Masaaki’s Sushi

17 Arve Road, Geeveston

On a recent Sunday morning we decided to head out for a drive and see where the road took us. Knowing the monthly Franklin Palais Market was on, we headed south. Our market stop netted us Yeastie Boys donut – not a traditional ‘hole’ donut but more of a crispy, chewy, fluffy blob of fried goodness, topped with raspberry jam, lemon drizzle or cinnamon, of which we got one flavour each. After a kick around on the oval we went further south to Geeveston for lunch at Masaaki’s Sushi. We’d eaten here some time ago, but he has since moved into his new premises – a larger space with seating. 

At about midday the line was out the door. When we got to the glass cabinet filled with sushi, we each took a turn in ordering a selection of sushi rolls, nigiri, inari and pickles. But then the best bit – Masaaki will box it all up for you. In a matter of a couple of minutes, we each receive the prettiest box of sushi, sliced up, with a selection of pickles, condiments (we added the fresh wasabi option) and pickles ready to eat. 

It was a sunny day so we took a seat along a concrete barrier to enjoy the sushi. It was high quality, beautifully sourced and prepared produce, and just a delight to eat. Afterward, I optimistically had ordered a slice of matcha cheesecake, which was excellent, but pushed me into “too full” territory. It’s a great please to take visitors or for a ‘drive and dine’ day out.

Wine: Ghost Rock 2023 Supernatural Pinot Noir ($34)

After attending the recent Winter Feast, the red lights and pagan iconography got me in an ooky spooky mood. So I ventured to the bottleshop with my mind on choosing the wine with the most spine-chilling label. The choice was clear and immediate. Ghost Rock’s 2023 Supernatural Pinot Noir’s label hauntingly depicts a fog-drenched forest, with a ghostly figure looming amidst the dark trees. It was so scary I had a heart attack, died, then came back as a ghost (editor’s note: this is not true). The name itself is also tinged with horror. Ghost! Supernatural! It suited the prompt perfectly.

Ghost Rock Wines, in the heart of the Cradle Coast (also known as North West Wine Region), aims to capture all that is untamed about this area. This pale cloudy pink wine tastes of all things blood-red: raspberry, strawberry, cherry. It’s underscored by a crisp acidity that lingers like a spectre.

I paired it with King Island Dairy cheddar cheese, a great match, though I couldn’t help but imagine how perfect it would be if I had some seafood with me. To set the mood I played the devilish rock tunes of Ghost, which wouldn’t be out of place in a Scooby-Doo chase scene. By the halfway point of the bottle I felt brave enough to go find my own ghost but alas, it was bedtime. I’ve marked my calendar to revisit this bottle come Halloween.

Set the vibe:

Wine: Supernatural Pinot Noir from Ghost Rock

Music: Square Hammer by Ghost

Food: Grilled flathead and greens

When: Late night