Neighborhood Notes

Bamboo Sushi will open on November 7, 2008 as the first certified, sustainable sushi restaurant in the United States. Bamboo Sushi (formerly Masu East) and its owner, Kristofor Lofgren, are dedicated to serving innovative Japanese cuisine with the highest quality fish, meats, and produce, with the utmost consciousness to marine stewardship, sustainability, and the environment.

Bamboo Sushi will serve eclectic Japanese cuisine featuring fresh produce and hormone-free meats sourced from local Northwest farms. Chefs will prepare breads, sauces, and desserts from scratch each day as well as smoke selected meats and fish in house. The menu will provide an array of delicious vegan and vegetarian options as well. Guests will also enjoy the restaurant's unique and extensive sake list, sourced directly from Japan.

Bamboo Sushi is the first stand-alone restaurant in the United States to be certified for the Marine Stewardship Council's (MSC) "Chain of Custody." The MSC is the world's leading certification and eco-labeling program for sustainable seafood. Under the MSC program, wild capture fisheries can become certified if they successfully complete assessment by an independent third party against a rigorous scientific standard for sustainability and environmental responsibility. Chain of Custody certification indicates adherence to strict traceability standards. Menu items from certified fisheries will be indicated by the MSC's distinctive blue oval logo. "We're thrilled with the commitment that Bamboo Sushi has made to sustainability and to using the MSC's global certification program to source sustainable seafood," said Brad Ack, MSC's Regional Director for the Americas. "Sushi restaurants serve large quantities of fish and Bamboo Sushi is a market leader in giving sushi lovers the opportunity to have a great meal and to support sustainable fisheries at the same time, so they may continue to eat sushi forever."

Bamboo Sushi is also partnered with several leading oceanic conservation organizations including Monterey Bay Aquarium, Blue Ocean Institute, Salmon Nation/Eco Trust, KidSafe Seafood, and the Seafood Choices Alliance. These partnerships provide the restaurant with cutting edge research and information about marine stewardship and sustainability. Utilizing all of this information from its different certifications and partnerships, Bamboo Sushi will be able to help raise awareness about environmentally detrimental fishing practices and sustainable alternatives, giving guests at Bamboo Sushi the opportunity to be both well informed and well fed.

Understanding that sustainability is multi-faceted, Bamboo Sushi will also be the first sushi restaurant in the United States to become a Certified Green RestaurantTM by the Green Restaurant Association (GRA). The GRA will provide environmental consulting, education, and certification to assist Bamboo Sushi in continually improving their environmental practices and ensuring their adherence to sustainability through rigorous annual audits.