Mayor Tom Barrett joined 10 others at Mandel Group's Gaslight Lofts in the Historic Ward Wednesday night for a preview of the soon-to-open Saketumi, 714 N. Milwaukee St. Owner Omar Shaikh invited the mayor and Saketumi's top chefs, including Toshiaki Uehara, Aki San, Renee Guaman, Keith Miller and Thaison Nyugen to a six-course meal that included Godzilla Rolls, Mandarin Shrimp Salad, Asian Hot Spring Mussels, Korean marinated beef short ribs (Kalbi), Dragon's Tail (pan fried shrimp wrapped in whitefish and shiso served with a garlic orange sauce) and prosciutto-wrapped Kobe tenderloin with mushroom ragout.
In addition to OnMilwaukee.com, guests at the dinner included City of Milwaukee Superintendent of Environmental Services Preston Cole and his wife Laura Lutter (Aala Reed); Barrett staffer Joel Brennan and his wife Audra, Barrett press secretary Carlene Orig and her boyfriend Buddy Julius (an SBC lobbyist who also helped organize the party) and Senator Mark Mayer's Chief of Staff Brian Brooks and his friend Lindsay Hogland, government affairs specialist for the Wisconsin Credit Union League. After dinner, developer Barry Mandel took the group on a tour of his new apartment complex, including the green roof!
Saketumi (yes, it's a play on words) will feature 10-20 types of sake, including hot, cold, brandy-flavored and everything in between. The menu will be equally option-oriented, with Korean and Japanese dishes, including Japanese-French entrées.
