
    I think I've seen Rice wine in Oddbins. Looking at their summer 1992  
    brochure, there's something called 'Sake Hakutsuru'; sounds promising
    to me. There's a good one at Fleet, and a not so big or good one at    
    Frimley.
    
    Give Waitrose (there's a fairly good one at Woodley and a huge one
    round Sandhurst/Blackwater) a try. The tend to stock some out of the
    ordinary items. Finally, Asda (one in Lower Earley) do some wines/spirits
    which I've never found elsewhere; though personnally I can't stand
    Asda.
            
    
    If all else fails, you'll have to go to China town up in London. While
    you're there you can stock up on all the Chinese goodies you can't get
    in supermarkets and at prices far cheaper than at supermarkets e.g. 32
    fl ozs of soy sauce at 60p a bottle! Compare this with one pound
    something or other for a dinky 10 fl oz bottle of Sharwoods Soy sauce.
    
    Angus

    
    Thanks Angus, I'll try those.  Also thanks 1 & 2 for pointing out the
    difference between the two.
    
    Sharon

    The only place I've ever found rice wine outside Chinatown is the
    County Delicatessen in St.Mary Butts, Reading. 
    
    However, as well as all the other good reasons for a trip to London, 
    the Chinese supermarkets there stock "cooking" rice wine, which is a lot 
    cheaper than "drinking" sake. 
    
    Failing all else, dry sherry makes an acceptable substitute.
    
    Jim

    Jim
    
    We always use Dry Sherry but I fancied a chenge, someone put the idea
    of Rice Wine in my head...you know how it is.
    
    Thanks for the replies anyway.
    
    Sharon

    
    
    Sharon,
    
    When I lived in the UK (Reading) I found a wonderful Oriental grocery
    store at the end of the High Street in Windsor (heading away from the
    Castle).  Being an American ex-pat, I also found lots of the more
    unusal items at the Safeway in Wokingham, Chinese ingredients among
    them.
    
    Best of luck,
    Susanne

    I spoke to someone in a Chinese grocery store in London last week and
    it appears that the Sake I have been drinking is supposed to be for
    cooking (brown colour)....drinking sake is generally clear (or so i'm
    told)...!

    re:  .8
    
    *All* sake is good for cooking.  It's just that the clear stuff is
    *much* better for sipping.  ;^)
    
    
    Steve