Art With A Purpose

When you’re hanging out at Mashiko, you’re most likely eating and laughing and enjoying the art all around you (hopefully in that order).

Did you know that much of the art on display is for sale?  Several local artists have generously donated their energy and talents to create an eclectic mix of art representing two of our favorite things:  fish and Japan.  Of those pieces, the entire selling price will be donated to your choice of several worthy charities, including the Seattle Aquarium, Seattle Animal Shelter, and West Seattle Food Bank.  Pretty cool, huh?

We are especially excited about several new paintings currently on display.  Perhaps you will find that they move you as well.  The next time you dine with us, feel free to check out the informational cards next to each piece for more details.  We encourage you to give generously, and enjoy life!

Hook, Line & Dinner

Our very own Chef Hajime Sato preparing sea cucumber on basic cable?  No, it’s not deja vu, we promise.  This time, he’ll be side by side with super fun host guy Ben Sargent on Hook, Line, and Dinner.  Tune in to see Hajime make this local treat on the Cooking Channel this Thursday, April 19th, at 8:00pm.  Better yet, set your DVR and watch the show after enjoying some sustainable sushi at Mashiko!

 

We are especially excited to see this episode as Hajime had a ton of fun filming it.  Rumor has it there may be shenanigans, possibly including motorcycles…

 

We Wish This Were An April Fool’s Day Joke

Tonight at 10:00pm, National Geographic Channel is debuting the season premier of its new series, Wicked Tuna.  Their website states: 

“Fishing is a hard life, and harder with bluefin stocks depleted. In Gloucester, Massachusetts, there’s a special breed of fishermen. For generations they’ve used rod and reel to catch the elusive bluefin tuna. They depend on these fish for their livelihood, and the competition is brutal.”

We are surprised that National Geographic would support bluefin fishing in any capacity as these fish have already been fished to near extinction.  There are currently no sustainable sources of bluefin tuna.  Check your Seafood Watch Pocket Guide or app for more reasons to avoid bluefin.  Why address the plight of the bluefin on their website, yet still choose to air this series?  We don’t serve bluefin, and we encourage everyone to not eat bluefin to give it time to repopulate.

What do you think?  Will this show address the sustainability of bluefin tuna?  Or will it just glorify those who choose to exploit bluefin to earn a living?  We’re cautiously curious.

It’s Not Too Late To Be A Valentine’s Day Superstar

On the lookout for an amazing, super-last-minute Valentine’s Day gift?  How’s about some saké?  Better yet, how’s about making a date night of it?  It will be an evening to remember with an amazing saké class at Diane’s Market Kitchen on Monday, March 5th from 6:00pm-9:00pm.

Our very own Chef Hajime Sato will be pairing some of his favorite sakés with a number of different cuisines.  Sake truly is a wonderful and very versatile beverage that works beautifully with many different favor profiles.  Join Hajime and Dianne LaVonne for an evening of exploration and imaginative food pairings.  Of course, your questions about sustainable seafood will be welcome.

This saké event is a great deal that would make a terrific Valentine’s Day gift.  Seating is very limited, and advance reservations are required.  Get registered now, and you can still be surprise your loved one tonight with the details of your upcoming saké date!

Attention Holiday Shoppers

We know that you love giving Mashiko gift certificates for all manner of occasions, especially during the holiday season.  Rumor has it they are very well received!  Our fun t-shirts and baseball caps are available as well.  Still, we want to make you aware of another easy way to give a memorable gift this year.

You may have noticed the eclectic mix of art on the walls in our dining room.  Did you notice that much of the art on display is for sale?  Of these noted pieces, the entire selling price will be donated to your choice of several worthy charities.  We are currently featuring art donated from several talented local artists.  Each piece is framed and ready for gift-giving goodness!  Current pieces include fine photography, collages, and paintings.  We also have Japanese sumi paintings created by our very own Chef Hajime Sato.

We are proud supporters of many charitable organizations, including Seattle Aquarium, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Seattle Animal Shelter, and West Seattle Food Bank.  We encourage you to support your favorite organizations however you can, all year long.

Click! Design That Fits

Do you guys know our pals John and Frances?  They are the fine folks behind Click! Design That Fits.  If you haven’t yet had the pleasure, Click! is an amazing shop where you can expect to find thoughtfully designed adornments for yourself and your home.  Our very own Chef Hajime Sato has an especially hard time leaving there empty-handed.  Not that we blame him.

As this Thursday, November 10th, is the second Thursday of the month, it is West Seattle Art Walk time!  Art Walk is an excellent time to check out Click! as they will be open until 9:00pm.  And hey, how often do you have something really fun to do on a random Thursday night?  The Junction is cool like that.

Let us tempt you further:  Join us at Mashiko for some delectable sustainable sushi this Thursday.  Show us your receipt for a purchase made at Click! during this Art Walk, and we will bring you a complimentary order of edamame.  That’s right, you will be rewarded with a yummy appetizer just for purchasing cool stuff.  There will be $1 off select beer and saké as well.  See you tomorrow!

Explore Saké Like Never Before!

Rumor has it that you want to learn more about saké.  We also heard that you want to learn in a super tasty and non-intimidating setting.  Well, Hajime is going to make it a night to remember with an amazing saké pairing dinner at Mashiko on Wednesday, November 9th from 6:30pm-9:30pm.

Truly a special event, this dinner will be a seven course meal paired with Yaegaki and other premium sakés.  Each course will be introduced by our very own Chef Hajime Sato along with a brief explanation of the individual sakés and how they were chosen to pair with that course.  There will also be an added emphasis will be on the importance (and deliciousness) of sustainable seafood.

At $80 per person (plus tax and gratuity), this saké pairing dinner is a great deal that makes for a memorable night.  Seating is very limited, and advance reservations are required.  Give us a call, and we’ll save a space for you!