A New Lamb Keema Curry to Enjoy with Gin: UNWIND HOTEL & BAR SAPPORO Partners with Popular Shandi Nivas Cafe for a Special Menu Starting July 12
A Bar Menu Item to Enjoy with Gin: Lamb Keema Curry
Gin offers sweetness, acidity, and bitterness, while curry delivers saltiness and umami. When paired, gin and curry allow you to experience all five basic tastes simultaneously, creating a compatibility so exceptional that it is said to surpass classic pairings like red wine and meat. Now, Bar Ignis Sapporo is proud to introduce a Lamb Keema Curry specifically crafted to complement gin. This dish features a rich depth and aroma drawn from around eight meticulously selected spices, such as cardamom and cloves, along with the juicy flavor of coarsely minced lamb. Rather than a filling meal like standard soup or roux curries, this dish was created under the theme of “a bar-style plate to enjoy alongside alcohol.” It was developed under the supervision of Mr. Sakamoto, the owner of Shandi Nivas Cafe, a popular spot in Naganuma Town, Hokkaido, known for its authentic Indian curries and sweets.
By taking our time to slow-cook and reduce the moisture, we have concentrated the flavors of the Lamb Keema Curry so that even a single bite brings complete satisfaction. You can enjoy it in many ways: savoring it spoonful by spoonful at the pace of your drink, scooping it up with “puri”—a traditional Indian fried bread rarely found at restaurants in Hokkaido—or pairing it with seasonal side dishes to enjoy the shifting flavors.
For the side dishes, we provide two varieties made with seasonal ingredients along with a coriander and mint chutney. Chutney is a traditional South Asian condiment made by pasting vegetables and herbs together. At Bar Ignis Sapporo, we have combined the clean heat of green chili peppers with fresh mint and coriander to create a refreshing yet deep flavor. Add it to your curry to enjoy how the changing spice levels shift the pairing experience with your gin.
If you want to add a crisp, refreshing note to the rich fat of the lamb, we recommend a gin featuring forest-like botanical aromas. For those seeking deeper spices and uniqueness, you can pair it with a craft gin that uses Japanese botanicals such as sansho pepper and yuzu. Please experience the incredible compatibility of gin and curry through combinations that only a bar with an extensive gin selection can provide.
Lamb Keema Curry Overview
- Availability： Sunday, July 12, 2026 –
- Price：1,400 Yen (tax included)
- Location & Hours：
- Bar Ignis Sapporo: 6:30 PM – 11:30 PM (L.O. 10:00 PM)
Unique Pairings You Can Only Find at a Bar
Mezcal (A traditional distilled spirit originating from Mexico) ｜ 1,200 Yen
Made primarily from agave, mezcal is characterized by a clean profile combined with a distinct smoky aroma and sweetness. While gin offers a refreshing botanical contrast that balances out the curry, mezcal acts in the opposite way—its rum-like richness amplifies the flavor of the spices and draws out a much deeper complexity. It pairs beautifully neat, but it is also excellent when enjoyed as a “Paloma,” combined with grapefruit and tonic water.
Non-Alcoholic Gin and Tonic (Limited Quantity) ｜ 1,100 Yen
This non-alcoholic gin and tonic is made by carefully extracting botanicals such as juniper berries, cardamom, and cinnamon, allowing you to experience the crisp freshness of juniper and lime. It is paired with “KUMI BOOST,” a Hokkaido-made tonic water characterized by the rich fragrances of Hokkaido’s nature and a deep bitterness derived from wormwood, offering a thoroughly clean finish. Whether for a relaxing evening on a night off from alcohol or for those who simply do not drink, anyone can fully enjoy the incredible flavor experience created by this gin and curry pairing.
Kahlua and Milk ｜ 1,100 Yen
Let Kahlua and milk take over the traditional role of “lassi” or “chai” as the classic companion to spiced curry. We serve this with a custom recipe that increases the proportion of coffee to perfectly match the Lamb Keema Curry. Its restrained sweetness and pleasant touch of bitterness soften the kick of the lamb and spices, leaving behind a delightfully sweet aftertaste unique to Kahlua and milk.
How to Enjoy Bar Ignis Sapporo, Even for First-Time Visitors
At Bar Ignis Sapporo, you can spend a relaxing time in a space filled with antique furniture and the warmth of wood. We offer comfortable sofa seating perfect for lively conversations with friends or loved ones, as well as counter seats where you can enjoy chatting with the bartender while ordering your favorite drinks. In addition to our extensive bar-exclusive alcohol selection, we offer a rich food menu including seasonal cocktails crafted with fresh ingredients that even beginners can easily enjoy, and our original pizzas, which are highly popular both as snacks and full meals.
Furthermore, the hotel features a rooftop terrace—a rare amenity in Hokkaido. During the summer season, you can feel the pleasant night breeze while unwinding around our iconic bonfire, watching the flickering flames, or roasting marshmallows to make s’mores. It offers an extraordinary escape that feels just like a night at a campfire right in the center of urban Sapporo. Whether for an evening date, a night out with friends, some quiet alone time, or your very first bar experience, please feel free to drop by and enjoy a relaxing, out-of-the-ordinary moment.
Launch Celebration Event: “Spice & Botanicals” to Be Held
On Sunday, July 12, 2026, we will host a launch celebration event for the Lamb Keema Curry on our 10F rooftop terrace, inviting DJs and guest bartenders active primarily around Sapporo. On the day of the event, Mr. Sakamoto from Shandi Nivas Cafe will be on-site to personally serve the curry. Spend a wonderful evening on our rooftop terrace, styled with smooth music from our DJs, as you catch the early summer night breeze and enjoy curry alongside gin and tonics and custom cocktails crafted by our guest bartenders.
- Event Name: Spice & Botanicals
- Date & Time: Sunday, July 12, 2026, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Admission: 1,500 Yen (Includes one drink & a small-size curry)
- DJs: YOUKI, kojiro
- Guest Bartenders: Yasuha Konno (Bar Calico), Karin Nakajima (Sapporo Grand Hotel), Mana Iioka
Supervision: Mr. Keiji Sakamoto from Shandi Nivas Cafe
Traveled around the world for about seven years starting around 1998.
After returning to Japan, worked at an organic restaurant in Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture, to learn the basics of cooking.
In 2011, after training in India, launched his own business, starting mobile food truck sales of Indian curry.
Moved to Naganuma Town, Yubari District, Hokkaido, in 2012.
Opened “shandi nivas cafe'” on August 28, 2014.
Moved to Kenbuchi Town, Kamikawa District, in 2024.
Opened his second location, “SHANDI NIVAS VADAKKU,” in Kenbuchi Town on April 28, 2025.
Continues his work to the present day.
About UNWIND HOTEL & BAR SAPPORO
UNWIND HOTEL & BAR SAPPORO is a new-concept lifestyle hotel whose greatest feature is allowing guests to experience the pure charm of a lodge—combining an extraordinary atmosphere with the comfort of home. By recreating the world of a lodge within an urban city setting, we eliminate the usual inconveniences of access or dining while providing a stress-free stay through high-quality hotel specs and services. Together with our sister property UNWIND HOTEL & BAR OTARU, which opened in April 2019 after modernly renovating a historic landmark over 90 years old, we are highly acclaimed from various sectors as one of Hokkaido’s leading boutique hotels.
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- Property Name: UNWIND HOTEL & BAR SAPPORO
- Address: 5 Chome-289-111 Minami 8 Jo Nishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 064-0808
- Access: A 4-minute walk from “Nakajima Koen” Station on the Namboku Line