ZAc NG x MEL MILLS dinner

OCTOBER 1

In celebration of World Sake Day and Ka's second anniversary, Chef Zac Ng is delighted to welcome Mel Mills, a renowned Sake Specialist, Educator, and Storyteller from Sake Connect and Heigo, for a remarkable evening marking the start of a new brewing year filled with hope and promise.

Together, Zac and Mel, both passionate storytellers of their crafts, will guide you through an exquisite experience featuring an 8-course menu perfectly paired with artisanal Japanese sake. Zac will share the inspiration behind the flavour profiles, ingredients, and culinary techniques for each dish, while Mel will introduce you to the world of sake, focusing on the stories behind small-batch producers and their unique brews.

With only ten seats available per seating, this intimate dinner promises an unforgettable evening with two of the industry's most talented and experienced artisans.

Available on October 1 at 5.45pm.
Strictly 10 seats available each seating.

8 courses with paired sake
$380 per person

MEL MILLS BIO

Melissa is New Zealander, who has made Australia her home for the last thirty years living in Melbourne. She started her professional life as a dentist, specialising in hospital based Maxillofacial surgery. In 2014 she changed direction, guided by passion and intrigued by the mystery of Japanese sake. After years of fascination with Japanese culture, travel, food and language it felt like a natural progression for her to establish Sake Connect, a boutique consulting business delving deeply into Japan’s national beverage and fermentation culture.

Since 2018 Melissa has been working full-time consulting Australia-wide for the sake industry in addition to restaurant venues, corporate, community and individual sake-related projects, designing start-ups and promotional events. She is dedicated to Sake and Japanese beverage education and is the recipient of the WSET Global scholarship prize in 2017 for the highest academic grade in the advanced WSET Level 3 Sake examination.  

Melissa is actively involved in teaching the next generation of sake fans and professionals as a WSET Sake Educator, based at Melbourne Wine School. She continues to be inspired by her mentors, peers and colleagues in the sake industry by maintaining close relationships, achieving new learning and qualifications in Sake and Shochu and being involved and stimulated by participation in international sake competition events.

2016 WSET Level 3 Award in Sake

2017 Awarded WSET Global IWC Scholarship Prize in Sake

2018 – current : International Wine Challenge Sake Judge

2019 – current : WSET Sake Educator Level 1 , 2 & 3

2020 Sake Professional Course

2021 Shochu Advisor Course – Sake School of America

2021 Sake Scholar Graduate

2023 Advanced Sake Professional

2024 Japan Sake & Shochu Association Academy Course